Wintermute is an alternative Vocaloid producer from the Kansai region of Japan -- specifically Osaka[∗], who specializes in shoegaze and dream-pop. He has been a vocaloid producer since around December of 2007, with his debut song "Mint Tea"[*]. Wintermute released several singles, before publishing his 2009 album Stray Light, and later publishing Blood Color Flower e.p. in 2015. After 11 years of inactivity in terms of music -- apart from a few 10-30 second samples posted to SoundCloud over the years [∗] -- due to problems with mental and physical health, Wintermute released his second album Ancient Aliens Overdrive. Nevertheless, he's been active on Twitter for the past 17 years, posting everyday with a total of 100k+ posts[*]. Wintermute mainly uses Hatsune Miku (specifically Hatsune Miku Append (Dark))'s voice for songs, but he's also used Megurine Luka, KAITO, and Miyamai Moca. He has released a total of 34 songs, 25 of which are on iTunes and Spotify, 27 on YouTube, and 34 on ニコニコ (NicoNico). The name Wintermute originates from William Gibson's 1984 science fiction novel, Neuromancer -- which features a manipulative AI antagonist named Wintermute[∗]. When he started playing the guitar, Wintermute's hero was the Japanese beatrock band Boowy[I]. Later, he got the idea to compose music after listening to Ryuichi Sakamoto's music[I]; and began producing his current style after wanting to make music with the sound of alternative bands such as Number Girl, Ride, and Sonic Youth[II]; and got the idea that he could add vocals with the use of Vocaloid[∗].At first, he thought Miku was "just another Moe thing", but after hitting a wall with his minimalist techno, he started using Miku for vocals[∗]. In the beginning, Wintermute didn’t think that he'd be making shoegaze, but that’s what ended up defining his position[∗].
Stray Light is Wintermute's first album, released on March 29th 2009. The CD album release contains 16 tracks, while the digital release contains only 10 tracks due to pricing policies[*] (All 6 of the extra tracks are remixes; 3 by mango 700). The digital release was distributed by KarenT, an independent music label owned by Krypton Future Media. The title is based off of Villa Straylight from William Gibson's 1984 science fiction novel, Neuromancer[*]. Stray Light was released at MikuFest 2 on March 29th, held at the Miyako Messe Kyoto Kanko-kan convention center[*]. There were 200 CD's available for 700 yen each; alongside MiKuToPiA 2, A Hatsune Miku compilation album by MuToPiA LABEL, which features "Sneaker", a song that also appears on Stray Light[*]. Stray Light's album art was designed by todo, and it's song art was drawn by Nyako, who has drawn almost all of Wintermute's cover art[*].The album cover features a sillhouette of Hatsune Miku with a turquoise outline, as well as turquoise and red accents; sitting in front of a white background. Her twintails are floating upwards, cut out of frame by the top edge. Her side-sitting body creates a frame for the text by wrapping around the artist name (Wintermute) and album title (Stray Light). This album is a compilation of all of Wintermute's songs leading up to 2009, therefore there is no overall theme to the album, he simply "hopes you to enjoy listening to it"[III]. The song he is the most proud of on Stray Light is the 10th track: "Fury, Melancholy and Joy". It encapsulates everything he wants to do with rock music: a racing beat, strummed guitar, noise, a simple structure, and lyrics about the desire to escape[*].
1. Jupiter Pop - Hatsune Miku 2. Sleeping in The Red - Hatsune Miku 3. Mint Tea - Hatsune Miku 4. Postscript - Hatsune Miku 5. Autumn Sky {秋の空} (Virtual) - Hatsune Miku 6. Rust of Memories {記憶の錆色} - KAITO 7. Song of Pixie - Hatsune Miku 8. Sneaker {スニーカー} - Hatsune Miku 9. Reality - Megurine Luka 10. Fury, Melancholy and Joy - Hatsune Miku Album Link
1. Jupiter Pop - Hatsune Miku 2. Sleeping in The Red - Hatsune Miku 3. Mint Tea - Hatsune Miku 4. Postscript - Hatsune Miku 5. Autumn Sky {秋の空} (Virtual) - Hatsune Miku 6. Rust of Memories {記憶の錆色} - KAITO 7. Song of Pixie - Hatsune Miku 8. Sneaker {スニーカー} - Hatsune Miku 9. Reality - Megurine Luka 10. Fury, Melancholy and Joy - Hatsune Miku 11. Mint Tea (Mango Roots Mix) - Hatsune Miku 12. Postscript (Mango Roots Mix) - Hatsune Miku 13. Sneaker {スニーカー} (Mango Leaf Mix) - Hatsune Miku 14. Song of Pixie (Bossa Study) - Hatsune Miku 15. Autumn Sky {秋の空} (Real) - Hatsune Miku 16. Mint Tea (Prototype) - Hatsune Miku CD Information
Album Information Note (From Wintermute) Cover Art (Album & Singles) Lyrics
Blood Color Flower e.p. is Wintermute's first EP, released on January 14th 2015. It's his second project, released 5 years after his preceding album Stray Light. The EP mainly features remasters of tracks previously uploaded that were not included on Stray Light or compilation CDs, as well as tracks had were previously released exclusively on CD and that had not been available online[*]. Blood Color Flower e.p. was distributed digitally through KarenT; but it was not released on CD. Wintermute wanted to think "CDs are so last century, yeehaw!"; but it fell flat... So instead he released a set of high-resolution images for DIY jacket printing; so that anyone can print the design and make their own CD[*].The artwork for the EP was designed by Nyako[*]. The cover features a sillhouette of a character (maybe Miku?) with turquoise highlights and short hair, which is black at the roots and turquoise at the tips. Theres a red lily covering her right eye, which is leeking blood that drips down her cheek, towards her jaw. Theres a white background with a thin red cross, and the title (Blood Color Flower e.p.) and artist name (Wintemute) are displayed in the top left. Since this EP is a compilation of Wintermute's songs since Stray Light up to 2015, there is no overall theme to the EP, but he was particular about the mix[IV]. All of the songs on Blood Color Flower e.p. were originally released individually from 2009 to 2010, except for "Sunshower", which was released with the EP in 2015. He decided to release the EP 5 years after his previous release (Stray Light) because at the time, he thought that he had enough songs to make a second album on CD; and with the addition of being invited to KarenT, it became possible to release the EP digitally[V]. At the time of making Blood Color Flower e.p., Wintermute took insipiration from My Bloody Valentine's album, mbv[VI]. The songs he's most proud of on Blood Color Flower e.p. are the 1st and 2nd tracks: "Blood Color Flower" and "Fall"[VII].
