SEIYUU LOUNGE

2023 may have been a quiet year, one in which there was neither a focus on innovation nor a focus on enhancing the quality of the already ongoing 2D music projects out there. Still, there were a couple of warriors that made their way through in a year to forget. At the same time, there were, indeed, some 2D music projects that started to fade away from the spotlight. Some announced hiatuses, other...

The end-year features kick off with this episode of SEIYUU LOUNGE! In this episode, you and I are going to cover the solo artist and 2D group debuts of 2023 and explore a bit why there was barely any activity this year when it came to, especially, 2D group and seiyuu units debuts. Did you enjoy this episode? Consider ranking this podcast or leaving a review on your preferred podcast streaming plat...

2023 was the very first year since 2014 in which less than five 2D music projects were launched.  Given how we all got used to many 2D music projects launching per year, it sounds crazy to have so few launching in 2023. It seems that after getting dozens of new projects per year since 2015 - to the point of oversaturation - things have started to slow down. But why is that happening?  What could b...

Extremely underrated yet surprising debut mini-album, Koutaro Nishiyama's “CITY” counts with a beautiful, loungy set of tunes that are made to bring a smile to your face . This mini-album channels the summer regardless of the season you are in. You can feel that late afternoon warmth, staring at the sea/beach while enjoying tasteful lounge music. Did you enjoy this episode? Consider ranking th...

Digital singles have become the latest trend for male seiyuu artists and 2D groups. However, most of the times, these songs make their way into the full CD releases down the road. When a seiyuu artist or 2D group releases multiple digital singles leading up to an album and that album includes all those songs and barely any new, aren’t digital singles ruining the fun that should be reserved for ful...

Nowadays, everywhere you look, a male seiyuu artist or 2D group is releasing digital singles. These are a small taste of what a seiyuu artist or 2D group has been doing, an intermission between big CDs.  In this unscripted episode, let’s talk about digital singles and how some examples in 2023 may end up setting a weird trend down the line. For music reviews, check:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.handthatfee...

Shoya Chiba finally announced his solo debut with King Amusement Creative, set for the release of his 1st EP in January 2024. This was long overdue but why am I saying this? Why do I consider Shoya Chiba to be the next big thing among male seiyuu artists? Time to analyze - and finally celebrate - this solo debut. For music reviews, check:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.handthatfeedshq.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Did you enjoy...

Get ready to dive deep into the art of voice acting auditions with an insight that might just turn your perceptions upside down!  Join me as I uncover the secrets shared by Takaaki Saiki, a Manager at Amuleto, one of the voice acting talent agencies in Japan, in a seminar held in April 2023 in Japan titled "The Key to Passing a Voice Actor Audition: Trying Not to Act Too Well!?" For musi...

Although it easily goes under the radar for many fans of male seiyuu music, Shouta Aoi's "ECLIPSE" is a genuinely solid single. But in this episode, more than talking into deep detail about "ECLIPSE", I ended up going into a bit of detail into what is Shouta Aoi's best song to date, the 7-minute long, post-rock ballad, "I am". This is an unscripted episode and...

Shredding rock tunes, exciting pop anthems, groovy and funky music aplenty to light up the summer, emotional performances and some surprises. The 3rd quarter was eventful so if you are thinking that there is no way you can keep up with everything, I am here to help you with a selection of must-listen CDs in various music genres by your favorite male seiyuu artists, units, bands and 2D groups. Did...

Yuma Uchida's 2nd full-length album “Equal” is filled with highlights, plenty of jaw-dropping performances, and a lot of quality. This is the perfect sophomore album for him and one that raised the bar yet again for the talented R&B pop artist. This is an unscripted episode all about Yuma Uchida's "equal". For music reviews, check:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.handthatfeedshq.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

2020 arrived and with it came Kashicomi's best mini-album to date, "Dusk". Overflowing with rock tunes, boasting technical, harmonious vocals (while showcasing the versatility of Shoya Chiba and Sho Nogami as singers) and delivering a set of emotional performances, "Dusk" set a really high bar for what is expected of a seiyuu unit. While not particularly popular, this mini-...

You and I are back to delve into the essence of the voice acting industry, guided by none other than Daisuke Namikawa. In this episode, we uncover the invaluable insights he shared during a special lecture held early in 2023 titled "Three Tips for Surviving in the Voice Acting Industry". So, buckle up and get ready to unravel the secrets that lie within the heart of the seiyuu industry!...

