PSYQUI
PSYQUI (Pronounced: Saiki (サイキ))
Personal information
- Real name: Ukyo Ishikawa (石川右京)
- Date of birth: July 12, 1992
- Place of birth: Katsuragi City, Nara Prefecture, Japan
- Blood type:: O
Career
Early stage
PSYQUI began composing music in April 2005, upon entering middle school, while also participating in a wind band club. He primarily used FL Studio 6 XXL, along with plugins such as Sytrus and Synth 1 VSTi, for Desktop Music (DTM) production. In July 2007, he left the wind band club to focus entirely on music production.
Under the alias Mr.Bon, PSYQUI was active on platforms such as AudioLeaf, MySpace, muzie, SoundCloud, and NicoNico. He composed songs for various events and the Japanese doujin music community. Notably, his works—including Real Doubt, despotism, Darling, GalaxPrayer, UnsustainableWorld, and Unit5—were featured as background music in Dancing☆Onigiri, a rhythm beatmap sharing platform integrated with Flash games. Some of Mr.Bon's original web pages are now only accessible via the Wayback Machine.
Between 2011 and 2012, he formed the band FM Radio in Nara Prefecture, releasing their 1st DEMO on AudioLeaf before the group disbanded after 2012. He also served as the drummer for the band BabyNoise until his departure on June 18, 2011; however, most information regarding the group—including their official website ((http://79.xmbs.jp/babynoise/?guid=on)—has since been taken down or is no longer accessible. Furthermore, PSYQUI was a member of the Ryo Okuno Band (奥野涼バンド) starting in 2017.. Subsequently, he left the band and ceased most side activities to dedicate his full efforts to the PSYQUI project.
Activities under the stage name PSYQUI
PSYQUI gained recognition for his future bass and future core style, receiving support and promotion from established artists such as lapix and kz (livetune). He made his debut with the MEGAREX label in 2017 through the albumFUGENE 01, featuring standout tracks like Your Voice So... (feat. Such). Some of his later works, including Hysteric Night Girl and 就寝御礼 (Shūshin Orei), became viral on social media, despite often being used without prior authorization. However, PSYQUI stated that this contributed to increasing his music's visibility and that he does not view it as an issue.
Technically, PSYQUI utilizes various digital audio workstations (DAWs) including FL Studio, Ableton Live, and Studio One, depending on the genre. He has contributed music to several rhythm games such as Arcaea, maimai DX, Touhou Danmaku Kagura, and BANDAI NAMCO's DEN-ON-BU project.
Social media and online platforms
- Twitter/X:
- @mrbon_ (later changed to@i_ukyo_)1 Used for posting about band activities before transitioning completely to @_PSYQUI_
- @_mrbon_ (Deleted)
- @corner_somen (Deleted in 2025)
- @_PSYQUI_ 2 PSYQUI's primary official X account.
- @nasubi_starman (formerly @saikisaaaan) 3 Primarily used for gaming-related content.
- SoundCloud:
- Ukyo Ishikawa 4: Primarily features instrumental tracks or demo mixes, often experimental in nature.
- PSYQUI 5: The official account under the name PSYQUI, used for mainstream releases; however, it does not host his entire discography.
- Mr. Bon 6: Active since approximately 2012; this account was used to share short demos, singles, and various works related to his early band projects.
- Spotify:
- NicoNico (Mr. Bon):9
- Youtube (PSYQUI): 10
- facebook (Ukyou Ishikawa): 11
- Instagram (psy9ui): 12
- BlueSky (psy9ui): 13
- Bandcamp (Artist): 14
- Bandcamp (User): 15
- Steam (なすび星人): 16
- Final Fantasy XIV (Nasubi Starman): 17
- TwitCasting (イシカワウキョウ): 18
- Mixi (Mr. Bon): 19
- Audio Leaf (Mr. Bon):20
- Audio Leaf (FM Radio):21
- Myspace (Mr. Bon):22
Music production
PSYQUI utilizes various Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) in his creative process, including FL Studio, Studio One, Ableton Live, and Pro Tools. He began his career with FL Studio, as confirmed through numerous Twitter posts, and frequently incorporates plugins like Sytrus and Omnisphere 2 to craft his signature sound.
During the 2016–2017 period, PSYQUI particularly favored synthesizer plugins such as Omnisphere 2, Serum, and Sytrus, using them with high frequency. He once shared that he "could not fall in love with any other synths besides Serum and Omnisphere 2," and often utilized dozens of instances of each plugin to create depth in his arrangements.
Regarding Omnisphere 2, PSYQUI highly regards its ability to emulate classic analog hardware and its diverse sound library, which is especially suitable for producing genres like future core or dark full-on. He has also mentioned using distortion techniques within Omnisphere to create "gritty, peculiar, and evocative" sounds, demonstrating a fusion of technical proficiency and aesthetic intuition in his approach to music.
PSYQUI is prominent in the future core scene, a genre blending future bass and hardcore to create vibrant, emotional melodies. He draws inspiration from Mat Zo, utilizing bass noise and synth leads in tracks such as Why Don’t You and Remorse. He also experiments with J-ROCK and other genres, employing techniques like drops, build-ups, reverb, and sidechaining to create powerful effects. Tools like SliceX and Edison are used for vocal and piano sampling.
Sound Engineering:
In 2015, PSYQUI served as a sound engineer for the second album of the Japanese rock band LYLA BOOPS, titled Under The Construction. He appeared in a group photo with the band members at the studio following the conclusion of their first recording session.