1. Blood Color Flower - Hatsune Miku 2. Fall - Hatsune Miku 3. Coffee Made Body - Hatsune Miku 4. Vermilion Moon - Hatsune Miku 5. Sunshower - Hatsune Miku 6. In the City of Ghost - Megurine Luka Album Link
Release Announcement CD Jacket Art
Ancient Aliens Overdrive is Wintermute's second album, released on June 15th 2026. It was released 11 years after his previous release (Blood Color Flower e.p.). The album mainly features remasters of tracks from compilation albums that had been uploaded to sites -- such as ニコニコ, Youtube, SoundCloud, and Piapro -- but were unreleased on streaming services. Ancient Aliens Overdrive features one newly made track titled "Shining Wings" with vocals from Miyamai Moca, a Synthesizer V voice model. "Shining Wings" is Wintermute's first song using Synth V. He chose Miyamai Moca because Hatsune Miku doesn't have native support for Apple Silicon; and he wanted to use Synth V's software[*]. The artwork for the album was designed by Wintermute himself. The cover features a pencil-drawn girl with short hair and headphones holding a vinyl record. Theres a white background and the title (Ancient Aliens Overdrive) and artist name (Wintemute) are displayed above her head. Since this album is a compilation of Wintermute's unreleased songs since Blood Color Flower e.p., there is no overall theme. All of the songs on Ancient Aliens Overdrive were originally released individually from 2009 to 2016, except for "Shining Wings", which was released with the album in 2026.
1. Shining Wings - Miyamai Moca 2. Alchemy - Hatsune Miku 3. Invisible Gun - Hatsune Miku 4. Cardigan - Hatsune Miku 5. Sea and Sky - Hatsune Miku 6. Unknown - Hatsune Miku 7. White Light - Megurine Luka 8. Diary - Hatsune Miku 9. Orchid Parade - Hatsune Miku Album Link
Wintermute has released a total of 34 songs to NicoNico. Only 25 of which are on streaming services. All off-streaming tracks include:
Mint Tea (Prototype)
ニコニコ
Mint Tea (Mango Roots Mix)
piapro
Autumn Sky (Real)
Postscript (Mango Magic mix)
[✱1]
Song of Pixie (bossa study)
Sneaker (mango leaf mix)
Guitar and Glasses
[✱2]
Light Speed High School
YouTube
Light Speed High School (Demo)
[✱3]
RAVEN
Fall (Mango Seed Mix)
Chocolatelip Minteyes and Iceskin
SoundCloud
[✱4]
Wintermute has been featured on a total of 15 compilation albums. All of these albums and their respective song include:
MiKuToPiA
Label: MuToPiA
Appearance: Postscript, Mint Tea (Mango Roots Mix)
VocaDB
Up in the Higher Skies
Circle: team UHS
Appearance: Song of Pixie
MiKuToPiA2
Appearance: Sneaker, Postscript (Mango Magic Mix)
Greatest misses
Circle: Out Wave Cluster
Appearance: White Light
Drive on
Appearance: RAVEN
Second Coming
Appearance: Diary
Three Out Change!
Appearance: In the City of Ghost
MiKuToPiA3
Appearance: Fall, Fall -Mango Seed Mix-
Quadrophenia
Appearance: Orchid Parade
青春スペクトラ
Label: luminouscore
Appearance: Cardigan
5 senses working overtime
Appearance: Invisible Gun
SIX STRING SAMURAI
Circle: Out wave cluster
Appearance: Sea and Sky
mikgazer vol.1
Circle: ?
