Kosuke Terayama (Japanese: 寺山 幸助, Hepburn: Terayama Kōsuke, born December 16, 1986), known professionally as Deco*27 (stylized in all caps and pronounced "Dekonīna") is a Japanese musician, Vocaloid producer, and songwriter. He is considered to be one of the most influential Vocaloid producers of the early 2010s, along with wowaka and Kenshi Yonezu.[2][3]
Early life
Deco*27 was raised in Fukuoka, Japan. At age 13, he taught himself how to play the guitar, a choice that was inspired by his father, who would sing and play guitar for Kosuke as a child.[4] In high school, he joined a band.[5] When he was a college student, he discovered the video sharing platform Nico Nico Douga and was impressed by Vocaloid music when he saw a music video of a Livetune song.[6] He then began to study DTM to make Vocaloid songs.[7][8]
Career
2008–2012: Career beginnings and breakthrough
In 2008, Deco*27 debuted as a Vocaloid producer. His stage name was a fusion of the Japanese word for forehead, "Deco", and his favorite numbers. He later added an asterisk.[9] On May 17, 2009, he released his first self-produced doujin album produced.[10] In July 2009, he released the music video for "Love Words," in which he expressed his gratitude and appreciation for his listeners.[11] "Love Words" was included on his debut album Sou Ai Sei Ri Ron. This album debuted at number 42 on the Oricon Albums Chart, and became his first entry on the chart. He later released more "Love Words" sequels with the same concept, with "Love Words 4" being released on May 28, 2022.[12][13]
On April 14, 2010, Deco*27 released "Yowamushi Mont Blanc" featuring GUMI. The song was viewed over 1 million times on Nico Nico Douga within 5 months of its release.[14] A light novel adaptation was released on March 26, 2016.[15] The song was used in a video trend that combined the song with images of Hiroyuki Nishimura and the phrase "I ain't got no data." The trend became an Internet meme in 2022.[16]
Deco*27 released "Mozaik Role" on Jule 15, 2010. The song was covered by many utaites and had a strong influence on early utaite culture.[17] It has about 12 million views on Nico Nico Douga as of July 2023, making it his most-played song,[18] and is the sixth most viewed Vocaloid song on that platform as of September 2024.[19] The popularity of this song would also additionally contribute to GUMI experiencing an increase in sales.[20] The song's remake was released 10 years after its initial release.[21]
On November 25, 2010, Deco*27 released "Mukashi Mukashi no Kyou no Boku" as the theme song for Syukan Hajimete no Hatsune Miku.[22] On December 1, 2010, "Aimai Elegy" featuring Marina was released.[23] Two weeks later, a studio album of the same name as the song was released. It debuted at number 11 on the Oricon Albums Chart.
In 2011, Deco*27 formed a band Galaxias! with Ko Shibasaki and TeddyLoid.[24][25] Their debut album was released on November 23 of that year.[26] In the same year he formed another band, Love Lashes Forever, with Mai, Hiro and Alex.[27]
On July 27, 2011, Deco*27 released the debut non-Vocaloid single "Light Lag" featuring Topi.[28] Four months later, he released the single "Egomama/Love Distance Long Affair".[29][30] These served as singles for his third studio album, Love Calendar, released on July 25, 2012.[31] This was his first album without Vocaloid[32] and featured guest appearances by Shoko Nakagawa and Aoi Yūki.[33] A manga based on this album was serialized in Monthly BIG GANGAN from 2012 to 2013.[34]
2013–2015: Return to Vocaloid
In June 2013, Deco*27 considered quitting his music career because he had done everything he wanted to do.[35] However, when he participated in a festival Sónar, he was reminded of the quality of Vocaloid music, and when he saw his song being played and enjoyed at Hatsune Miku Magical Mirai 2013 in Yokohama, he realized that his music was being enjoyed by many people, rejuvenating his desire to continue creating Vocaloid music.[36] Consequently, he changed the concept of his compilation album Deco*27 Vocaloid Collection 2008~2012, which was to be released on December 18, 2013, from "goodbye" to "hello from now on".[37]
On September 7, 2013, Deco*27 released "Mousou Zei". This was the first Vocaloid song he had written in a year and eight months. It depicted the way he came to resume his Vocaloid activities.[38] He then released one song a month for nine months.[39] His fourth studio album, Conti New, which included these songs, was released on March 26, 2014.[40] All songs were written using Hatsune Miku.[35][41]
Deco*27 was a co-writer on the Shoko Nakagawa single "Choberi Good Time", released in October 2015.[42]
2016–2017: Ghost
On January 8, 2016, Deco*27 released "Ghost Rule",[43] which is regarded as one of the most important songs of the Vocaloid industry in the late 2010s.[3] It has about 11 million views on Nico Nico Douga as of September 2024, making it his second most-played song, and it is the tenth most viewed Vocaloid song on that platform as of same time.[19] With this achievement, he became the first producer to have multiple Vocaloid songs with over 10 million views on the Nico Nico Douga platform.[44] Additionally, it has garnered approximately 49 million views on YouTube as of October 2024.[45] He stated that with "Ghost Rule"'s popularity, he "hoped that people of the new generation would become aware of Vocaloid's culture, and produce more and more works."[46]
On September 22, 2016, he released his fifth studio album Ghost, which also included "Ghost Rule".[47] This album became his first entry on the Billboard Japan Hot Albums. The title of the album is a reference to death and reincarnation. The sound of this album is loud rock with elements of hip hop.[48] The single "Delusional Sentimental Compensation Federation" from the album was released on November 18, 2016.[49] The music video for the song had about 58 million views on YouTube as of August 2024, making it the most viewed song on the album and the fourth most viewed song on his YouTube channel.[50]
In 2017, Deco*27 released "Hibana". The song was the first to be composed by Rockwell.[51] It was written to contribute to the album HATSUNE MIKU 10th Anniversary Album Re:Start.[52] It has about 10 million views on Nico Nico Douga as of September 2024.[19] It placed first in the Netolabo-compiled 2021 ranking of his most popular songs.[53]
2018–2020: Android Girl and Undead Alice
On January 18, 2019, Deco*27 released "Otome Dissection".[54] This song is considered one of the best examples of slow-tempo Vocaloid songs from the late 2010s.[55] It attracted attention for its focus on themes of murder and suicide.[56] The single featured on his sixth studio album Android Girl, released on May 22, 2019.[57] Rockwell wrote all of the songs on this album.[58] The album reached number eight on both the Billboard Japan Hot Albums and Oricon Albums Charts, his first Top 10 entry and biggest hit.
