Re: Shirou Novaleinn
You know, it's strange.
The idea that I would eventually return to Shirou Novaleinn, guns drawn, ready to rumble.
Many people know this by now, but let me give you a general recap of how Shirou Novaleinn came to be, came to an end, and came to life again.
March 2016
At this point, I had been on YouTube releasing music for around two years (starting October 2014). I had inspirations like dj-Jo, 5eoul, and Jin (of Kagerou Project fame) driving me, but no image to know what felt like me. Around this time, I was releasing as 0.7mm, a name derived from 5eoul's previous alias that he dropped. For 5eoul, though, that name came from the fact he was an artist, following the measurement of lead used in mechanical pencils, while I thought it was cool with 9mm Parabellum Bullet in mind. Regardless, I had borrowed that name, though it lasted maybe around a year. Previously, for a brief moment, I used the name KuroSazandora as Kamex had suggested to me as something that felt more personal, based on the Pokémon Hydreigon from the Unova generation, and before that, used Lantivox (using a random name generator).
Setting the stage, I had released two major remixes at this point: one of Shiokarabushi from Splatoon, and one of Megalovania, in particular what would become my Red version (originally named the VIP version, before Heavenbound Chronic would take that name instead). I was still running on the hype of UNDERTALE's soundtrack, and would go on to make my Blue version. But, 0.7mm didn't strike me as an inticing name that would go well with me going forward. So I started scratching down names, and I would love to give you them, but I apparently have since deleted the file that had them. Regardless, they were all subsequently scrapped until NEGA, my mentor at the time, had suggested the name "shiro." It was unused, unique, and the kanji used for it in Japanese would make it easy to design a logo. So, I did exactly that: I released a whole two remixes under the name, until yet again decided it wasn't personal enough. Thus, I added the "u" to Shiro, making it the masculine form of the name, and added "Novaline," eventually settling on "Novaleinn" for uniqueness and European alikeness.
And so became Shirou Novaleinn, for the span of two years. Yet, despite it all, eventually that changed too.
October 2017
"The End of Shirou Novaleinn." No, not an Evangelion reference.
I had released Heavenbound and a few other remixes by this point, but more importantly, I was focused on the release of Embers and continuing my original music career from then on. But it was exactly that: I felt pressure. The amount of incoming attention from the likes of Heavenbound, and the lack of attention I received in return from the release of Embers, all drove me insane at age 16. While I had around 6,000 subscribers at this point, it felt like I was screaming into the void. My releases of Undertale remixes became Shirou Novaleinn's core content, so when I was releasing what I was passionate about - my original work - and receiving no reception, I started digging myself into a hole.
Eventually, the constant asking and nagging for more Undertale-adjacent content drove me to the edge. So I made the executive decision to end Shirou Novaleinn as it was there and then. Thus, "The End of Shirou Novaleinn" came along: a 6-video project of remixes, all leading up to the very end.
This project is where "Heavenbound VIP" and "Dreamer" come from, though I had released them before on SoundCloud earlier in the year. Yet despite doing all of this, my promise to delete all of my content, it felt like I added fuel to the fire. I went silent as Shirou Novaleinn for a year (stayed alive in the Komorebi City server via the 2018 ARG), and came back with one last message. The Arbiter of Duality showed up at some point, uploading all my videos... but yeah, that was me. So eventually, that went silent and I copyright striked the whole channel into deletion to make it seem unattached.
September 2018: Death & Disappearance
"The Death & Disappearance of Shirou Novaleinn."
The end, the very end, at the end.
The promise I made to delete my channel for good. So I did.
"Death & Disappearance" was my last project as Shirou Novaleinn. I released Embers (2018 LP) a mere month before, but I had mentally given in. I just started college and wanted new beginnings. So, I drew my final hand: a 6-song live stream, marking the end of it all. As the live stream ended, the channel disappeared forever.
So I ended it with the one song I felt most meaningful: Summertime Record, from Jin's Kagerou Project. A song I always associated with goodbyes and farewells. I uploaded it permanently to Nico Nico Douga, but the YouTube channel and SoundCloud were gone forever. It was heartbreaking, to be honest... over 50 people showed up for my final stand, my goodbye, but I kept my word. It was time to let go. To move on.
...
...
Well yeah, of course that would only last two years as well.
January 2020
The modern era of Shirou Novaleinn began again here.
I uploaded on thing, and one thing only:
Heavenbound.
After years of revering it, after years of copyright strikes, after everything, I returned. I decided that maybe it would be okay now.
To my surprise, it was. People flooded in saying how much they missed the song, they were sad I disappeared from the internet, and people still say that to this day.
Even now, I don't feel that same angst and despair that I once had. People understand, and though I wish I just waited it out, I'm glad that unknowndreamuser and World's Last Garden came as a result of that period.
With time, I finally found my passion again to actually start working on remixes again. It's a slow climb coming back, but I will reignite the flame. Shirou Novaleinn has returned, for good this time.
Well, even if I hadn't returned... because of the will of the people,