"If I can make even one person smile, that’s the greatest treasure of all!”
For our tenth edition of Spotlight on IRIAM: Meet The Streamer, we’re joined by Orpheus Astralis Nephilim! Not only was he part of the first wave of IRIAM US Founding Streamers, but he also has an incredible track record. Orpheus has been a competitive singer, voice actor, and idol for over 10 years!
He enjoys serenading, drawing, crying over 2D characters, and most importantly, connecting with others through music! His greatest dream is to make a positive impact on as many people's lives as humanly possible!
What inspired you to become a VTuber?
I was inspired by my 2.5D idol friends Phoebe and Pengy Time! During 2020, when everyone was indoors, a lot of us idols were disheartened because our chances to perform onstage and connect with people had diminished. As a result, many of us took to the internet and held Virtual Idol fests, and some decided to become VTubers! I saw a couple of my friends having fun and secretly wished I could try it for myself someday, but I didn't have the means at the time. I was worried if I could even become a VTuber because all the ones I had seen were all girls, and I comically Googled "Do male VTubers exist?" (Yes.... you can laugh hehe) And that's when I received an advertisement for Luxiem - an all male VTuber group of NIJISANJI EN’s 4th wave. And thus, after I saw their debut, both my confidence was restored and the dream rekindled.
As the years passed, I was ready to give up on said dream until I got a DM from my amazing friend Otoharu Riyo. He told me he had auditioned for IRIAM and encouraged me to try it, too! I almost didn't apply because I wondered if I'd ever get a callback. I didn't have any prior streaming experience. But I got the courage and gave it my best shot. I worked really hard on my audition reel, showcased my talents passionately, and thankfully passed! I'm extremely grateful to Riyo for being the very first person to believe in me, even when I was struggling to believe in myself, and the wonderful IRIAM US staff for giving me the most incredible chance of a lifetime and a place to call home.
“Content creation is a very tough job, but very rewarding when you're able to do what you love and create timeless moments.”
You’ve done a lot before becoming a VTuber! What was your content-creation journey like, and how has it helped you in your current work as a VTuber? How did your past experiences lead you to IRIAM?
Before joining IRIAM, my content creation mostly revolved around making utaite covers, drawing, online voice acting projects, making music videos, and competing in singing contests both online and in person at anime conventions! I even became a judge at the very competitions I won. This was my norm until I had officially debuted as an Alt Idol, which meant that instead of specializing in just J-Pop, I branched more into J-Rock, visual kei, and other subgenres. J-Rock is super special to me because it helped me get through many difficult moments in my life.
My two biggest musical influences are my kamioshi Takanori Nishikawa, also known as the legendary T.M.Revolution, and the male idol franchise Uta no Prince-sama. These guys inspired me to become a singer, and I’m happy that I gained the courage to follow my dreams thanks to them. I like to believe that music is the universal language. It doesn't matter what language you speak; I think it has the power to reach people's hearts. Inspired by this feeling, I made history by founding the very 1st J-Rock Festival in my state. Thinking back, I think having musical theater and improv experience really helped hone the skills I needed for VTubing since it’s all pretty much in the moment and unscripted. Idols and VTubers have so much in common. We joke about this, but you gain so many new skills and take on many jobs on your own! You have to be your own manager, editor, mixer, publicist, director, and so much more as an indie. Content creation is a very tough job, but very rewarding when you're able to do what you love and create timeless moments.
You have a reputation for creating projects that not only showcase your vocal prowess but also showcase your appreciation for your fellow streamers and IRIAM staff. How do you approach designing these projects so they feel meaningful to both you and the people involved?
I believe this might be in reference to my One Year Anniversary cover of “Drops of Jupiter” by Train that I released on my YouTube Channel. I created a music video using a heartfelt song that accurately summarized my first year on IRIAM. I had secretly been collecting clips from fellow Founding Streamers' debuts since the start of my journey because I knew I wanted to bring this special music video to life. I wanted it to serve as a visualization of how far we've all come in just the first year. I tried to feature not just Wave 1 Founding Streamers, but also later waves, Early Access Streamers, and our hard-working IRIAM Staff too! IRIAM is and always will be one big family. One big community that was built by all of us streamers and viewers. I hope that I was able to convey that in this special tribute to IRIAM US.