On December 16, 2020, Deco*27 released Undead Alice.[59] This album was revealed to be the last in an album trilogy of albums, following Ghost and Android Girl.[60] The common concept of these albums is "becoming human".[61]
2021–2023: Mannequin
On March 9, 2021, Deco*27 released "The Vampire", his first dance-pop song. It went viral on TikTok.[62] The music video for the song had about 82 million views on YouTube as of August 2024, and it is the most viewed song on his YouTube channel.[50] The song uses vampires as a metaphor for hidden love.[63][64]
On March 9, 2022, Deco*27 released his eighth studio album Mannequin.[68] The concept of this album is "all idols are Hatsune Miku", and each song has its own Hatsune Miku concept.[69]
2023–present: Continued success
On January 14, 2023, Deco*27 released the song "(Not) A Devil" with PinocchioP.[70][71] The two each used a different voicebank of Hatsune Miku.[72] It became the number one single on Billboard Japan's newly-instituted Niconico Vocaloid Songs Top 20 singles chart,[73] and became both Deco*27's and Pinocchiop's first number-one song.[74] It ranked as the 12th best-performing song of the year on the year-end chart of 2023.[75]
On May 19, 2023, Deco*27 released "Rabbit Hole".[76] This song became a sleeper hit, and received considerable renewed attention in 2024[77][78] when Hatsune Miku artist and animator "channelcaststation" uploaded a "Rabbit Hole" animation on February 17, 2024 titled "Pure Pure".[79] As of September 2024, it had over five million views on YouTube. The song then reached number five in Global Japan Songs excl. Japan for the week of April 2, 2024.[80] It has been streamed over 40 million times on Spotify as of September 11, 2024.[81]
To celebrate the 16th anniversary of Hatsune Miku's birth, Deco*27 released "Blue Planet" on August 31, 2023.[82][83] The song debuted at number one on Niconico Vocaloid Songs Top 20 and becoming his second number one song.[84]
On 30 August 2024, Deco*27 announced a 9th Album, titled "Transform" to be released on the 27th of November 2024.[86] The album is composed of 2 sides, with majority of the songs hit singles of his from 2022-2024, including "Rabbit Hole", "Blue Planet", "Salamander" and others.
Artistry
Early in his career, Deco*27's sound was described as rock-based, flexibly absorbing folk and electronic music.[87] His rock style is influenced by Blink-182, Sum 41, Green Day, and others.[4] Later on in his career, his music became a combination of rock and hyperpop because of the influence of his collaborator, Japanese songwriter Rockwell.[88][89]
Most of Deco*27's music contains themes of love for parents, friends and lovers.[90][91] He is also known for his frequent use of sexually explicit lyrics. This is especially evident in "Animal", which focuses on a girl with a voracious sexual appetite.[5][92] When "Sad Girl Sex" was released in 2024, its sexual lyrics and title caused some controversy.[93] His lyric style is influenced by Chiharu Matsuyama, 19, Yuzu, and Bump of Chicken.[94]
Business ventures
Otoiro
Deco*27 started his creative studio, Otoiro, under NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan. This was caused by the termination of his contract with U/M/A/A.[95] Akka became the first artist signed to the new studio.[96] Four months after its establishment, more than ten creators had signed on.[97] The name "Otoiro" is taken from the Japanese words "oto" (音) for melodies and "iro" (色) for colors.[98]
Holo*27
Holo*27 is a musical project between Deco*27 and virtual YouTuber agency Hololive.[99][100] He has been providing music to Hololive since about 2021, and Holo*27 was established as an extension of his work.[101][102]Holo*27 Originals Vol.1 was released on March 15, 2023. The album features Usada Pekora, Hoshimachi Suisei, Gawr Gura, and others.[103] It debuted at number four on the Billboard Japan Hot Albums, and Holo*27 Covers Vol.1, released on the same day, also debuted at number six on that chart.[104] A concert for the project, "holo*27 stage", was held on March 19, 2023 as part of Hololive's annual expo and full-cast concert series.[102]
