Lightning Q&A with Hyadain, YouTube’s master remixer

By Jeriaska . July 13, 2008 . 12:21pm

Hyadain creates game-related remix videos.  Not only is he responsible for arrangements of classic gaming themes, he also writes his own lyrics and sings in a variety of voices that capture the personalities of timeless videogame characters. 

 

After discovering an enthusiastic response to his series on the Japan-based video sharing site Niko Niko Douga, the remixer began posting his arrangements to YouTube as well.  He has since gained a strong international fanbase and continues to post songs today. In this lightning Q&A, Hyadain conveys a few choice messages about the purpose behind his songs, answering both in Japanese and in English.

 

E to J translation by Ryojiro Sato.  J to E translation by Hyadain. 

 

Siliconera:  Hyadain, thank you for joining us for this Q&A on the subject of your music series.  To start off, generally how long does it take you to complete each installment and what was the impetus behind embarking upon this project in the first place?

 

Hyadain:

短いもので4時間、　長いもので2週間。
どれがどれかは、秘密です。
なぜ始めたか？それは「クラッシュマン」の曲を作りたかったのです。

子どものころから、あのメロディーが大好きなのです。

the shortest one:4 hours
the longest one;2 weeks

Which is which? ….it is secret.

the reason why I started this project?

well, I just wanted to make "CRASHMAN'S THEME"
Since I was a boy, I love that melody.

 

Siliconera: Is there a reason why you choose 8 and 16-bit game titles as your inspiration?

Hyadain: 

子どものころ、ファミコンが大好きでした。
ファミコンの音楽は本当にクールだと思います。
いつも曲に合わせて歌ってました。

When I was a boy, I was absorbed in nes/snes.
The music of nes/s nes is really cool.
I was always singing with the music.

 

Siliconera:  Many believe that you work with a female singer due to the beautiful voice that appears on such songs as the Final Fantasy V a capella remix.

Hyadain:

ご冗談を！！　女性の声も僕です。コンピュータで声を変えています。ファンは
「ヒャダル子」とその声を呼びます。曲は全部独りで作ってます。
Wow! No kidding! The girl's voice is my voice. I use the computer to change the voice. My fans call her "Hyadaruk o" I make songs all by myself.

 

FF 5 で、ひとりアカペラ

 

Siliconera:  "My Home, Sweet Home" from Final Fantasy V has received a number of vocal arrangements since the game was released on the Super Famicom.  Your version has a unique style all its own.  What language did you choose to sing and what atmosphere did you wish to lend the song?

 

Hyadain:

架空の言語です。故郷や両親、子どもの頃の思い出を思いながら曲を作りました。

Imaginar y language. I just made this song as I thought of my hometown, parents, and childhood memory.

 

Siliconera: Your original Street Fighter II tune "The World Warrior" is extremely popular online and includes vocal performances by many of the game's major characters. Your Blanka impression always makes me smile because it is exactly how I would expect the character's voice to sound based on his victory cries.

 

Hyadain:

約15年前、スト２を初めてプレイしました。
それ以来、１５年間、各キャラクターの声を想像していました。

About 15years ago, I played "Street Fighter II" for the first time.
Since then, for 15 years, I have imagined each voice.
So, It was very easy for me to decide each character's voice when I recorded.

 

 
Siliconera:  Why is it that you will not make mp3s of your songs available?

 

Hyadain:

著作権です。僕は作詞、歌、アレンジをしますが、作曲は違うから。

Copyright (Composer of the songs is not me.I just remix.)

 

Siliconera:  What do you do to prepare your voice for these songs?

Hyadain: 

インスピレーションです。
どうやって歌うかをじっくり考えたことは

ありません。

Inspiration. I've never stopped to think how to sing.

 

Siliconera:  Golbez's four fiends all have solos in your Final Fantasy IV stage music remix.  What do you think of musicals in general?

Hyadain:

ゴルベーザ四天王ってかっこいいですよね。
とても強くて倒せなくて、印象的だったんです。

ミュージカル？大好きです。NYにいたころRENTを２０回観に行きました。

Golbez's Four Lords of the Elements are very cool.
They were very impressive for me as they were too strong to beat.

Musical? I love. When I've been in NY, I went to the theater 20 times to see Musical "RENT"

 


Siliconera:  For "Tina/Terra" you used English-language lyrics and even referenced the overseas localization.  Did you ever expect to find such a large audience abroad?

Hyadain:

海外のファンを意識したことはありません。実は、日本人だけでなく

多くの外国人が僕の曲を聴いていることに、とても驚いています。すごい。
I'm afraid but never. Actually, I'm very surprised that not only Japanese but many foreigners listen to my music!! Amazing!!

 

Siliconera:  How do you feel about your popularity among fans of your music videos?

Hyadain:

「日本のゲームってなんて有名なんだろう」って誇らしく思いました。

Surprised, excited, pleased.
And I proudly thought,"How popular Japanese games are!!"

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSNJ9KcOnF8

FF6 Tina / Terra

 

Siliconera: An aura of mystery surrounds Hyadain, but is that what you intended?

Hyadain: 

んー。ミステリアスは面白い、でしょ？

Well, mysterious is interesting, isn' it?

 

Siliconera:  Can you offer us any details about what to expect for the future of Hyadain?

Hyadain:

いえ。ほとんど予告はしたことありません。だって、毎回、リスナーを驚かせたいから。

No. I've rarely showed my plan. Why? Because I want to surprise listners every time.

 

For more of the music of Hyadain, visit the artist's YouTube page. 



  • jeffx
    Are you kidding? I LOVE THIS GUY! Top notch interview guys, but you should have put the animated FFIV video with subs for everyone to understand. And I was a little freaked out when I first learned he does the female vocals as well. Total genius, this guy.
  • ShinRekka
    Really great post man! And yeah, seen some of Hyadain's videos a while ago and they're all made of pure awesome....seriously. Can't wait to see his future works. :D
  • I loved the Super Mario one he did. Now that I know that he voices the female characters I feel kind of ...I don't know.
  • Tofuuu
    Someone actually pointed this out in another Youtube post about the World Fighter theme...

    Anyone notice that Zangief's melody is that of Tetris? I would've loved to know if Hyadain did that on purpose (and reason behind it) or if it was just pure coincidence.
  • Jeriaska
    There are a couple subtitled versions of the Four Fiends theme, but opinions might differ about the accuracy of the translations. Here is one of them, anyway: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmoRPj8raWc
  • Mikael
    I really liked the mario one he did, must say this ff 4 fiend one is pretty cool, thanks for the link for the translation Jeriaska as I was wondering about what it all means
  • Aoshi00
    Nice vids, I never came across these before. The FF IV one is especially awesome, the lyrics are really fitting for every single song (the Megaman Crashman one, lol..) It's amazing he does those sexy female voices too, not like the funny South Park ones. That's one talented guy. I thought about the SF II song a lot at work today :)
  • shotasy
    He has something about him that fascinates others.I love Super Mario too( one he did remix).If you have interest him, go to niconico-douga OR youtube, and listen his another song.Anyway Super Mario:http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=mO26RQkfID8
  • Laexerias
    <3 Hes such a great guy.
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