How Vocaloid became the soundtrack to liminal spaces
Before "Backrooms" became a movie, the singing-synthesizer software Vocaloid was the hallmark of the liminal and the uneasy in Japan.
The Japanese film "Backrooms" has become a box-office sensation after making its debut in American theaters earlier this year. Directed by 21-year-old Kane Parsons on a modest budget, the movie has grossed over $394 million worldwide. The inspiration for "Backrooms" comes from Parsons' YouTube series, which was itself inspired by "the Backrooms," an internet meme that originated in 2019. This meme depicts an infinite stretch of pale yellow rooms that exist in a separate reality.
Prior to the film's release, Japanese artists had already been exploring similar eerie themes with the help of a unique musical tool: Vocaloid, a singing-synthesizer software developed by Yamaha. This software enables users to create virtual characters with distinct vocal styles. The most well-known Vocaloid creation is Hatsune Miku, introduced by Crypton Future Media in 2007. Hatsune Miku has become an iconic figure in Japanese pop culture.
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