Influences and Equipment
Musical Interests and Influences
PSYQUI has expressed interest in various bands, including ACIDMAN, 凛として時雨 (Ling Tosite Sigure), ASPARAGUS, BEAT CRUSADERS (ビークル), Buzzmothers (バズマザーズ), ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION (アジカン), and the band apart (バンアパ).
His musical style has been influenced by artists such as Mat Zo, Au5, Haywyre, and k?d.
Equipment and Software
PSYQUI utilizes multiple Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) and electronic hardware for music production. His known toolkit includes FL Studio, Studio One, Ableton Live, and Pro Tools, alongside plugins such as Omnisphere 2, Serum, and Sytrus. An unofficial comprehensive list of his equipment and software has been archived by the community on DTM Board; however, this list may not cover all assets used throughout his career.
Theory of collaboration with ANON:
There is significant circumstantial evidence suggesting that PSYQUI may be the producer for the VTuber ANON , who collaborated with ANNIE to form the duo "XOXO". From her debut, ANON used PSYQUI's track Hysteric Night Girl in her self-introduction video, sparking speculation within the fan community. She has also posted behind-the-scenes footage of her music production process, showcasing DAW techniques that closely resemble PSYQUI's DTM style. Furthermore, several of ANON's remixes frequently appear in PSYQUI’s DJ sets.
Additionally, PSYQUI has reposted ANON's new song release announcements on social media, leading fans to further theorize about their professional connection. To date, there has been no official confirmation from either PSYQUI or ANON's management regarding these theories.
Personal journals on mixi
2011 Year-end Summary 24
On December 31, 2011, on the mixi platform, Mr.Bon posted a year-end summary in a humorous style, confirming his continuous activity throughout the year. In the post, he logged each month with the recurring phrase "I survived" (生きてますた), implying that 2011 had been a turbulent journey. He described September as a time when he "thought he was going to die" (死ぬかと思いました), though his spirits improved starting in October. He also expressed gratitude to friends and supporters for a fulfilling year.
2011 Traffic Accident 25
In October 2011, PSYQUI (then active as Mr. Bon) was involved in a traffic accident while driving at a speed of 75 km/h. He lost control due to gravel on the road while cornering, causing the vehicle to slide and crash. Although no bones were broken, he sustained several serious injuries, including a dislocated jaw, the loss of 5–6 teeth, lacerations to his eyelids and lips, and extensive bruising and abrasions. He required three stitches in his mouth and rested at home for approximately two weeks. He described the experience by noting he "nearly wet himself" upon waking up and seeing a utility pole right next to him.
Personal Reflections (2011) (Day 3) 26 In a mixi post dated July 25, 2011, Ukyo Ishikawa shared his personal emotions during a difficult period in his life. He thanked those who had helped him while describing a sense of emptiness from being unemployed, which led to negative thoughts regarding regret, atonement, and feeling stuck. In the post, he expressed profound sadness mixed with self-deprecating humor, revealing a somber yet ironic mindset:
"No matter what I think about, in the end, it’s just a feeling of wanting to die. This old man has had enough (laughs)."
Personal Reflections (2011) (Day 2) 27
In another mixi post dated July 23, 2011, Ukyo Ishikawa opened up about his living situation during a period of financial hardship. He expressed deep gratitude toward the Nishide family for providing him with food and shelter. He also noted the completion of a job at "Kashibun" (short for Kashihara Cultural Hall, a venue in Nara), which helped improve his financial status. Ishikawa mentioned having two other confirmed jobs and expressed a desire to find a stable daytime position and a short-term night shift. However, he felt a sense of insecurity as both his sound engineering (PA) work and his night shifts atHarts Music Studio were temporary. At the end of the post, he admitted to a fading motivation for life, sharing a satirical remark:
"I want to stop being human and live like a wild animal."
Personal Reflections (2011) (Day 1) 28
In a post on July 23, 2011, PSYQUI shared that he had been forced to leave his home during an especially difficult mental period. Shortly before this, he had lost a close friend and was attempting to process the grief in silence. However, before he could recover, he faced family turmoil, which made him feel as though he were "cursed."
Despite this, he tried to maintain his daily routine and stated he would continue working at Kashibun (橿文). The post reflects Ishikawa's precarious state of mind during an unstable phase of his life and career.
Creative Motivation (2011) 29
In a post dated January 18, 2011, PSYQUI revealed that his initial reason for making music was a desire to escape reality following personal troubles. Music became the medium through which he organized his emotions and constructed an ideal world of his own. He expressed profound gratitude toward music for helping him through dark times. Consequently, he wished to "repay" music by creating works that everyone could enjoy. He believes that music always "wants to be something loved by all living things—a kind of pure, beautiful sound."
Late 2011 30
In late 2010, PSYQUI actively participated in music events across the Kansai region, including Heijō ROCK and programs by Typical, .comsun, and pdt. He performed alongside local bands such as Review and Edage, showcasing vibrant musical exchange before embarking on his professional music production career. Through these performances, PSYQUI demonstrated a serious commitment to learning and a desire to refine his performance skills.
PSYQUI also performed at several live houses in the Kansai area, including RHEB GATE in Ikoma City and FUZZ in Mikunigaoka. He announced his performance schedule via his personal page on mixi.31
March 3, 2010 32
In 2010, under the alias Mr. Bon, Ukyo Ishikawa participated in online music activities and interacted with the doujin community through platforms like mixi. He composed a humorous track titled "HAGE-CORE * NIGHT (short ver.)" and posted it to share with his friends within the community.
February 16, 2009 33
Ukyo recounted an "offkai" (offline meet-up) with friends, an experience filled with laughter. He displayed a humorous and sociable personality, though he jokingly admitted to "being ignored" despite his attempts at comedy.