Mint Star Nostalgia (feat. Hoshima Toru)

"Mint Star Nostalgia": A Vocaloid Duo 2026 Entry by $.odÅ / project AMBIVALENCE

This track is an electro-rock piece created by the Vocaloid Duo 2026 team, Mint Soda Noise Club, and is presented in two versions: one performed by Hoshima Toru and the other featuring the UTAU voicebank, Tone Too.

Blending warm guitar-driven sounds with synthesizers and electronic textures reminiscent of the vastness of space, the song crafts a unique atmosphere that is both refreshing and bittersweet. Its nostalgic undertones intertwine with a sense of forward motion, creating an immersive soundscape that feels suspended somewhere between cherished memories and the promise of tomorrow.

At its core, the lyrics portray an individual striving to embrace who they are in the present, despite experiences of inferiority, loneliness, and emotional distance from others. Through delicate and introspective words, the song reflects on those who have drifted away, expresses a longing to reconnect with people once misunderstood, and captures the determination to take another step toward a new dawn.

The title, Mint Star Nostalgia, encapsulates the essence of the song itself. "Mint" reflects the gentle emerald hue associated with Hoshima Toru, while "Star" evokes both the "star" element in her surname and the celestial imagery woven throughout the track. "Nostalgia" represents the longing for the past that quietly coexists with the hope of moving forward. Together, these elements illuminate the emotional landscape at the heart of this work.

The motif of emerald light also recalls the Green Flash, a rare atmospheric phenomenon visible only for a fleeting moment during sunrise or sunset. Much like this miraculous flash of green, the song symbolizes hope and renewal born from nostalgia, illuminating the desire to move forward while carrying the memories of the past.

Vocals for the main version are provided by Hoshima Toru, whose transparent, youthful voice and expressive emotional range breathe life into the piece. Her sincere and straightforward performance beautifully embodies a protagonist who chooses to keep moving ahead despite uncertainty and pain, offering quiet comfort to listeners along the way.

The song is also available in a version featuring Tone Too, an original UTAU voicebank created by Hoshima Toru herself. Tuned by Meyu, this interpretation presents the song from a different perspective, highlighting the fragile beauty and ethereal transparency that define Mint Star Nostalgia.

The production team behind the track includes $.odÅ, who handled lyrics, composition, arrangement, mixing, and mastering; Rikka, responsible for pitch correction and harmony arrangements; Monaka, who created the illustrations; and Inu Cute, who produced the music video. The individuality and creativity of each contributor come together to shape the distinctive world of this work.

Like the fleeting emerald light that appears between dusk and dawn, Mint Star Nostalgia reminds us of the beauty in continuing to sing as our present selves, even while carrying our regrets and uncertainties.

For everyone who looks back on the past while reaching toward the future,

may this song offer you a quiet sense of hope.