How Hatsune Miku saved YOASOBI creator from rock bottom

Before YOASOBI became a global phenomenon, before “Idol” broke the internet and Billboard charts, producer Ayase was living in darkness, literally. No electricity, no gas, no running water. Just a broken man in an empty apartment, clinging to the one thing that kept him going: a virtual pop star named Hatsune Miku.

In a recent interview that hit fans harder than any of his tracks, Ayase opened up about the brutal reality behind his success. “Hatsune Miku is my hero; she really saved my life,” he confessed. It’s not hyperbole. After his punk band dissolved and a nine-year relationship crumbled, Ayase found himself financially devastated and emotionally destroyed. Most people would’ve given up. He found Vocaloid.

When software becomes a lifeline

With no money for studio time or collaborators, Vocaloid became Ayase’s creative sanctuary. The software didn’t judge, didn’t need payment, and didn’t abandon him. While living in those harsh conditions, he refined his unique approach: transforming novels into music. That experimental phase in the darkness became the foundation of what would eventually define YOASOBI’s sound.

Then came Ikura. The duo formed in 2019, and suddenly that bedroom producer who couldn’t afford utilities was crafting anthems that would dominate anime culture worldwide.

From survival to domination

YOASOBI’s rise reads like fiction, but the numbers don’t lie. They’ve delivered absolute bangers for major anime series: “Kaibutsu” and “Yasashii Suisei” for BEASTARS, “Shukufuku” for Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury, “Yuusha” for Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, and of course, “Idol” for Oshi no Ko.

“Idol” specifically became a cultural reset, breaking barriers most Japanese-language songs never cross, topping international charts, and becoming the soundtrack of countless TikToks and YouTube videos. The White House visit, Coachella performance, and Billboard records followed naturally.

Ayase’s story proves something vital: sometimes salvation comes from unexpected places. For him, it was a turquoise-haired avatar with a synthetic voice. Hatsune Miku didn’t just inspire music, she gave a broken artist reason to keep creating when everything else had failed. Now millions worldwide vibe to tracks born from that struggle, probably never knowing the darkness that sparked the light.

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