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2024 is shaping up to be an even more exciting year for Internet-based music such as Vocaloid, utaite, and VTuber music. Holohoneygaoka High School, the first album from hololive and HoneyWorks, is filled to the brim with every fascinating aspect of this culture.

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Holohoney is a new musical collaboration between hololive production, a VTuber groupwith over 50 streamers, and HoneyWorks, a group of creators. The album is a double album consisting of Holohoneygaoka High School -Originals-, new songs written for the album, and Holohoneygaoka High School -Covers-, covers of HoneyWorks songs by hololive members. Altogether there are a total of 20 songs (not counting the CD bonus tracks), which are presented in detail below.

Holohoneygaoka High School -Originals-

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1. Kawaiko Check! by Inugami Korone

“Kawaiko Check!” is Holohoney’s first original song, released in September 2023. The song is about Inugami Korone, disguised as a school teacher, scouting cute girls to liven up the school’s culture festival. The speedy tune, livened up with accents like a brass section, emphasizes the cuteness of Korone, a character with a dog motif, as she races around, tail wagging.

2. Idol 10 rules by Nekomata Okayu, Himemori Luna

This punk tune, almost ska-core, depicts the hard work the two singers do to become top idols while always obeying the 10 rules of idols.

3. Tokyo Wabi-Sabi Lullaby by Gawr Gura

This mellow, mid-tempo number is sung by a member from hololive English. The lyrics are evocative of an exchange student thinking of home, and the modern R&B sound of the song is blended with Japanese instruments such as bamboo flutes and sound effects like railroad crossings and fireworks, painting a picture of summer in Tokyo and a feeling of wabi-sabi. You can feel the Japanese city pop flavor that Gura is so fond of.

4. Bridal Dream by Usada Pekora, Houshou Marine

“Pekomari,” the duo of Usada Pekora and Houshou Marine, is the most popular and well-known hololive duo, made up of two members of the third generation of hololive. “Bridal Dream” is an official B-side for the duo’s wedding…or, at least, that’s what it appears like, until you discover that it was all just Marine’s dream. There are wedding-like melodies sprinkled throughout and a frantic feel that’s a perfect fit for the duo, which always whips up a storm when they’re together.

5. Utage☆Dokudanzyou! by Nakiri Ayame

Sharp, strummed guitar lines drive this fast-paced song, an up-tempo tune with a post-Vocaloid rock pop feel and an exhilarating, breakneck pace.

6. Outsider plan by La+ Darknesss, Takane Lui, Hakui Koyori, Sakamata Chloe, Kazama Iroha

The five members of Secret Society holoX shares the pride of outsiders who can’t, or don’t want to, fit in with their classmates, carried by a powerful rock tune. What they’re actually doing — eating lunch before lunchtime, reading comics in class — is cute, and the heart of this song lies in how it uses pop to express the feelings of these outcasts.

7. PAKU-PAKU-SEIBAI by Hakos Baelz

“PAKU-PAKU-SEIBAI” is a dance-pop song with a “girl crush”-like sound rooted in EDM and trap music that highlights the cool vocals of Hakos Baelz, who plays a student with a powerful sense of justice.

8. Hero for a day by Kobo Kanaeru, Takanashi Kiara

hololive Indonesia’s Kobo Kanaeru and hololive English’s Takanashi Kiara sing about the joy of being a “hero for a day” up on the culture festival stage, backed by a sunny pop-rock melody. They also provide a glimpse of the wistful side of the event, singing that “the magic will vanish soon,” but in the end they look back on their experience fondly as another chapter of their youth.

9. Riazyuu★Bokumetu movement by Murasaki Shion

“Love and that tingling feeling you get inside, they’re just illusions.” That’s the message behind this ska-punk song by the angsty Murasaki Shion, who is doing all she can to block those around her from having rich, fulfilling lives.

10. Kyoushitsu ni Ao / Hoshimachi Suisei

This song is like the campfire at the end of the culture festival. It reminds the listeners that the time young people have to make memories and develop strong bonds with their friends will come to an end on the day of their graduation. It’s an emotional rock song that conjures up images of the starry night sky. Hoshimachi Suisei’s emotional, bright singing voice unlocks a flood of emotions.

Holohoneygaoka High School -Covers-

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1. Fansa by Yozora Mel, Shirakami Fubuki, Natsuiro Matsuri, Shiranui Flare, Shirogane Noel

Five artists cover this passionate idol song from the solo artist mona, which was released as part of the HoneyWorks project Kokuhaku Jikko Iinkai: Ren’ai Series (Confession Executive Committee: Love Series). The original song was already an emotional one, but when the voices of the five singers come together in the chorus, the feelings run even deeper as you viscerally feel the strength of the bonds between them.

