ArmaniXR: For this interview, I am fortunate to join the talented Vsinger Sheena Baobab in a performance world with her interpreter Alpaka in VRChat.
Feel free to watch the shorter video if you have less time, or listen to the full audio track below to hear more about Sheena-san.
Full Audio Track (20 minutes):
ArmaniXR: First I want to let you introduce yourself, including what you want the audience to know about you.
Sheena-san: Hi, I'm Sheena Baobab. I run a music project called Baobab Crossing in VRChat. I perform live using Yamaha Syncroom software. I'm also a navigator for an organization called VR Japan Tours.
Alpaka-san: Oh, hello. It's so nice to meet everyone. My name is Alpaka and I'm here to mostly be the interpreter for wonderful Sheena-san right here. But I usually am involved in a lot of events in VR, mostly music events. Live music events are what I help out with, and I often help out with both events on the English-speaking side of VRChat as well as on the Japanese side. So nice to meet everyone.
How were you introduced to virtual reality and how was it for the first time?
During the COVID era, I started using Syncroom, met some friends, and some of them began performing live in VR. Wanting to experience their performances, I joined VRChat. Being an anime fan, stepping into this world felt like immersing myself in a dream. It was incredibly moving.
Can you tell me more about your introduction to social VR specifically? Were you on other platforms outside of VRChat or how was your journey over here?
I have only been to Cluster. That's all. But Cluster is…hmm…I like VRChat much more, so I'm here. Two years ago, when I first performed at Raindance Immersive, I was able to share live online performances with a large international audience. Since then, introducing Japanese online ensemble performances to global audiences has kind of become my VR life work. EMNRecords helped me a lot in this endeavor and growing our VR user base. My social VR kind of home base is Blue Rondo here. So today's interpreter, Alpaka-san, is also part of the team.
You mentioned Blue Rondo as one of your favorite performance worlds. Why is it one of your favorites?
The EMNRecords members, especially tktk-san, helped me a lot to introduce Japanese musicians and performances to the international audience right here.
What inspired you to sing virtually? Did you sing before you were in VR?
I was in a gospel group before COVID-19. But during the onset of COVID, I couldn’t sing outside of my house and get together in a chorus group. Even after COVID-19, I didn't go back outside of my house much. I was only in the VR or Syncroom society. Everything was guided by friendships on what we call go-en (1) in Japanese. When COVID prevented real world singing, a friend introduced me to Syncroom, Yamaha’s ensemble software. Through this I met others who led me to VR and performing with them became a natural progression.
What are some of your most favorite moments in a performance in social VR?
The happiest moments for me are when I can be a part of a beautiful scene. Being woven into people's memories alongside these landscapes is something truly special to me. I think it's because I am an anime fan, so I just want to be in the scene and in their memories as a kind of animation.
What are some of the biggest differences technically with performing songs with or without the headset on? (Or in VR compared to physical reality/IRL?)
Two things: One challenge with using a headset at a performance is that reading lyrics can be difficult because I only see the lyrics through the nose bridge under my headset. It's difficult. However, in real-world performances, we can't read anything whether it’s a concert or the performance. But now, when I sing in VRChat, I can read the lyrics. It's difficult. But I can read the lyrics. Each environment has its pros and cons.
Do worlds or avatars change how you sing or do you notice any influences on your performances depending on the space you sing in?
What I’m wearing now is for VR Japan Tours. When we have events, the big theme is Japanese culture, so staff members wear kimonos or Japanese costumes. I’m in a kimono since I came from their event hours ago.
As for influences, I choose songs to fit the event or the world. I can change my outfit or singing style accordingly. For instance, if an event requires pop music, I change the selection on the setlist and request accompaniment from pop musicians. If it's a jazz event, I bring in jazz musicians. So, what I sing is not dependent on avatars. Just the world or the event concept. But no matter what, it's always enjoyable. I love them.
I notice that you’re with a group called VR Japan Tours, can you explain more about what you do with them?
VR Japan Tours is a tour-based organization with the concept of experiencing Japan everywhere, introducing Japanese worlds and culture to the international audience. The group has over 5,000 members and is always lively. As a navigator, I plan dance shows, introduce elements of Japanese culture and assist with performances by groups like Kaso Butoudan or the VDA dancers. VDA means Virtual Dance Association.
What has representing Japanese music and culture meant for you in social VR?
I now think I was just called to VRChat to do this work to introduce Japanese culture, Japanese musicians and performances to the international audience. That was not only because of my will…I don't know but somehow I'm here and I do those kinds of things.
It’s by circumstance, you know? It’s the people that I met that brought me to this place today. It's really more about the connections that I've made in VR. And not so much having a purpose, but more being able to help everyone around me. It's almost like doors are opening up in front of me and calling me forth. Like a door saying: Hey this is where we should go, or this is what you should do. So I just followed the path.
Before we go to the next world, I must share my thanks and appreciation for tktk-san’s work on Blue Rondo and hosting this special instance for us. Would you like to say anything to our audience tktk-san?
tktk: EMN Records hosts events here every second and fourth Saturday. It might be on Friday night depending on where you live, but it's Saturday in Japan. We host online jazz sessions using Yamaha Syncroom where people get together and then just perform jazz live. It's a lot of fun. If you haven't visited us, then please come to visit and listen to all the great musicians doing all their great work.
Part 2 of my interview with Sheena-san is available here.