One of the most iconic CDs ever released by a 2D music group, TRIGGER's "REGALITY" arrived with a solid, heartwrenching, and relatable story that ended up propelling itself to #1 on Oricon's Weekly Albums chart. With Soma Saito, Wataru Hatano and Takuya Sato leading the way in a set of outstanding performances, the CD marked the very first time a 2D group ever got #1 on Oricon&#3...

Superstar seiyuu, narrator, apparel designer, author, actor, YouTuber and former solo artist Yuki Kaji has shared in his book “Yuki Kaji Dialogues -en-” how is the seiyuu industry behind-the-scenes, lessons he learned, mistakes he made, how to get into voice acting, how much the voice acting industry has changed as well as special talk-style interviews with fellow seiyuu about those same changes....

Easily regarded as one of the best albums to be released in the past 20 years by a male seiyuu artist, Soma Saito's "in bloom" is no stranger to accolades, positive reviews, and a whole lot of respect by fans, casual listeners and even the Japanese press. In many ways, "in bloom", Saito's 2nd full-length album released in 2020, is dark, intense and deeply emotional. It...

In 2020, Makoto Furukawa released his 1st full-length album and fans were not expecting just how amazing this two-act, cinematic album would be. With most of the lyrics written by Furukawa and an interesting yet thought-provoking world created for you, the sound of classic, bebop, and swing jazz echoes, as Makoto Furukawa takes the stage to charismatically lead the way as its storyteller. It is ti...

Big dreams and ambitious concepts can make a 2D music project popular but quite frequently, the money invested in each project ends up determining which projects stay up and remain active and which disappear from the public eye. But there is much more to it. Let's dive into detail, creating 2 fictitious 2D music projects - one with 100.000€/$ and another with 1.000.000€/$ and see how those bud...

THTFHQ has been sharing news, reviews, and list articles in English about music performed by male seiyuu artists and 2D groups since 2010, catering to international fans. SEIYUU LOUNGE covers the seiyuu industry with behind-the-scenes insights and historical facts since 2020. Perfect for male seiyuu fans. To celebrate both milestones, I, your host, Vanessa, created a viewable episode: answering so...

The single that opened the doors for 2D music projects to be taken seriously. The very 1st CD to chart at #1 on Oricon's Weekly Singles Chart. An iconic CD with one of the most addictive pop tunes by a 2D idol group. In this unscripted episode, I talk about QUARTET NIGHT's iconic CD "GOD's S.T.A.R". For music reviews, check:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.handthatfeedshq.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Did you...

In this episode let's talk about fans' love for seiyuu and the boundaries that should be respected. Loving seiyuu is okay. Trying to meddle in their personal lives, wishing them hell when they announce their marriage, or when they are going to become parents is not okay. From stalking to spreading rumors, asking seiyuu to apologize for being happy, wishing them to divorce their significant...

Now considered a "classic" CD, "BREAK" was the start of an amazing journey filled with accolades and superstar status for Mamoru Miyano. Overflowing with R&B tunes with an easy listening and groovy sound and already high-quality performances on the vocal end, this was the album that introduced me to male seiyuu music and, ultimately, without it, you wouldn't be listenin...

2023 may not have started as well as I expected but hey, it seems the 2nd quarter of the year brought some interesting CDs to the table. Citypop, funk, and disco have had a big presence and as such, most of the music released in the 2nd quarter is incredibly groovy and danceable, in a way creating the perfect bridge to the summer season we are now in. Let's talk about some of the highlights in...

How many times have you seen your favorite 2D music projects stopping activities, going on hiatuses or announcing their end? I can safely say that I've seen that too many times with some of my favorite 2D music projects. But why don't 2D music projects last longer? For music reviews, check:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.handthatfeedshq.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Did you enjoy this episode? Consider ranking this podc...

An underrated gem, MEDICODE's self-titled debut CD "MEDICODE" continues to be one of the best showcases of what versatility as a singer or even what being a vocal chameleon means for male seiyuu. With a young, still unknown, Soma Saito on vocals, the visual-kei band, part of the FlyME Project, was doing unique things in the music industry. From the faux baritone technique to the firs...