rito
- Thread starter grunty
- Start date
CloisteredFlame
Sailor Yuki
CloisteredFlame
Sailor Yuki
CloisteredFlame
Sailor Yuki
Seems like she was getting minimal effort in the compositon and MV department, from watching and listening to these videos. I do like the first song and prefer the video.
Maybe Highway Star management didn't see her as a high-value, or sufficiently unique, artist to invest properly into her career.
It's just an opinion, but I don't think the cute, bubblegum aesthetic in these videos (especially the latter too, matching the songs) is really rito's personal style (or not what I would have her do). When she's given meaty songs and melodies to sing (like Kajiura gave her with some of those covers), that have a melancholic/mysterious side, especially when they take advantage of her full range - belting, low notes, etc. - she seems to really shine.
She's not a Shuri or a ASCA or a ReoNa in terms of stage activity and energetic audience engagement. She's more of a slow burn, moody vocalist who can also sing bright and youthful - so not sad. We can see this in the fact that Kajiura didn't give her fast-paced songs to sing, instead opting to give those to LINO LEIA...
This is a lady who likes Harry Potter and has a slightly dark/mystery aesthetic in general. I think her music should reflect that somewhat, and we haven't seen her final vocal expression.
Maybe Highway Star management didn't see her as a high-value, or sufficiently unique, artist to invest properly into her career.
It's just an opinion, but I don't think the cute, bubblegum aesthetic in these videos (especially the latter too, matching the songs) is really rito's personal style (or not what I would have her do). When she's given meaty songs and melodies to sing (like Kajiura gave her with some of those covers), that have a melancholic/mysterious side, especially when they take advantage of her full range - belting, low notes, etc. - she seems to really shine.
She's not a Shuri or a ASCA or a ReoNa in terms of stage activity and energetic audience engagement. She's more of a slow burn, moody vocalist who can also sing bright and youthful - so not sad. We can see this in the fact that Kajiura didn't give her fast-paced songs to sing, instead opting to give those to LINO LEIA...
This is a lady who likes Harry Potter and has a slightly dark/mystery aesthetic in general. I think her music should reflect that somewhat, and we haven't seen her final vocal expression.
george1234
Moderator
I like Harry Potter too but i cant sing 
CloisteredFlame
Sailor Yuki
I think my favourite overall performance of rito's with Yuki Kajiura is "Senya ichiya" (supported by Yuriko & Joelle, of course).
CloisteredFlame
Sailor Yuki
Speaking about rito's exit from FictionJunction and Highway Star, I think its probably fine for her that she left at this early time, because it seems she really wants to focus on her solo career more intensely, and shape it by herself', and herself by it. I'm looking forward to seeing her journey.
She has left some fond FJ memories and also a greater awareness for listeners of her expressive range and abilities (courtesy of Kajiura in FJ lives, and her HS cover of "gloria", most of all, else most of her solo music is just high-range pop stuff).
I hope she finds her music and matures healthily, vocally. Maybe she would be lucky to get a devoted composer and team up, someone who would have a clear vision and write for her voice/look, kind of like how MARiA is in Garnidellia, or Perfume/KPP with Nakata, or Sawano with Mizuki (rito actually shares similar vibe/look with her).
She has left some fond FJ memories and also a greater awareness for listeners of her expressive range and abilities (courtesy of Kajiura in FJ lives, and her HS cover of "gloria", most of all, else most of her solo music is just high-range pop stuff).
I hope she finds her music and matures healthily, vocally. Maybe she would be lucky to get a devoted composer and team up, someone who would have a clear vision and write for her voice/look, kind of like how MARiA is in Garnidellia, or Perfume/KPP with Nakata, or Sawano with Mizuki (rito actually shares similar vibe/look with her).
