Suda Keina on His First Korea Concert: "Looking Forward to Korean Fans Singing Together... The Audience Is My Beautiful Accomplice"

First Korea Concert at Rolling Hall, Seoul on May 23–24
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Impressed by SEVENTEEN’s Delicate Lyrics and Diverse Choreography

Singer Sudah Keina. Provided by Amuse Entertainment

"I have never once compromised on the music I put out into the world. I always write each song as if it were my last, pouring everything into it."

On May 22, at Amuse Entertainment in Gangnam, Seoul, we met singer-songwriter Sudah Keina, who brought Vocaloid music—once considered an internet subculture—into the center of Japanese mainstream pop. What began as music made in a corner of his room now spans everything from anime theme songs to hit tracks with over 100 million plays on YouTube, transcending borders and reaching audiences worldwide.

Sudah Keina will hold his first concert in Korea, 'GLIMMER,' at Rolling Hall in Mapo, Seoul, for two days on May 23 and 24. This marks the start of his Asia tour. For his first overseas stage, he chose a small live house where he can hear the audience's every breath, rather than a large venue. Originally planned as a one-day show, the concert sold out as soon as tickets went on sale, so he added an extra date.

He said, "Although it was a coincidence, I have always wanted to meet my Korean fans who have been sending me messages and supporting me through social media since 2018," adding, "Starting my first overseas tour in the space closest to the audience will make for a far more special memory."

Sudah Keina's career is unique. He began making music in 2013 on the Japanese video site Nico Nico Douga as a Vocaloid producer under the name 'Balloon.' While attending a practical music school and playing drums in a band, he felt frustrated by a lack of communication with his bandmates and decided to write songs on his own.

He then sold all his drum equipment and used the funds to become a producer composing music in his room. In 2016, his song "Charles"—including the version he sang himself—surpassed 150 million cumulative views on YouTube and became a massive hit. Within the Vocaloid culture, where countless people reinterpret and cover original songs, it was his own performance as the creator that ultimately won over the public.

Recalling that time, he said, "When the song I sang with my own voice received the biggest response, I worried deeply that I might be disrupting the Vocaloid culture, where an unspecified number of people reinterpret songs." He continued, "I decided that it would be better to sing under my real name, and from 2017, I started performing as Sudah Keina."

He then achieved back-to-back success with popular anime theme songs such as "Veil" for the ending of 'Fire Force' and "Mellow" for the opening of 'Skip and Loafer,' establishing himself in Japan’s mainstream music scene. More recently, he released "Last Look," the opening theme for the 10th anniversary rebroadcast project of 'Assassination Classroom.' He noted, "While 'Charles' may have been the first song Korean fans discovered, I believe that 'Veil,' the anime theme song, is the track that truly resonated with people in countries all over the world."

Singer Su-da Keina. Provided by Amuse Entertainment

With more than 10 years since his debut, he has solidified his own musical world by writing, composing, and arranging all his songs himself. The name of this tour, 'GLIMMER,' also reflects his philosophy. He explained, "I hope that my concert can be a sign of hope and a ray of light, allowing the audience to momentarily forget their tough daily lives and enjoy themselves." He stands unwavering in his approach to music, emphasizing, "I have never compromised even once when releasing my songs to the world. I always write each one with the mindset that it could be my last."

Sudah Keina avoids music that forces an unconditionally positive message. Instead, he focuses on expressing honest human emotions such as loss and uncertainty. He said, "I've never really related to the 'let's all cheer up together' style of music. Instead, I've always been drawn to raw, unfiltered emotions," adding, "The live stage is the best place to share these intimate feelings."

This is why, in a past interview, he referred to the audience as "accomplices." Sudah Keina explained, "A live stage isn't just a place where I perform my songs; it's a space that I complete together with the audience. It doesn't matter whether someone fully understands my music or not. Sharing the atmosphere and emotions in that space, we become beautiful partners and accomplices."

He also expressed interest in K-pop, which is gaining worldwide attention. He mentioned being particularly impressed by "Fallin' Flower," a Japanese release by the group Seventeen. "I listened to the song first and was so moved that I looked up the lyrics," he said. "I was surprised at how delicate and subtle the lyrics were, not at all direct, and I thought it was remarkable how the group’s many members expressed a variety of emotions through dance—something that would be difficult for a solo artist."

Looking ahead to his first meeting with Korean fans, he shared his excitement. Japanese audiences tend to quietly focus on the stage, while Korean audiences enjoy singing along together. Sudah Keina said, "I've heard from acquaintances that Korean fans actively sing along, and I'm really looking forward to that different atmosphere. Still, I don't want to force anyone to sing along. I just hope that everyone enjoys my music in the way that feels most natural and comfortable for them at the concert."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.