Iyowa

Iyowa (いよわ) is a Japanese musician, Vocaloid producer, songwriter and illustrator. He is best known for his 2021 single "Kyu-Kurarin", which has been viewed 50 million times on YouTube. His artist name to have come about from having a weak stomach.

Career
Iyowa began composing music in elementary school using the Nintendo DS software Jam with the Band. He became interested in Vocaloid music when he was in junior high school, when he discovered Jin's song Children Record.

In 2018, Iyowa debuted as a Vocaloid producer, submitting his music to Nico Nico Douga.

Iyowa released their debut album Sleeping Pink Noise in November 2019. The album was initially released only on CD, but later released on streaming formats.

On June 8, 2020, Iyowa released "Clover Knight" as his debut single on his own label, Igusuri Records.

On September 4, 2021, Iyowa released "Kyu-Kurarin". This song's music video was viewed 100,000 views on Nico Nico Douga one week after its release, and 10 million views on YouTube on June 19, 2022. This song reached number one on the Niconico Vocaloid Songs Top 20. It remained the longest on the chart, and it is also still charting on this chart of as of 2024. It has lyrics that allude to depression and suicide, and many users have discussed the meaning of the lyrics. It was the single from Watashi no Heritage released in December of the same year. This album debuted at number 50 on the Billboard Japan Hot Albums, and became his first chart entry.

On October 22, 2022, Iyowa released a song titled "Heat Abnormal" featuring vocal synth character Adachi Rei, which was number one in the VOCALOID Collection 2022 Autumn.

On December 7 2022, Iyowa's song "Leave You on the Back of the Earth" featuring RIME became the number one single on Billboard Japan's newly instituted Niconico Vocaloid Songs Top 20 singles chart. Seven months later, "The Peachy Key" reached number one, making him the artist with the most number one songs on the chart.

In January 2023, Iyowa was featured on the song "Droplet" from Japanese voice actress and singer Mai Fuchigami's EP Mai Create. That year, he produced "Zanshi" a song from another voice actress and singer Saori Hayami's third studio album, Shiro to Hanataba.

On 27 February 2024, Iyowa released the single "Journey's Prequels, Journey's Traces" featuring virtual singer Hatsune Miku. The song is from "Pokemon feat. Hatsune Miku Project VOLTAGE 18 Types/Songs", a collaborative project between the Japanese media franchise Pokémon and Hatsune Miku.

Iyowa released his third album, Films, Sunny Spots, Graduations on 26 June 2024. It reached number nine on both Oricon Albums Chart and Japan Hot Albums, and became his first top 10 hit.

Artistry
Iyowa's songs are known for using a lot of dissonance and are often described as emotionally charged. The abrupt jumps in scale and the abundance of dissonances led to his early career to be described as "that sounds like it was written at random, but it is a song and it is mutant". In 2022, he described his musical style as "Strong characteristic and strange music".

Vocaloid music videos are generally commissioned from a different person than the composer, but Iyowa produces all of his own music videos and his songs. He attributed this to the reason: "I was afraid to have a music video produced by someone I had never met before." The girls in his music video are called "Iyowa girls", and he said he is very happy to see their fan art.

Inspiration
Iyowa has cited Harumaki Gohan, Nuyuri, and Enon Kawatani of Gesu no Kiwami Otome as influences to his musical talents. In particular, Kawatani is a strong influence on Iyowa, and many of Iyowa's songs are influenced by his works. He also stated he was influenced by Jin's Kagerou Project, a mixed-media project.

Personal life
Iyowa is a college student as of 2022. After he graduates, he plans to work both as an office works and music works at the same time.

Remixes
2019


 * manika – "To Azalea" (Iyowa Remix)

2020


 * Kairiki Bear – "Darling Dance" (Iyowa Remix)

2021


 * Hiiragi Magnetite – "Marshall Maximizer" (Iyowa Remix)
 * Kaf - "Me Logic" (Iyowa Remix)

2022


 * Haruka Kudo - "GROOVY MUSIC TAPE" (Iyowa Remix)
 * DECO*27 – "Animal" (Iyowa Remix)
 * manika - "I'm the only one left behind in March" (Iyowa Remix)
 * BCNO - "Capotasto" (Iyowa Remix)

2023


 * mikitoP – "Ghost Girl" (Iyowa Remix)

2024


 * Inabakumori – "Relay Outer" (Iyowa Remix)