https://natalie.mu/music/pp/tokinosora03

Tokino Sora, a popular VTuber and one of the "founding members" of the popular VTuber group Hololive, has been active since the dawn of the VTuber era in 2017. She has gained popularity for her dazzling idol persona and high-level performance skills. Her album, "Pulse," the first in approximately three years, is now complete.

For this album, she herself proposed working with various internet-based creators to produce the songs. The result is a diverse work where you can enjoy different beats and musical styles in each track. We spoke with her—a performer who continues to push forward even as she celebrates her 8th anniversary—about the production stories and the thoughts she poured into the album.

Interview and text by Jin Sugiyama

Tokino Sora: "People tell me I look like I'm having so much fun"—How She's Changed Over Three Years

──This is your first full album since "Sign" was released in 2022, which was a three-year gap. What's been most memorable for you in the time since your last album's release?

First, being able to perform an opening theme song for an anime ("My Wife Has No Emotion") for the very first time with "Okaerinasai" was a really big deal for me. Usually, the correct way to sing is "just be yourself," but that's not the case for tie-in songs for anime or dramas. It's important to express yourself in a way that aligns with the work, so I tried a different singing style for that song. It was a really challenging part of the process, but also a lot of fun.

──It feels like in the last three years, your singing style and expression have been continuously evolving.

I agree. I feel like I've changed a lot in these three years. I started singing ballads, and I've also changed my voice to match the singing style, so if someone asked me, "Could you sing like you did on your old albums?" I think it would be very difficult. Also, it was memorable to have NayutalieN-san (the composer of the cover song "Alien Alien," which was a turning point for my popularity) write the song "Star Star Start" for my EP, "STAR STAR☆T" (released in March 2024). I was so happy that the music video also had that NayutalieN-esque feel to it.

Embracing a More Authentic Self

──Outside of your music, it seems like you've become much more active in streaming. It feels like these last three years have brought changes in many different aspects.

I think so too. It's been in the last three years that I started doing short-form videos and began sharing things I love, like how I'm a fan of "Romancing SaGa" or "Story of Seasons." When I first debuted, the image people had of me was "mature" and "pure," and I felt there was a disconnect between that public image and my personal tastes. At first, I was hesitant, wondering, "How much should I share?" But when I actually started talking about things like my love for video games, I realized that people accepted it without my image changing that much. From that point on, I started to think that the more I talked about the things I love, the more my fans (Soratomo) would understand me, and the easier it would be for new people to connect.

──So, you've become more and more able to be your authentic self in your work.

I had been putting some limits on myself early on (laughs). Even now, I haven't gotten rid of all those limits, but I think I'm much closer to my true self. I'm having more fun now than I was three years ago, and people around me tell me, "You look like you're having so much fun."

The Birth of a New Album

──When did the discussions for this new album start?

I think it was last year. After releasing my last album, I put out a lot of EPs and singles, so the idea came up, "Maybe it's time for another full album?" But at first, I was a little hesitant. I had already released so many songs and I wanted to treasure each one. Once the number of songs I had passed 70, I started to think, "Will people be able to remember them all if I keep adding more?" But since it had been three years since my last full album, I started to consider, "Maybe it's a good idea to release a new work and completely change the color of my music."

──The album "Pulse" is a project that's taken on new musical challenges more than ever before.

While my previous albums have a lot of great songs, they were primarily written by composers who work on idol songs and J-POP artists. This time, while still keeping my identity as an "idol," I proposed, "I want an album where the songs are made by creators who've come from the internet." I was hoping it would become a work that brought together the different "colors" of each creator.

The Album Filled with "8"

──Let's talk about the songs on the album one by one. First, let's start with the first track, "Swallow Tail."

"Swallow Tail" was a song that was planned to be released as a pre-release track on my birthday. It's a difficult song to sing, but I think it turned out to be really refreshing. It was written by buzzG-san, who also wrote "Heroic Heroine" for my first album, "Dreaming!" (released in March 2019), so in that sense, I felt it was a perfect fit for my birthday.

──The lyrics also seem to be directed at your fans, the Soratomo.

Yes, they do. However, when you read them carefully, I don't think they're all that bright. The lyrics convey the meaning, "Even though there are difficult times, let's continue this journey together." The song's mood shifts at the line, "The pain and tears in the corner of my heart are surely for something precious," so I was conscious of singing that part with a lot of strength.