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Kugayama
Moderator
https://x.com/Fion0806/status/1906724928797466706
こちらこそ本当にお世話になりました……(^^)。一緒に音楽を作れて光栄でした。私も絶対に忘れませんよ〜またどこかでご縁がありますことを。
quoting:
https://x.com/Im_ritoO0/status/1906722591957717221
FJのメンバーにいられたこと、梶浦さんの楽曲を任せていただけたこと、どれだけ時が経っても忘れることはありません。
本当にお世話になりました！
こちらこそ本当にお世話になりました……(^^)。一緒に音楽を作れて光栄でした。私も絶対に忘れませんよ〜またどこかでご縁がありますことを。
quoting:
https://x.com/Im_ritoO0/status/1906722591957717221
FJのメンバーにいられたこと、梶浦さんの楽曲を任せていただけたこと、どれだけ時が経っても忘れることはありません。
本当にお世話になりました！
CloisteredFlame
Sailor Yuki
Thanks @Kugayama for the translation. It's nice to see the pleasant interaction between them.
Kugayama
Moderator
I didn't do the translation...
CloisteredFlame
Sailor Yuki
https://www.instagram.com/sharp5dayo?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
Seems like rito is rebranding completely and changing her stage name and everything, if my translated reading of her sole IG post (she seems to have deleted all her posts as “rito” and is starting from scratch!) is correct! (Kindly correct me, dear Japanese speakers, if I’m wrong).
What a massive move to step away from what she’s been doing since her debut (at least what I’ve seen of her since she joined Kajiura).
I’m pleased to see that she seems to be leaning more into her dark, brooding aesthetic. Like I’ve said in the past, her looks, vocal range (especially low notes), and love of Harry Porter makes me feel a darker style is her visual and musical brand opportunity. She could always dabble in brighter themes from time to time, but the sugary pop she was given in HS wasn’t doing it in my view.
When she’s established, I can imagine a dark, Magia-like track with Kajiura (maybe slightly slower paced and heavy-rock like Hyde’s track), maybe even for a future Madoka Magica anime show. She definitely has the vibe and vocals to deliver! I mean, she sang “Gloria”, which is emotional and powerful!
Seems like rito is rebranding completely and changing her stage name and everything, if my translated reading of her sole IG post (she seems to have deleted all her posts as “rito” and is starting from scratch!) is correct! (Kindly correct me, dear Japanese speakers, if I’m wrong).
What a massive move to step away from what she’s been doing since her debut (at least what I’ve seen of her since she joined Kajiura).
I’m pleased to see that she seems to be leaning more into her dark, brooding aesthetic. Like I’ve said in the past, her looks, vocal range (especially low notes), and love of Harry Porter makes me feel a darker style is her visual and musical brand opportunity. She could always dabble in brighter themes from time to time, but the sugary pop she was given in HS wasn’t doing it in my view.
When she’s established, I can imagine a dark, Magia-like track with Kajiura (maybe slightly slower paced and heavy-rock like Hyde’s track), maybe even for a future Madoka Magica anime show. She definitely has the vibe and vocals to deliver! I mean, she sang “Gloria”, which is emotional and powerful!
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george1234
Moderator
Interesting. I imagine her songs are gonna be kinda AIMER-like.
CloisteredFlame
Sailor Yuki
That would be interesting indeed.
I’m looking forward to more context and news on this change. I’m glad she’s decided to continue singing and is just taking control of her career more directly, I feel.
george1234
Moderator
She has a few stories on IG where people ask her what kind of music she is gonna make. I tried to OCR it but its a mess. I think she just directs people to her X account at the end.
CloisteredFlame
Sailor Yuki
Yeah that doesn’t always work.
A good way to gradually make that her main info channel for fans. There’s curiosity around her from Kajiura fans, and the resulting mystery of the self-transformation or evolution as an artist is something we’re imagining (anticipating, at least I am) because there’s so little info right now.
Reminds me a bit of how Hikaru’s early H-el-ical// identity was shaping up a bit interestingly at the beginning, but she became a bit all over the place conceptually and visually, as her anisong work (disclose, alternate) had the edgy, energetic vibe but the rest of her music didn’t complement that enough for it to become her musical brand. Also, changing her look - hair colors especially - was, frankly confusing at a point, rather than interesting.
Many of Kajiura’s guest artists have a consistent brand (and often musical/vocal) image - KOKIA, Kasahara, REMI, ASCA, ReoNa, Aimer, etc., even if they can cover different song styles.
george1234
Moderator
Thats true. It feels like she wasnt sure about what she wanted to do but trying out random ideas.