Get the latest gossip

‘I express purely through my songs and silhouette’: Ado, the platinum-selling pop star with a secret identity

She’s a massive success in her native Japan, but has never revealed her face. As she plays the UK for the first time, Ado explains her ultra-catchy rage-filled songs – and her hopes for gen Z

Photograph: Viola Kam (V z Twinkle)She doesn’t write her songs, but she performs them with relish, hitting notes in over four octaves and bringing lyrics to life with the enthusiasm and dramatic vocal range of an anime voice actor. She cites virtual pop singer Hatsune Miku, an animated avatar of a 16-year-old girl whose voice is brought to life with the technology, and who “performs” as a projection alongside a live band in front of thousands of screaming fans. I’m still young, but through my music, I want to light the way and offer hope to others.” As AI looks set to erode employability, and create artificial pop stars that make the Vocaloid singers look positively quaint, Ado is firm.

Get the Android app