蝸堂みかる (Kadou Mikaru) of Nijisanji just released a cover of wotaku‘s シャンティ (SHANTI) featuring vocal synth KAITO — one of the most recognizable Vocaloid tracks of the last several years, and a genuinely tough one to take on.
A Word That Means Peace, Attached to a Song That Has None
“Shanti” is Sanskrit for peace, and wotaku builds the entire song around that contradiction — a title promising calm sitting directly on top of lyrics describing a much darker, more chaotic world. That gap between the word and the content is the whole hook, and it’s part of why the track became one of KAITO’s most-viewed songs and entered Vocaloid’s Hall of Legend in the first place.
A Song Connected to a Bigger Story
SHANTI isn’t a standalone piece — wotaku has confirmed it connects directly to his earlier song “Mafia,” continuing the narrative from a different character’s perspective within the same world. Knowing that context adds another layer for listeners already familiar with wotaku’s catalog, even if the cover stands fine on its own for anyone hearing it for the first time.
Taking On a Hall of Legend Track
Covering a song with this much cultural weight in the Vocaloid scene is a real test — everyone who’s heard the original has an opinion about how it should sound, and there’s no room to phone in the delivery. Choosing it says Mikaru wanted a genuine vocal challenge rather than something safe.
Production Behind the Cover
Mix work came from アシタカ (Ashitaka), illustration from 甘夜にふる (Amayo Nifuru), and video from ジル (Jil). A tight, focused team for a cover that’s really about carrying one of Vocaloid’s heaviest hitters with real conviction.
Track Credits
- Title: シャンティ (SHANTI)
- Original Artist: wotaku feat. KAITO
- Vocals: 蝸堂みかる (Kadou Mikaru)
- Mix: アシタカ (Ashitaka)
- Illustration: 甘夜にふる (Amayo Nifuru)
- Video: ジル (Jil)
▶ Watch: 蝸堂みかる (Kadou Mikaru) — シャンティ (SHANTI) (wotaku feat. KAITO Cover) on YouTube
