Dwango has announced BEYOND BORDERS Vol.1: EMERGE MODE MIKU, a new collaboration EP that will feature virtual singer Hatsune Miku alongside artists including Grimes, slayr, MOLIY, Odetari, George Clanton, Frost Children, and XAMIYA. The artist lineup and official EP trailer were revealed during Anime Expo in Los Angeles. This project, led by Dwango and its US Label Nebula17, is designed to introduce Vocaloid music to a new generation of international listeners.
Hatsune Miku will serve as the lead vocalist across all tracks, which span multiple genres such as electronic, alternative, hyperpop, rap, and experimental music. The EP boasts contributions from Grammy-winning and platinum-selling collaborators. Producers on the project include Grant Boutin, VADAKIN, MOMBRU, Byrd, and Xansei, while songwriters Charles "Scoot" Anderson and Cecile Believe are also involved. Prominent Japanese Vocaloid producers jon-Yakitori, SatapanP, and picco are also part of the creative team.
While a specific release date has not yet been announced beyond a target of fall 2026, Dwango plans to release a series of singles throughout the summer to bridge the gap. "Vocaloid culture was born in Japan from the passion of producers making music in their own bedrooms and on their own desktops, and now it's taking flight on the global stage," said Gorokiyotake Orimoto, General Manager at Dwango. "Watching it grow into this new form of expression through collaborations with world-renowned artists has been an honor, and we're deeply grateful to everyone whose support made this milestone possible."