🎤 Artist Interview: Suzie - Bringing Emotion to Vocaloid Storytelling

In the ever-evolving Vocaloid scene, few creators capture emotion and sincerity quite like Suzie. From discovering Vocaloid as a child to producing heartfelt songs like hourhand and SPEED OF SPICE, Suzie’s journey is a story of growth, courage, and self-expression. Their works balance strong character storytelling with an emotional core that resonates deeply with listeners.

In this exclusive interview, Suzie opens up about their creative process, the inspiration behind their favorite voicebanks, and what it truly means to create music from the heart.

 1. Can you tell us a little about how you got started as a Vocaloid producer?

I’ve known about VOCALOID since I was really young; like single-digit age young. I got really hooked around age 12, when I started listening almost exclusively to producers like Giga, Kurage-P (Takeaki Wada), Harumaki Gohan, Mitchie M, etc. For a long time, I was just a listener. At some point, around 15 years old, I started experimenting with VOCALOID covers, trying to see how well I could make the characters sing; Mitchie M’s work in particular was a huge inspiration.
Back then, I never thought I’d be able to make music myself. I’m pretty sure there’s footage somewhere of teenage me saying I’d never be capable of it. Thankfully, hourhand (produced by cnri and Alaska Sargeant) taught me how to topline. (write vocal melodies and lyrics over an instrumental) I started experimenting with arrangements, and slowly I built up the confidence to create my own original songs. I’m still learning, though! Composition is probably what I have the least experience in... But it’s been really fun so far.

2. How do you usually begin a song, with the story, melody, or visuals and how does your creative process work?

I'm honestly not the most creative person, I think I just feel a lot of things. I usually start writing melodies when I’m going through a tough time. Sometimes they come out happy and upbeat, sometimes sad and upbeat. From there, I’ll design a character based off a vocal synth I really enjoy and start building a story around them. I often brainstorm with friends along the way. Like I said, I’m not super creative in the traditional sense; I just really love making things and the process of making things!

3. What draws you to a particular Vocaloid voicebank for a project, such as Otomachi Una for hourhand?

Usually, it's a mix of both character design and voice type. For Otomachi Una, I've always adored her loud voice and her loud design. She has a very gremlin, bratty yet endearing feel to her. But I also really enjoy her softer tones, she's a very versatile voicebank. She in particular has always been my favorite for that reason.

This is kind of a hard question, 'cause it's hard to really say why I enjoy certain voices over others. I just like voices that really have a personality to them, if that makes any sense.

4. How do you approach blending music, animation, and storytelling into one cohesive piece?

I usually start with the music. These songs usually come from my own personal experience, so once I have that emotional base, I’ll design a character or story that fits the tone of the song. The visuals and animation kind of become extensions of the music, so everything feels like it belongs together rather than being separate parts.

SPEED OF SPICE is excluded from this, because honestly I just thought a racing Una was a really cute idea. Most of the time, it's some extension of a painful experience.

5. What advice would you give to aspiring Vocaloid producers exploring this creative space?

Don't be afraid to be bad at stuff! Honestly, I think this applies to most things in life. Like I said earlier, I thought I was completely incapable of making music, and here I've released 3 songs in only a year and a half!

I also think it's good to not be afraid to ask for help and resources - that REALLY gave me an upper hand. There are so many resources available nowadays to do almost anything you put your mind to, not excluding music production. You can do it!

Suzie’s story reminds us that creativity often begins with curiosity and that every “first step” matters, no matter how imperfect it feels. Their openness about learning, experimenting, and building confidence is something every indie creator can relate to.

✨ Whether you’re a Vocaloid producer, visual artist, or just someone chasing a dream, remember Suzie’s advice:

“Don’t be afraid to be bad at stuff… You can do it!”