Appearance: Alchemy
KIRAKIRA
Circle: SOLDIER FROG
Appearance: Sunshower
イン・ザ・ダーク３
By: jun tokito
Appearance: Unknown
Dkex is Wintermute's pseudonym used for his previous music career and for things outside of Vocaloid rock[VIII]. Before producing his current style of music as Wintermute, he made minimal techno music under the name Dkex[*]. While music under this name was scraped off the internet[*], some of his techno and ambient music are on his official Soundcloud; those being: Toast and Butter - YDPI - Loop - Noos - Epilogue - Logos - Acid-01 - Eight Beat Maniac - No Home - Spores - Monad - Beatstudy He also goes by the name Dkex for the novels and manga he writes. He has publically released 3 novels and 2 manga. One of the manga was a collaboration with Nyako, and the other was written in parallel with one of his novels.
Will write after reading.
PsychoTrigger is a cyberpunk style manga written by Dkex and illustrated by Nyako. The setting is the earth in the distant future. As a result of the overdevelopment of technology, the upper-class elites have left Earth. PsychoTrigger is a story about Damon, a boy, and Mika, a girl, who were left behind to live on the devastated Earth, and come into contact with the overtechnology of the past. The story is devided into 16 episodes, written from (?) to 2013. According to Nyako, it's a manga featuring a young boy and girl in action-packed adventures.
Out Wave Cluster is a group of 13 Vocaloid producers that produce songs for original compilation albums.They were active from 2009 to 2014. In that time, they made 8 compilation albums in total[*]; mostly comprised of rock music.They participated in events like Bo-Mas, and released their albums at THE VOC@LOiD M@STER and VOCALOID PARADISE events[*].
- Wintermute - Bothneco - キャプテンミライ(CaptainMirai) - hr - テンネン(tennen) - 夢見るP(YumemiruP) - ろくがつ(rokugastu) - liam - えこまる(Ecomaru) - FuzzP - テラピコス(Terapicos) - saiB - 梨本うい(Nashimoto Ui)
Wintermute's setup from 2009 was: - MacBook Pro (15-inch, early 2007) - Ableton Live 7 (Suite, download) - Fender USA Highway One Telecaster - Line 6 POD X3 - Line 6 TonePort GX - Line 6 POD Farm Plug-in, GearBox Plug-in - VOCALOID (Miku/KAITO/Luka) - HairerSoft Amadeus Pro - EAST WEST Bob Clearmountain Drums 1 - ChocolateAudio Bonzo drum kit - KORG nanoKEY, nanoPAD
"Shoegaze is a subgenre of rock that was popular from the late 1980s through the early 1990s. It’s characterized by a sound that’s so noisy, reverberant, and introspective that it’s hard to tell what’s actually going on. Representative bands include My Bloody Valentine, Ride, and Slowdive. In particular, My Bloody Valentine’s album Loveless is a masterpiece. The name “shoegaze” comes from the fact that bands of this style usually played with their heads down the entire time, as if they were staring at their shoes (Shoe Gaze). Its origins trace back to the psychedelic rock of the 1960s, such as the Velvet Underground and early Pink Floyd. The direct progenitor of the genre is Psycho Candy by The Jesus and Mary Chain. This band is the source of that incredibly noisy, roaring guitar sound. Although the shoegaze genre quickly faded with the rise of Britpop, its sound left a lasting influence in many areas. The approach to creating that shoegaze-style roaring guitar sound differs significantly from the distortion techniques used in metal or heavy rock. The guitars typically used are Fender Jazzmasters, Rickenbackers, or Les Pauls, and amplifiers like vintage Marshalls are preferred over high-gain models. The sound is intentionally distorted to the point of being a bit rough, with a pronounced midrange boost that gives it a muddled, heavily compressed quality. They use deep reverb to deliberately blur the contours of the phrases, creating a wall of sound. That trippy feeling is key. People tend to focus solely on the intense guitar sound, but the simple, sweet melodies are also part of its charm. It’s wonderful how they emerge from that floating sea of noise. Lately, there seem to be a few new bands popping up here and there under the label neo-shoegaze.” (Translated with DeepL.com [free version])
"I'm surprised that there are so many listeners outside of Japan. Thank you[IX]."
- likeadaydream.net/about - w.atwiki.jp/hmiku/pages/1353 - soundcloud.com/wntrmt - x.com/_wntrmt - vocadb.net/Ar/70 - likeadaydream.net/straylight/note - likeadaydream.net/archives/120 - likeadaydream.net/archives/44 - likeadaydream.net/archives/58 - likeadaydream.net/straylight/ - likeadaydream.net/archives/523 - vocadb.net/Album&artistId=16440 - owc.blog20.fc2.com - likeadaydream.net/archives/43 - owc.blog20.fc2.com/blog-entry-6
Written by Pea Soup Research by Pea Soup For Wintermute Last Updated: Aug.10.2026
Wintermute Dkex
Music Producer Novelist/Author
Shoegaze Vocaloid Altrernative Rock Dream-Pop Pop-Rock
Website YouTube Spotify Apple Music (jp) Apple Music (us) Apple Music (ca) SoundCloud ニコニコ Tumblr KarenT piapro VocaDB
