We spoke with nerdneko, an artist based in Tokyo, about the new release Stargazing Youth. We talked about “Miku-gazer” (Hatsune Miku × shoegaze), the sense of blue that permeates the work, the feelings embedded in “Stargazing × Youth,” and thoughts on today’s “pop yet chaotic” Tokyo.
Q: First off, how do you describe your music?
A: I center my work on “Miku-gazer,” which fuses Hatsune Miku with shoegaze/alternative.
Q: What led you to start making “Miku-gazer”?
A: I was blown away by the now-legendary Miku-gazer Compilation Vol.1. I already loved shoegaze, but Miku’s voice made it feel personal. Back in middle school I was also drawn to “band-like Vocaloid” artists such as Hachi (Kenshi Yonezu), wowaka, and DECO*27.
Q: What’s the origin of the artist name “nerdneko”?
A: I love cats, and I love overseas nerd culture. I mashed the two together on a whim. It turned out to be easy for listeners abroad to remember, too.
Q: This release gives off a strong sense of “blue.” Was that intentional?
A: Yes. If I translate my roots—immaturity, melancholy, the mental side—into a color, it becomes “blue.” I unified both the artwork and the sonic tone around that hazy blue.
Q: What did you want to express with the title Stargazing Youth?
A: It combines “Stargazing”—looking up at the sky, drifting into thought—with “Youth”—adolescence, incompletion. It condenses the flow of moving from the shadow of “Am I needed?” toward “searching for light,” and then releasing that feeling through thick guitar layers.
Q: What was the order of production?
A: Ironically, “Stargazing Youth” was finished last. Earlier tracks like “廃工場にて” and “放心のモラトリアム” set the direction, and over the course of a year the title track finally crystallized.
Q: Why choose Hatsune Miku rather than a human voice?
A: Miku’s slightly inorganic voice feels almost like an instrument. It retains a different, “unfinished blueness,” which blends beautifully with shoegaze’s blur.
Q: How do you feel about your music being labeled “Miku-gazer”?
A: I’m happy about it. It can bridge shoegaze fans and Vocaloid fans. There are more acts now, but not that many who explicitly fly the flag, so I want to help grow the current scene as one of its active voices.
Q: How would you describe Tokyo’s scene right now?
A: It feels “pop and chaotic,” where hyperpop-like digital textures mix with band energy. There’s constant movement of information and people, and it’s a city that readily absorbs outside elements. I see it positively.
Q: How is the overseas response? What’s next?
A: More than half of my listeners are overseas. I also feel growth through Chinese platforms like Bilibili and RED (Xiaohongshu). Plans are in motion for shows abroad, and I’m confirmed to play “TOTAL FEEDBACK” in January. A Hatsune Miku version of a song I provided to a Chinese idol will also be included on the album.
Q: Any collaborations you’re itching to try?
A: Crossovers with hyperpop/digital, and a full band setup. From both angles I want to keep searching for where the voice belongs.
Q: When do you want people to listen to this album?
A: When you feel stuck, or want to escape reality. If this is your entry point, I’d be happy if you explore the past releases too.
Stargazing Youth traces a path from the shadow of “Do I belong here?” toward “searching for light.” Pick it up when you’re halted by life or tempted to drift away. And if this is your first step into nerdneko’s world, follow the trail back to earlier works—the forward motion remains, beautifully unfinished and blue.