──The second track, "Diva," has a shimmering synth sound, like future bass.

It's such a cool song, isn't it? The lyrics include the line, "If I could become your diva," so I sang it while imagining something like an anime about music.

──Are you thinking of a work like "Macross," for example?

Yes, something like that (laughs). "Diva" has a more mature and cool vibe than my previous songs, so for the A-melody of the second verse, "like a flower that never withers, one by one," I consciously sang it more coolly than I would have normally. I also love the flow of the lyrics and melody in the first half of the chorus, "Because spinning words and singing is my destiny."

Next, with "∞Super Infinity∞," the lyrics are so unique that when I first read them, I was like, "Huh?" (laughs). But it's a catchy and fun song to dance to. It's a song where everyone can make a peace sign, like "Choudempa Peace!", so I sang it with the hope of making a song that everyone could dance along to. I really want people to hear it at a live show.

──The fourth track, "I T8KE ME," has an "8" in the title, which I assume is a nod to your 8th anniversary.

"I T8KE ME" is a really strange song. When I first heard it, both the music and lyrics felt "so dark!" But as I thought deeply about the lyrics and actually sang it, I felt that the message, "I'm always smiling in front of everyone, so please don't notice me when I'm not," really expressed my feelings as an idol. On the other hand, the lyric, "Leafy greens are too fast," honestly made me think, "What does that even mean?" (laughs). It's a fascinating song. For this one, I wanted to create a gap between the chorus and the rest of the song, so I consciously sang the parts leading up to the chorus in a very flat, detached way.

──How about the fifth track, "Fallin' Rollin' Coaster"? It's a cute electronic tune with Jersey Club elements.

It's just a cute song, period. Among the songs on this album that I sang solo, it's the only one that's a cute style—a song that feels very much like me. There's a rapid, spoken-word part that I don't even know if you'd call rap. I remember checking with the staff, asking, "Is this right?" as I sang that part. It was so embarrassing (laughs). I think it would be so much fun if the Soratomo could say the parts "Kyū kyu-kyun jōshō?" (Sudden swoon-swoon rise?) and "Kyū kyu-kyun kōka?" (Sudden swoon-swoon fall?) during a live performance.

"Which is Cuter? Both are Kawaii♡"

──What about the collaboration song with Suzuha Suu and Momiyama Himeri from Takanenoshikoko, "Virtualia Love"?

This song is all about constantly asking, "Do you prefer virtual or real?" and "Which is cuter?"

──It's almost like a kawaii version of an MC battle. I thought it was very unique how you invited guests, yet you're all still asking each other, "Which is cuter?"

(Laughs). And then the song concludes with, "Both are Kawaii♡," so I want everyone at the live show to yell, "Both are Kawaii♡!!" too. Both of them have really cute voices, and since my voice is more characterized by powerful singing, I was initially worried if it would match. But I'm glad it turned out so well. I recorded my part first and then gave them the audio, so I did my best to put out my most "kawaii" voice to serve as a good reference for them. It was actually my very first featuring song, so I realized how much fun it is to make a song with other idols.

──It's surprising that it was your first time being featured on a track.

It's true. SorAZ (the unit with AZKi from the same agency) was a unit, not a featuring collaboration. I wondered what the vibe would be like, but I hoped that the three of our voices wouldn't clash.

──You wanted to bring out the best in each of your voices.

Yes. Also, I love the lyric in this song, "I want you to support me more♡." It's hard to say things like, "You should support us more!" in everyday life, right? (laughs). I think there's a special quality to being able to say it with all your might because it's in a song. It's a song that's sure to get the crowd excited at a live show.

──The next track, "Amateraterrace," uses very complex chords.

"Amateraterrace" has a fluffy, cute vibe, but if you only listen to the melody, it's a very strange song. At first, I was worried it was too difficult to sing, but when I actually recorded it, I found it more enjoyable to sing than any other song on the album. It's the kind of song you want to hum along to or listen to while driving. Also, this song, and others on the album, have various hidden "8s" to mark my 8th anniversary. "Amateraterrace" has the lyric "eight minutes before," and the infinity symbol "∞" in the title of "∞Super Infinity∞" becomes an "8" when turned sideways. During the recording for "Amateraterrace," the staff told me to "sing without putting so much power into it" when I was singing normally, so I was able to learn a new, "gentle way of singing."