No matter what projects I'm working on, I always have one goal. Making sure that every single person shines. While I truly enjoy singing in concerts as a soloist or in groups, I prioritize uplifting my fellow peers in the community because when one person succeeds, we all do. Giving the people you love and cherish an extra confidence boost, shouting them out when they have a major milestone, and being there for them as a caring friend and senpai means a lot to me. I tend to get shy when talking about my own work. Truthfully, I always tell people I'm just a little guy who screams into a mic sometimes. Hence why I navigate life as a humble Prince. But I truly enjoy cheering for others because I try to be the change I want to see in the world. I know what it's like to have a dream with no support system. I don't want anyone else to go through that, so I dedicate myself to being there for others. If you've got a dream, I'll cheer for you the loudest. I think the world can become even better if we go that extra mile for genuine kindness every day.
“When you treat others with love, compassion, and kindness, it invites that same positive energy back into your life.”
Looking back, what do you think helped you grow both your community on IRIAM?
Something that I think helped grow my community was that at the beginning, during pre-debut, my friends and I created hype on social media. Everyone had creative posts leading up to debut, and we would do fun interactions that allowed everyone to get to know our personalities and dynamics. A strong, creative lore can be very appealing to viewers. As for myself, I am your romantic Angel Prince from a distant galaxy on a mission to save my dying planet. But when my Nephilim blood activates, I become the vampiric, emotionless fallen Angel Morpheus. I get creative with streams, and Morpheus has cultivated his own fans. I think people enjoy seeing the duality in my own personality vs Morpheus and he gets equally as teased affectionately by our viewers.
As for after debut, I think this goes for any content creator, but finding your niche and showing your personality are key. Since I am a singer, much of my content revolves around music and very interactive streams. Additionally, I noticed that there was a scarcity of male VTubers who were more gentle, romantic, and princely otome-coded types. I wanted to fill that niche, so I specialize in cozy and silly streams that anyone can chill with in the background while they hang out or work.
My greeting when someone follows me on IRIAM is: “Welcome to the Amourtal Palace! This is your Palace now, and we shall treat you like royalty!” I like to live by those words and cultivate my community as one that is respectful and caring to all who visit our humble castle. I have become synonymous with giving my Amourtals the royal treatment. For example, not only do I serenade everyone when it's their birthdays, but during Meet & Greets at events, anyone who comes to visit can take home a perfumed, hand-ribboned rose from me as a token of my love and gratitude for their support. It's a tradition I've had since I became an idol, and I carried it over. Flowers brighten people's days, so I figured I'd become the fairytale Prince of your dreams. When you treat others with love, compassion, and kindness, it invites that same positive energy back into your life.
What are some memorable moments or streams you've had on IRIAM?
I’ve had way too many to count! Besides my birthday and anniversary endurance specials, the streams that people associate with me the most are my “Orpheus in Flowerland” saga. I pretended to be an NPC, and I had my chat decide what happens next in the story. A lot of hilarious inside jokes came out of that stream that Amourtals still tease me about to this day. There was also the Cat Events on IRIAM - Morpheus' Catboy Cafe streams made waves, and much to his dismay, people still call him a cute little kitty cat.
I also recall the week that I had “Rock, Paper, Scissors Training” with the Amourtals because I was invited to the big annual Jan Ken Pon Tournament hosted by Janken Pomme on YouTube! It’s a grandiose event where both indies and corporate VTubers alike gather to see who will be crowned the new champion. I proudly represented IRIAM US! I am honored that I made it to the finals, placing 2nd overall! It's a victory I dedicated to the Amourtals, since they were with me every step of the way.
However, one of my proudest moments happened last year, when, with the help of my loving and supportive community, we won the OffKai Penlights Event! I am so grateful because that was my very first piece of merch, and it was made possible thanks to the Amourtals. I want to keep working harder to spoil them and repay them for all their love and support.
What kind of streams can viewers expect from you on the platform?
I fall under the variety streamer category. I don’t like to limit myself when it comes to content creation. Something unique to me is that I like to host a special event called “VTuber Gameshow,” where I gather both the audience and fellow streamers for a competition to test their VTuber knowledge! It’s super fun and always creates a lot of hilarious moments.
I love doing Game Show content because it’s something that many people can participate in. I’ve even done streams like Anime Jeopardy, where the winners can win real prizes! You can also expect to see themed karaoke, scuffed cooking, arts and crafting, drawing requests, J-Rock music history, idol training discussions, singing advice, voice acting request streams, workout with batsus, and IRIAM 101 Streams for our newcomers!
