Philadelphia rapper and producer slayr and Japanese virtual singer Hatsune Miku today release “Light,” a high-energy, drum-and-bass-inspired anthem that brings together underground rap, electronic music, internet culture, and Vocaloid technology.
The new single, which also features Japanese powerhouse XAMIYA and contributions from vocaloid producer picco, is the second official release from BEYOND BORDERs, a global initiative from leading Japanese IT and media company Dwango created to introduce Vocaloid culture to new audiences by connecting pioneering Japanese creators with artists, producers, and songwriters from around the world.
Built around propulsive drum and bass elements, anthemic energy, and a relentless forward momentum, “Light” is designed to hit at full volume – a kinetic meeting point between slayr’s Philadelphia-rooted underground sound and the unmistakable digital presence of Hatsune Miku.
The collaboration also reflects a larger shift taking place across contemporary music, where the boundaries between underground artists, virtual performers, online communities, and emerging technology are becoming increasingly fluid. For a generation of musicians who have grown up creating and discovering music on the internet, the idea of collaborating with a virtual artist is becoming less futuristic and more a natural extension of digital creativity. The song was released alongside an animated visualizer that features an epic battle between Hatsune Miku and slayr, matching the energy of the song and its lively drive. Watch the visualizer HERE.
“Light” appears on the forthcoming EMERGE M♡DE MIKU EP, which brings Hatsune Miku together with a new generation of Western artists alongside leading Vocaloid producers and songwriters from Japan and the U.S. The project features contributions from Grimes, Odetari, George Clanton, Frost Children, and XAMIYA, as well as acclaimed Japanese Vocaloid producers jon-YAKITORY, SatapanP, and picco.
The EP was first unveiled during the sold-out JAPAN MUSIC VOCALOID showcase at Anime Expo in Los Angeles over the July 4th weekend. Following the release of Grimes and SatapanP’s “Miku-Maxxing,” “Light” marks the next chapter in the BEYOND BORDERs rollout, with the full EMERGE M♡DE MIKU EP arriving September 25th.
Stream “Light” from slayr and Hatsune Miku HERE.
Source: Press Release
