月の兎はヴァーチュアルの夢をみる (Moon Rabbits Dream About Virtual)

If you’ve been in any spaces adjacent to Japanese internet subculture, you’re probably at least marginally aware of VTubers. Short for “virtual YouTuber,” they’re performers that play a persona fashioned after Japanese pop idols on streaming platforms. The “virtual” part comes from their use of motion captured avatars in place of their likeness, usually in the style of anime. Naturally, many of them sing, and the type of music they perform borrows equally from the canon of popular music and nerd culture. As one of the oldest VTubers that still performs today, you’d expect Mito Tsukino’s music to be typical of the genre, but her debut album is anything but. With an all-star cast of contributors at her disposal, from maestro percussionist Asa-Chang to Japanese hip-hop pioneer Seiko Ito to Coaltar of the Deepers guitarist Narasaki, Tsukino has put together a collection of pop songs that are surprisingly experimental and varied — and not only just for a VTuber.