2. Inokori sensei by Tsunomaki Watame, Tokoyami Towa

These two artists from the fourth generation of hololive have burgeoning solo music careers and exceptional voices. In this song, they’ve come together to perform a popular, wild rock tune that tells the dark story of a teacher (Saku Akechi) and his student (Haruki Serizawa).

3. motto ichigo ore by Sakura Miko

Sakura Miko is one of hololive’s generation zero members, with a sweet, slightly lispy singing voice. In this rock number, she covers a song with a distinctly mona-like feel that depicts the heroic ideals of an idol. Miko’s sweet vocal qualities and the powerful song combine in a wonderful blend of sweet and spicy. The lyrics were also tweaked for Sakura Miko, such as by changing “mona wink” to “miko wink.”

4. Hokori Takaki Idol by Tokino Sora

This song by mona is one of pride in the face of the people who look down on idols. Here, it has been covered by Tokino Sora, a pillar of hololive since debuting as its first virtual idol.

5. Sis x Love by Kureiji Ollie, Anya Melfissa

This song by the sisters Sena Narumi and Mona Narumi has been covered here by a close-knit duo of second generation members from hololive Indonesia. The lyrics, about the powerful bonds between sisters that grew up together, convey a different sense of bonding when sung by Ollie and Anya. The scintillating string parts and uplifting sound bring tears to your eyes.

6. Daikiraina Hazu datta by Shishiro Botan, Omaru Polka

This bittersweet love song, originally sung by Kotaro Enomoto and Hina Setoguchi, is famous for a version sung by members of Nogizaka 46. In this cover by a duo of fifth generation hololive streamers, Botan plays Hina’s part and Polkaa plays Kotaro’s part, backed by a piano rock tune that is the embodiment of glittering youth — a duet that paints a picture of pure, bashful love.

7. Tokyo-Summer-Session by Oozora Subaru, Amane Kanata

This cover of a popular song depicts a scene of youth in full bloom — a couple, more than friends but less than lovers, realize their mutual attraction at a fireworks festival one summer night. Subaru plays the boy’s part and Kanata plays the girl’s part in a song that sets the listener’s heart fluttering with lyrics like lines from a drama and nuances that evoke the innocence of a young couple.

8. Kessen Supiritto by Moona Hoshinova

This beloved song by CHiCO with HoneyWorks was the ending theme to the TV anime Haikyuu!! To the Top. Here, it is covered by Moona Hoshinova, one of hololive Indonesia’s finest vocalists. The energetic performance is a perfect encapsulation of the drive to always keep pushing forward, using failure as a springboard for future success.

9. Doutan Kyohi by Momosuzu Nene

Momosuzu Nene, a fifth generation hololive member who is always bubbly and full of energy, sings this pop number, a straightforward declaration of devotion by Chu-tan, from the Heroines Run the Show series, to her favorite idol.

10. Senpai by AZKi, Ookami Mio, Yukihana Lamy

This song, originally performed by the voice actor unit TrySail, was the opening theme song of the anime movie The Moment You Fall in Love: Confession Executive Committee. Here, it has been covered in pure, three-part harmony. The song dramatically depicts the powerful romantic feelings of a student for an upperclassman that go tragically unnoticed.

—This article by Hajime Kitano first appeared on Billboard Japan

Shinichi Osawa (MONDO GROSSO) has had a profound impact on Japan‘s music scene through his musical sensibilities, focused on the newest and most creative dance music and his collaborations with a wide range of artists. RHYME is an Australian artist (poet, performer, DJ, and beatmaker) based in Japan. These two contrasting creators, with their differing backgrounds, nationalities & musical careers, make up the dance music duo RHYME SO.

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They debuted in 2019 with the 88rising single “Just Used Music Again.” Then in the spring of 2020 they dropped “Fashion Blogger.” The music video featured MILK, who rose to popularity on RuPaul’s Drag Race, and the song’s title itself, “Fashion Blogger,” is deeply intertwined with the RHYME SO concept.

Osawa: “I think it was back in 2017, when I was getting my hair cut, I saw some video on my iPad of this woman overseas talking about the outfit she was wearing that day. When the interviewer asked her what her job was, she said “fashion blogger.” I don’t think she was actually writing a blog, but she was making a living sharing her fashion on Instagram. That came as a bit of a surprise to me. The internet and social media permeate our society, but there are a lot of things that we take for granted that make me think ‘Is this really an everyday thing?’ I think it would be interesting to use music to pose questions like ‘What do you think of this situation?’ Not as criticism, just as questions. That’s the concept behind RHYME SO.”

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RHYME: “RHYME SO sounds like ‘I’m so.’ ‘I’m so happy,’ ‘I’m so sad,’ ‘I’m so hungry.’ I, I, I… Sometimes that (showing off on social media) is a positive, but sometimes it’s not. That’s one of the statements that RHYME SO is making.”