I've hosted big community projects that bring people together. My current favorite is the Celestial Royal Ball, which I’ve put on at least once a year so far. It’s an event where I release duets that allow anyone to join in and sing with me. I love encouraging budding singers because I've mentored people in the past, and seeing them gain confidence in their abilities brings me endless joy. I even have a section on my Discord server where I offer singing tips and techniques to grow stronger!
My other favorite ongoing project is creating a fan-made Pokémon Region with my community, called the Caelestis Region. It features not only some IRIAM livers but my Amourtals as well! I love seeing the art and creativity everyone brings to the table. I’m constantly trying to think outside the box, so you never know what chaos will happen next! It’s a mystery, but that’s what makes it so exciting! I remember when I first auditioned for IRIAM, the word that I used to describe myself and what I wanted to become was “trailblazer.” I wanted to make history. I’m happy I was able to do so by becoming a Founding Streamer at launch, but I want to keep reinventing and innovating as my journey continues. So thank you all for cheering me on!
“I would love to continue welcoming new folks to my streams and at future anime conventions!”
You recently did a lot of prep for Holiday Matsuri - Florida’s largest anime convention. What is it like being involved in the con scene, and how do you go about prepping for a larger-scale event?
I was invited to help represent IRIAM US at our booth at Holiday Matsuri! It was a lot of fun and getting to have that first-hand experience recruiting future new kohais to join us on IRIAM. I know from experience what it’s like to want to try VTubing but not having the means or streaming experience, so encouraging people who have similar feelings to gain that courage to try it out with IRIAM US made me happy. Overall, we got more than 50 new sign-ups, exceeding our minimum target number. With numbers steadily rising via recommendations from attendees. I’m excited to see all the wonderful new people that will join us soon!
While it can be intimidating to work with conventions on a large scale, I love being able to reach large audiences. As an Idol, I've had to do concerts in large venues, and I just applied all my MC and showmanship skills when doing VTuber presentations at the IRIAM booth. It’s all about confidence and presentation.
Do you have any upcoming projects or events we can look forward to?
This year, I want to fulfill one of my debut goals and host multiple concerts! Starting with Valentine’s Day and White Day. I have lined up some exciting music collaborations with some marvelously talented folks. One of them I am confident will make IRIAM US History, and I’m so excited to reveal it! So please stay tuned!
Besides more cover releases, while we’re on singing-related events, I am planning to host a J-Rock Festival slated for either September or December, depending on timelines. It's a passion project that I've dreamed about since my debut, and I'm determined to make it a showstopper. Last but not least, I’m currently working on my first original song! I want to create lots of original music that people can both resonate deeply with and touch their hearts. I'm looking forward to singing my heart out and dedicating these songs to you.
Some current news I am excited to share is that I released first-wave goods on my Kofi, as well as a merch collaboration with RaechitMerch! My highly requested and anticipated Orpheus Nephilim pape is set to ship out either late February or early March. But worry not, because if you missed your chance to pre-order the first time, he may reappear at OffKai and perhaps we can see a Morpheus pape and more Morpheus goods around that time as well!
Being part of IRIAM US has been absolutely life-changing, and it has made me friends I will cherish forever. The future is bright and filled with possibilities. I hope that this year I can sing on even more stages and visit more conventions, whether it be on panels, having Meet & Greets, or performing in VTuber concerts. Although the journey so far has been a rollercoaster, I’m not alone. Whether you’ve been here since day zero during pre-debut, or if you’ve just met me, I love and cherish every single one of you alike. It would be my greatest honor to live inside your heart, even for a moment. I hope that all who come to visit our Celestial Palace shall leave my streams with a smile and memories that shall last a lifetime. But for now, I shall bid you adieu with a message I always say at the end of my streams. "Be kind to yourself. Be gentle with yourself. For you are enough. You are more than enough. It's unbelievable how enough you truly are! Thank you and see you Neph Time!
Editor: Meira
Don't have a character illustration for streaming on IRIAM yet? We have a program to provide you with your very own original character!
Help us choose the next streamer for "Spotlight on IRIAM"! If you'd like to recommend an IRIAM streamer (including yourself!), please use the form below to submit your suggestion. Streamer Recommendation Form for "Spotlight on IRIAM: Meet the Streamer"