The Boundary Between My Past and Future Self

──What can you tell us about "Dancing Reed"?

This song is the theme song for the TV drama "Gurapara!". It includes lyrics that I wouldn't normally sing, so it was a new challenge for me. Also, the key is set a bit low compared to the other songs on the album. To avoid changing the image of the drama's theme song, I purposely held back on using high notes.

──So even though you're known for your high-tone voice, you specifically held back from using it for this song.

I did ask the staff if I could "raise it," but the world of the drama was the top priority. I tried to find a way to express my own style while still preserving the mature vibe and image of the drama.

──The song "Lucky Seven Whistle," which was released for your 7th anniversary, is also included.

Even though this is an album for my 8th anniversary, it includes a song from my 7th anniversary (laughs). At first, it felt a little out of place, and I wondered, "What's the right order to put this in?" But when it was actually included, it felt like a part of my past self from the last three years was also being represented. I think having this song makes the album a work that lets people see the various sides of me from the last three years.

──Could you also talk about "Okaerinasai," your first anime tie-in song, which you mentioned briefly at the beginning?

I think "Okaerinasai" is a song with a very strong sense of "the future" rather than just "the past." I believe this album is a boundary between my past self and my future self. In that sense, "Okaerinasai" was the first song where I changed my singing style for an anime tie-in and stepped into a new challenge. With that in mind, it fits well with the 8th-anniversary theme of "wanting to do something new."

──The limited-edition version comes with a second disc containing 8 remixes of your past songs. It's very interesting how many of them are so drastically different from the original.

When I first heard about the remixes, I thought they would choose only fast-paced songs, but the song selection was different, which I found very interesting. The direction of including these remixes aligns with my personal goal of "focusing on dance music," which I've been doing since my 7th-anniversary live show. I hope people will dance along when they hear them in clubs or other places.

──Can you also tell us about the origin of the album title, "Pulse"?

I chose the word "Pulse" because it means "pulse" or "heartbeat," and I thought it was a perfect fit for this album, which includes many fast-paced, dynamic songs. What's more, the way a bee flies in a figure-eight to find honey is also called "pulse," so it's another nod to the number "8"!

I think my previous albums had a strong sense of unity throughout, but this album has an interesting mix of songs with different directions. Yet, when you listen to the whole thing, you can still feel a sense of unity. As I'm approaching my 10th anniversary, I feel like I've been able to challenge myself to show a more diverse side of me, not just the cute idol.

──It's true that your 10th anniversary is just around the corner.

It's very emotional to think, "In two more years, my career will have lasted for a double-digit number of years...!" I never thought I would continue for so long, and at the same time, I also feel that "8 years is surprisingly short," which is a strange feeling. Perhaps because I've been continuously challenging myself, it feels like "I reached my 8th anniversary before I knew it." I think that's because I've always had so much fun doing things with my fans, the Soratomo. Of course, sometimes I feel the difficulty of continuing, but for me, the feeling of "It's so fun" always comes before any sense of "This is tough" or "This is difficult." I think I've just been moving forward with that feeling alone. When you're having fun, time passes quickly, and I think that's what these eight years have been like for me.

──In a previous interview, you mentioned that your production team and staff incorporate your ideas. Do you feel a sense of enjoyment in being able to express your own style?

It's half pressure, half happiness (laughs). That's because when you put your own style out there, if it fails, it's also your responsibility. But I'm very happy to be able to express my own style, and that's why I want to put my desires into words and ensure they align with my own personal "color."

──Your live show, "Tokino Sora 8th Anniversary Party 'Starry Bl∞min'," will be held in October. What are you looking forward to at this live show?

It's a two-day event, and we have a lot of songs planned that involve dancing. I'm working hard on my preparations because I want everyone to get sweaty and dance along with me! Please come and dance with us!

Profile: Tokino Sora

A VTuber born on May 15th. Since September 2017, she has been active mainly through live streams and video uploads on her YouTube channel, along with her best friend and behind-the-scenes manager, Friend A (achan), and her bear plushie, Ankimo. She made her major debut in March 2019 with the album "Dreaming!" under Victor Entertainment. In September 2022, she released her 4th album, "Sign," to celebrate her 5th anniversary. She released "Pulse" in September 2025 and is scheduled to hold a solo concert in October to commemorate her 8th anniversary.