Brianna Fox-Priest
October 25, 2024 With a new album release and anime debut on the horizon, Japan’s leading virtual artist, KAF has been plenty busy lately. Debuting in 2018, KAF’s digital avatar is anime-inspired but her smooth vocals and emotional lyrics are real.
Forging a path for virtual singers, the 21-year-old singer’s voice has sold out live shows at historic venues like Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo. In her sixth year, KAF is preparing to release her fourth full-length album in December, making her live international debut in Singapore, and joining the cast of the Kamitsubaki City Under Construction anime in 2025.
We spoke with KAF about her inspirations and how she continues to challenge people’s ideas of what a virtual artist is. Plus, she shared her excitement for Kamitsubaki City Under Construction.
KAF, Congratulations on your fourth album!
Virtual artists have been on the rise inside and outside of Japan, what about this style of performance do you believe resonates with listeners?
KAF: I think there are fewer borders and prejudice with avatars. There are all sorts of stances towards avatars, but no matter what style they take on, listeners value the personality behind the avatar. To people who don’t know about the world of virtual avatars, we might just look like anime characters, but I think the balance between being a real breathing human while also being represented by this virtual avatar is unique and interesting.
Blending online and physical realities, virtual artists have had the unique opportunity to perform in front of live audiences and collaborate with other IRL singers, what would you like to see happen in your industry next?
KAF: I think the border between virtual and real will begin to fade away more and more. I dream of being able to perform outside on stage under the sun, the moon, or even an aurora…
Also, it’d be incredible if I could appear in the city as a holograph — sure, no free hug or handshake, but getting closer to people and sharing a space where we could sing together.
You have created a whole persona around your singing career online as KAF, are there any challenges to having a separate online persona? What are the positives of being completely anonymous?
KAF: I don’t particularly feel like I’m role-playing as KAF, but until around my fourth or fifth year as KAF, I often felt feelings of confusion or isolation between how I saw myself and how others would see me.
However, during the years following, I realized that those feelings weren’t exclusive to the virtual world, but they could also happen in the real world. So now I just try to enjoy all these emotions.
The nice thing about being a virtual singer is being able to sing without restrictions — I started singing as KAF when I was 14. I lived in a rural part of Japan with my family and went to a local school, which meant I couldn’t come to Tokyo often. But being a virtual singer, I was able to work at my own pace.
You started with singing Utattemita (cover songs), then making EPs, and now you are launching your fourth full-length album. When you reflect on your singing career as a virtual artist, what or who has given you the most inspiration and how do you use that inspiration when creating new music?
KAF: My biggest inspiration in singing was sana (鎖那). I’d listen to her music again and again, learning how she would exhale at the end of every phrase, how she’d gliss up, and everything else. I really love her voice.
A lot of my music is very rooted in Kanzaki Iori’s songs. He wrote all my original songs up until our third album. The lyrics he would write would always make me feel sympathy, and awaken all sorts of emotions that would make me want to scream. I think singing well isn’t just about pitch accuracy and techniques, but how much of yourself you can put into a song.
Kanzaki Iori was also in charge of vocal direction. At first, I was singing with a trembling voice because I was straining myself, and would often find myself unconsciously singing this way because I didn’t have the ability to do otherwise. He accepted this style as my character and helped me develop to sing this way consciously.
What makes you feel most creative? Do you do anything specific to help channel your creativity when in the studio?
KAF: When I sing it’s always with inspiration from various sources, like movies, manga, and music. It’s like a mix-and-match of all my favorites. In the studio, I just put all that inspiration into the microphone.
What are you most excited about with the release of your new album this December? What is the theme of this album?
KAF: It’s been one year and nine months since my third album. The theme is “A fable of loss and gain.” I feel like every song will hit home with listeners who feel alone in their own ways. I would love it if you gave all the songs a listen!
You are joining the Kamitsubaki City Under Construction anime along with the other Kamitsubaki Studio virtual singers, what are you looking forward to with the debut of the show in 2025?
KAF: The anime is being made in 3DCG, and a teaser video was shared on YouTube a few months ago. I was really excited watching all these images come to life in motion. I can’t wait to watch the full story!
I think it’s going to be a really great opportunity to let people who may not know us see who we are. Our singing is going to be a very important component of the story. I’m really looking forward to people discovering the music we’re so proud of within the context of the story. People who have already heard us should also be able to find new context within the story.
The characters of the anime are very similar to our usual appearance, but they aren’t quite us in the same sense, kind of like another worldline. I think that if this wasn’t the case, there’d be all sorts of chaos for our existence and image, so I‘m excited about that.
KAF has an anime appearance and has sung anime theme songs, but this is the first time you have starred in an anime, was there anything surprising about the recording process for an anime that differs from your vocal recordings and live streams?
KAF: Using my voice as a voice actor instead of a singer is such a different feeling. When I’m usually recording, I generally get to choose the vocal takes myself. But when I’m recording vocal lines for the anime, I can get new interpretations and a feel for the atmosphere from other members’ performances, as well as direction from the supervisor. I always decide how I would say a phrase at home, but flexibility is more important in anime recording.
You made history this year by becoming one of the first virtual artists to sell out a solo arena show at Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo. What is your next big goal or dream you would like to accomplish?
KAF: I want to do a full live tour someday! And my dream is to be able to sing for my entire life!
You are also making your first international performance in Singapore, what are you looking forward to the most?
KAF: I’m really excited to meet observers from overseas at the show! There must be a lot of people who have never seen me. New encounters are the best part of the festival! Also, I’ll be MCing in English…I hope it makes sense to the audience.
Do you have any special memories of working on the anime or from your new album that you would like to share with fans?
KAF: Alongside my fellow V.W.P members, we all shared advice with each other while recording for the anime, which was really helpful!
For my 4th album, the cover art is drawn by PALOW. who designed my avatar and almost all of my costumes. The animals in the art actually originated from my illustrations. I especially love the rabbits on my shoulder in the beta version art!
Thank you KAF for taking the time to speak with Otaku USA!
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