In 2012, Kumiko Murayama's entertainment company 1st PLACE used the vocal synthesiser Vocaloid to create a virtual pop star named IA.

What started as a niche subculture exploded, and IA has since performed "live" at concerts in Los Angeles, New York and London, and her music has since been featured in the Mekakucity Actors anime and final volume of the Neon Genesis Evangelion manga.

This year she joins the Asia Pop Fest lineup for her first live Melbourne performance.

In conversation with Jason O'Callaghan, executive producer of New Game Plus.



