[Updated] Dark Model FAQs : Frequently Asked Questions about Dark Model

Here are Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding Dark Model (Tatsuya Oe) and the music. Hopefully, you find these answers helpful.

(This is a repost from the FAQ page on Dark Model official website.)

About Dark Model’s songs

Q: Your song ‘Judgment Day’ has been played almost 5 million times on NetEase Cloud Music, a streaming service in China. It has also been featured in various television programs in the US, Japan, and other countries. What are your thoughts on this?

I am truly honored that my music has reached such a diverse audience. Although I’m unsure how the song gained its widespread appeal, I sincerely appreciate that so many listeners from both Western and Eastern countries have enjoyed it and continue to revisit it.

Releases & Distribution

Q. Where can I download or enjoy streaming of Dark Model’s music?

MP3 Downloads: iTunes, Amazon MP3, Google Music Store, Rhapsody, CD Baby, Bandcamp, etc.
Streaming services & Internet Radio: Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Deezer, Slacker, Pandora, iHeartRadio, etc.

For the details, please explore the discography page and store links on this website.

Q. Where can I get a CD copy of Dark Model’s albums?

[Updated in 2024: We have no longer manufactured CD copies of Dark Model releases. The 1st and 2nd albums may be available on the online stores below.]

United States: Amazon, CD Baby, CD Universe. F.Y.E, etc.
Europe: Amazon UK/France/Germany/Italy, MusicStack, etc.
Japan: Amazon.co.jp, Tower Records, Disk Union, etc.

For the details, please refer to the discography page on this website.

Licensing Dark Model’s Music

Q. How can I get a license to use Dark Model’s music for my media project?

If you’re interested in featuring Dark Model’s music in your commercial projects, such as television programs, advertising campaigns, motion pictures, and trailers, or video games, please check these pages on this website and contact us via the license request form.

How to Obtain a License to Use Our Music (Licensing Tutorial)
Music Licensing & Library FAQs

Please note that it is strictly prohibited to upload Dark Model’s music without our permission onto any music/video sharing service such as YouTube and SoundCloud.

Sampling Dark Model’s Music

Q. How can I use your music for a sample/beat of my new song legally?

To avoid the complexity and possible troubles of sampling clearance and agreements, we basically do NOT permit other artists to sample our master recordings for their new works (unless they work with experienced A&Rs and attorneys who can address the legal process and payment responsibly). This includes derivative works/acts such as singing or rapping a new song on any part of our masters, of course.

Please understand and look for other easy-to-clear sampling sources. Many royalty-free music services outside are available to you. Thanks for your interest!

Note: As of 2024, we have never given anyone permission to use Dark Model’s music as a sampling source. If you find a song, track, or beat by another artist that samples Dark Model’s music, that use is considered a violation of our copyright and constitutes illegal use.

Hire Dark Model (Tatsuya Oe)

Q. Can you make original music or a remix for my commercial project?

Tatsuya basically doesn’t do work-for-hire and buy-out production. He has 100% committed himself to constantly creating and publishing music for his own label and catalog.

We recommend you explore our music catalog for licensing. You might find an existing song that perfectly matches your project. Licensing an existing song is a cost-effective solution, saving you both time and money compared to bespoke/custom production.

Concept / Inspiration

Q. What books inspire you when you build a concept of and compose music of Dark Model?

Book authored by Dante Alighieri, Goethe, Shakespeare, Dostoevsky, Stoicism philosophers (such as Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus), Homer, Zeami Motokiyo, Musashi Miyamoto, Joseph Campbell, Machiavelli, Robert Greene, Bruce Lee, Viktor Frankl, Osamu Tezuka, Seicho Matsumoto, Shunryu Suzuki, Lao-Tzu, Zhuang Zi, Sun Tzu, George Orwell, Isaac Asimov, etc. And of course, the Bible (the Old Testament and the New Testament) and World Mythology.

While many of the Dark Model’s songs’ titles evoke wars and fighting, my interest is in internal struggles rather than external battles (not to mention violence). From the perspective of self-development/personal growth, what Western philosophers and authors teach us and what Eastern thinkers and Zen masters do have much in common, even if each sometimes seems contradictory. Both have deeply inspired my music as Dark Model, and I have delved into the common ground through books and research while creating music.

Music Production

Q. What instruments and software do you use to make Dark Model’s music?

We want to avoid going deeply into “what gears to have and use” stories because we think that kind of information could divert listeners’ attention from what Tatsuya wants to convey through his music. That said, Tatsuya sometimes blogs about his tips and insights on music production so that they can inspire young music producers as well as my fans. We suggest you visit his blog page periodically.

Tatsuya Oe English blog: https://www.tatsuyaoe.com/blog/
Japanese blog “Music Production” tag: https://www.tatsuyaoe.com/findings/tag/music-production/

Addendum (May 2016): The other day, we received a question like this from a Dark Model fan in the US. Just for your reference, here is Tatsuya’s answer to the question.

Question: “First off, I recently found the Dark Model album and have been listening non-stop! I am a complete amateur composer, but I would love to know what sound library you use for string sounds, especially your solo violins. They sound amazing! I am using some famous library to practice my technique but find it lacking. If you don’t mind sharing some good libraries for that professional string sound, I would really appreciate it!”

Answer: “When it comes to making string sounds, I have used my custom-made/original Kontakt (Native Instruments) patches for years as well as several commercial sound libraries. While you could try a couple of famous brands to get closer to what you want to sound, I would recommend you spend time learning articulations of orchestral instruments and how to express them with MIDI programming. I believe that is more important than what libraries to choose in the long run.”

Q. How many hours do you spend completing one song?

On average, it takes a few hundred hours to finish one track. The maximum is around five hundred hours. The entire process includes composition, programming, performance/recording, mixing, and mastering. I spend more time on programming and mixing than on the rest of the process.

Merchandising

Q. Where can I buy Dark Model T-shirts? Are they available somewhere?

We do not merchandise Dark Model goods.

Tours & Gigs

Q. Do you have a plan to tour or have a gig as Dark Model?

We appreciate your interest. As for Dark Model, Tatsuya focuses first on recording and releasing its quality music. Just for your reference, here is a quote from his interview with UTG magazine.

Question (UTG): “Have you been playing any of these new tracks live or have plans for touring this year?”

Answer (Tatsuya): “I haven’t played Dark Model tracks in live performance yet. When it comes to performing these tracks, several possibilities could be considered (e.g. not only spinning these as a DJ but also performing in a band or even with an orchestra). Having said that, no matter how or with whom I play this music, I’d like to work on it so as to keep the intuitive/impulsive/primitive feels which this music originally has. As you know, sometimes easy collaborations or expansions could work against and lose its original edge. It would take some more time to make my mind up about what is the most exciting and realistic way to play this music, but I believe I will be able to come up with an interesting live set.”

Regarding Tatsuya’s past tours and live acts, please refer to these pages on his official website.

Tatsuya Oe Credits/Awards: https://www.tatsuyaoe.com/biography/credits/
Events/gigs: https://www.tatsuyaoe.com/category/news/event/

Social Media

Q. Do you have a Twitter account?

No. As of October 2024, Tatsuya and Model Electronic don’t have a Twitter account under any name. We don’t have an Instagram and a Pinterest account, either.

Regarding other social media platforms, please refer to the link and resources page.