RHYME had been exposed to Japanese culture since she was a high school student, and she was an avid MONDO GROSSO listener. You can see this in a line she sings on MONDO GROSSO’s song “BIG WORLD,” “I saw MONDO GROSSO back in high school, I used to cry listening to life.”

RHYME: “I listened to MONDO GROSSO’s back catalogue and watched videos of his live shows. It stirred up all kinds of emotions. I’m Osawa’s pupil, and he’s my teacher. It’s an honor to be able to make music with him.”

RHYME SO has continued to release exciting music. It’s a unique group, set apart by its genre-spanning production and its cynical and poetic lyrics about modern society. In November 2023, it released its first album, IAFB.

The first thing to note about the album is the rich diversity of its production. It freely flits between genres and decades, touching on everything from acid house, industrial techno, and trap to Eurobeat, making it a microcosm of Japanese culture and society.

Osawa: “I did have Japan in mind when making the songs. However, I didn’t really think about current trends. Honestly, I don’t know if I’m even good at identifying them. It even feels a little like I’m ignoring them.” [Laughs]

RHYME: “RHYME SO’s sound is a fusion of dance music, new age, post-punk, electro, para-para, festival music, and more. That, and word play.”

The core of RHYME SO’s concept, bring up questions about modern society, is highlighted even more vividly on the album. The first song, “ACT THE SAME,” is the antithesis of the music scene, which places so much value on doing the same thing as what’s already being done by other hit songs.

Osawa: “It’s become a fundamental part of the music industry to assign artists to create music that sounds like what’s already out there, based on the existing market. And that’s not a current development. But is that really what we should be doing?”

RHYME: “Doing the same thing as everyone else is the safe approach, but that’s not art. The people who sing songs like that aren’t artists, they’re more like puppets. What’s even the point of doing that? That’s what the song is about.”

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“UNFOLLOW YOU” samples Seiko Matsuda’s “Akai Sweet Pea.” It puts a modern twist on the lyrics of the original song, “I will follow you,” turning it into a song about following influencers and popular artists. At its heart is the idea that “Instead of following trends and hype, shouldn’t you be following what you truly like, and what you think is genuine?”

RHYME: “I used auto-tune on my voice, which I don’t normally use, for a bit of irony (because it’s not even my real voice).” [Laughs]

Osawa: “‘UNFOLLOW YOU’ started out as a remix of ‘Akai Sweet Pea’ for Kayokyoku Night, an event put on by photographer tajjiemax (Issei Tajima) and my friend Toba. When I first made it, it was just for fun, but then when I listened to it with RHYME, we were like ‘Wouldn’t this track make a good RHYME SO song?’ However, the lyrics make fun of the modern music scene and culture, so we decided to send out letters to Takashi Matsumoto and Yumi Matsutoya to get their permission. I thought it would be hard to get, but the person at the record label that was the go-between got their willing permission right away. It went surprisingly smoothly. I’ll bet nobody has ever sampled ‘Akai Sweet Pea’ before, and nobody has sampled it since us, either. Of course, Seiko Matsuda isn’t actually singing on it. That’s me on the vocals.” [Laughs]

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The song “I AM FUCKIN’ BRILLIANT,” from which the album title, IAFB, was taken, is an up-beat tune with a 90s alternative rock feel. Osawa explains that “this song represents the whole album.”

Osawa: “The theme of the song is the need for recognition from others. It’s something that we’ve always had, but with the widespread penetration of social media, it’s become even more pronounced. Now, it even feels like you’re forced to express an even stronger desire for approval. Back in the day, you could just go home and pet your cat and feel fulfilled. If you helped out an older person, you would feel fulfilled, thinking ‘I did something good today.’ In other words, we all knew that we were the coolest.”

RHYME: “I think there are people who are happy when they’re outside but who feel down when they’re at home. There are a lot of people who are pretending or just putting up with things. When that happens, we’re saying ‘Imagine you’re the only one in the world.’ This is my favorite song on the album, and I want to make it a global anthem.”

The album also contains “SHIBUYA PARAPARA,” a para-para song whose theme is Shibuya at night, along with “SILENT” and “PICTURESQUE,” which feature Seiko Omori. The album art, showing a woman in traditional Japanese garb taking a selfie with her smartphone, also vividly reflects modern Japanese society.

RHYME: “The next thing I want to do is live performance. I want a big stage, a gorgeous set, tons of dancers, and, if possible, figure skaters. [Laughs] I want to put on an amazing show. I’d love to tour the world with great Japanese artists. Dongurizu, Seiko Omori, Kazuo. There are a lot of artists I’d like to introduce to overseas audiences, to show them ‘JAPAN POWER’. I want there to be a shock factor to everything I do. I want to start a revolution.”

—This interview by Tomoyuki Mori first appeared on Billboard Japan