Meika, with comments from director Yuki Yamato
“Stand by Me” MV:https://youtu.be/w5oGg8ey3HI?si=Y7t_kyXi4B_unxYk
KAMITSUBAKI STUDIO/PHENOMENON RECORD’s virtual singer-songwriter Meika’s new song “Stand By Me” was released today.
A music video directed by film director Yuki Yamato will also be released.
■“Stand By Me”, which was performed at the 4th ONE MAN LIVE “Kaika (re)”, which was the stage for the reunion with Meika, has been released.
Another version of Hanafu’s virtual singer-songwriter “Kaifu” was unveiled at Hanafu 4th ONE MAN LIVE “Kaika” held at Yoyogi Daiichi Gymnasium on Sunday, January 14, 2024. Meika”.
Meika and her fans reunited for the second time at the rebuilt performance “Kaika (re)” of the same performance held at the Makuhari Messe Event Hall on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
The long-awaited new song “Stand By Me”, whose information was released at the end of the performance, was released today, November 20th (Wednesday).
This work is a ballad song that has been requested by many fans since it was first performed at the live performance “Kaika” in January.
Meika’s songs are characterized by expressing her personal parts in her own words, expressing the initial impulses she felt as a child and the feelings of a young man who moved to Tokyo and became an adult. Expressed in unique words.
We are past the time when we can proudly say that we are children. We’ve passed the era of being stubborn and saying that we’re not children.
I suddenly found myself answering something someone said to me that I had no idea about at the time, and I realized that I was gradually forgetting memories that were close to me.
“I want you to be by my side.” At a time when it feels like nothing is gone, no matter how much I cry, I can’t bring it back, but I can’t help but feel this way. Please listen to this song that frankly describes Meika’s own feelings.
■MV created by Yuki Yamato, a film director who has created numerous movies and music videos for famous artists.
The MV for this work, “Stand By Me,” is directed by Yuki Yamato, who has worked on numerous movies and MVs, for the third time.
Meika and Yuki Yamato’s encounter dates back to 2019, when they were in charge of the theme song for the movie “Hot Gimmick Girl Meets Boy” as “Kafu”, and this led to the production of “Tenkousei” and “Higurashi no Uta”. ”, I decided to work on this work as well.
“Transfer Student” Music Video:https://youtu.be/AxlZ5DovJCs?si=mx9EAFk7XzzChX3G
“Higurashi no Uta” Music Video:https://youtu.be/xVb7RkzNeoc?si=rqrE1Rcjkun9_jEi
■A video that expresses the anxiety and conflict about the future held by adolescent high school students, and the transition of feelings from children to adults.
This MV will be released on YouTube at 19:00 on Wednesday, November 20th.
Please take a look at the visual beauty that only Meika and director Yuki Yamato can create, and the worldview that gives you a sense of ephemerality.
Meika is a new branching point in “Kafu,” which allows for a variety of approaches and expressions, and is a project that transforms her own impulsive feelings that arise from within into songs.
Please listen to the music she delivers as she advances step by step in her new endeavors as a virtual artist.
■Meika “Stand By Me” song information
https://PHENOMENON-RECORD.lnk.to/Standbyme
Lyrics / Music: Meika
Arrangement: Sosuke Oikawa
Art Director: Koki Ito
Photographer：Yusuke Kusaba
■Artist & Creator Comments
■Meika comment
“stand by me”
Following “Transfer Student” and “Higurashi no Uta,” we had director Yuki Yamato create the music video.
Each choice we make every day is like breathing. It’s a moment when everything you pick up is so fun and dazzling that you don’t have time to look at what you’re forgetting. Contrary to the lightness of each step, the feeling of being able to go anywhere, be anything, and be able to do anything, I feel as if I’m losing something every time I set foot.
I think it can happen to anyone to suddenly remember or regret the feelings they have entrusted to their chosen destination.
The girls’ various appearances and expressions tell the story of the passage of time, and I want to shout “Stand by me” together!
The phrase “stand by me” comes up many times, but in the first verse, multiple time axes are mixed together, in the second verse, there is a scene with soap bubbles that is like an image of the girl’s emotions, and in the outro. It sounds like the main character’s feelings are squeezed out from the depths of her heart.
It seemed to expand the meaning of the words I sang and the way I sang them.
In this song in particular, even though I was singing the line “I don’t want to be an adult,” it felt strange that someone other than me was singing along with me…
I’m really happy that they paid close attention to the details of the lyrics and singing style and created such a wonderful MV.
thank you.
■Director: Yuki Yamato comment
I risked the feeling that if I said it out loud, it would disappear, and the sensibilities that would be destroyed if I said it, and I accepted the baton thinking that as a video director, I had the role of protecting the performance of Meika, who had entrusted her song to me. However, the autumn that I spent there felt like I was completely surrounded and protected by Meika’s songs. During the production period, I was surrounded by songs, like a child.
When I met Meika-san the other day, I told her that the main characters in this trilogy are people who live their lives as if they were being reborn. It’s like Mr. Hanafu has been reborn as Mr. Meika.
I am once again filled with gratitude to the courageous members of the acting club who jumped into the rain, and to the staff members who wholeheartedly gave their bodies to me. I believe that many of the sights would not have been as beautiful as they were if I hadn’t met you all.
It was an irreplaceable time for me, since the trilogy with Meika-san, which had continued with “Ten School Student”, “Higurashi no Uta”, and “Stand by Me”, had come to an end. No matter what form or persona I take, I want to live my life step by step so that I can find the voice of my soul. Meika-san, thank you for being born! It was also a trilogy that celebrated Meika’s birth. Certainly, certainly.
■Meika Artist Profile
A new generation of virtual singer-songwriters.
Debuted on January 14, 2024 at Hanafu 4th ONE-MAN LIVE “Kaika” held at Yoyogi National Stadium First Gymnasium.
As a new branching point for “Kafu,” which allows for a variety of approaches and expressions to a wide range of music genres, she releases her own impulsive feelings that arise from within in song.
Using her own unique sensitivity, she converts everyday thoughts, emotions, and memories into sounds and words.
A powerful and beautiful energy blooms that no one can destroy.
Official Website：https://kaika.kamitsubaki.jp/
YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqoEiw6_SK2qhZ6yHMWBUTA
X:https://twitter.com/curling_flower
TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@virtual_kaika?_t=8jfHr5DfTC4&_r=1
■About KAMITSUBAKI STUDIO
A creative label that produces the cutting edge of internet culture together with the next generation of creators, and is developing a new era artist management business. We have created an operating system consisting of management staff who discover and develop artists, and marketing staff who have operating know-how on YouTube and SNS.
By collaborating with various creators and artists such as virtual singers, singer-songwriters, composers, videographers, story writers, illustrators, and designers, and by co-creating works with everyone who receives them, we are creating new creative works. We are taking on the challenge of creating live performances and updating the music experience itself.
Official website:https://kamitsubaki.jp/
(Managed by THINKR Co., Ltd.:https://thinkr.jp/)
