Overview
"needLe" is a crossover track born from the collaboration between maimai DX and Project Sekai: Colorful Stage! feat. Hatsune Miku (プロジェクトセカイ カラフルステージ！ feat. 初音ミク). Composed by DECO*27, one of the most prolific Vocaloid producers of the 2010s and beyond, known for hits like "Ghost Rule," "Hibana," and "Salamander", the song serves as a signature piece for the in-game band Leo/need, a high school rock group fronted by Ichika Hoshino. The arrangement was handled by Rockwell, giving the track a crisp, driving rock sound built around a relentless 190 BPM pulse.
The title "needLe" is a deliberate typographic play: it fuses the word "need" with a capital "Le" as a direct nod to Leo/need, while also evoking the image of a needle, a fitting metaphor for the song's lyrical theme of mending a broken connection. The Japanese lyrics revolve around reclaiming a relationship, offering to "take the needle that pierces you" and re-spooling a "disconnected story." The song features both Hatsune Miku's synthesized vocals and the five human vocal performances of the Leo/need cast, Ichika Hoshino (CV: Ruriko Noguchi), Saki Tenma (CV: Karin Isobe), Honami Mochizuki (CV: Reina Ueda), and Shiho Hinomori (CV: Yuki Nakashima), blending VOCALOID and character voices in the signature Project Sekai style.
Within maimai DX, "needLe" was added as part of the UNiVERSE edition on October 15, 2021. Its charts range from a gentle Basic (level 2) to a demanding Master chart (level 12+, constant 12.8) designed by はっぴー, known for crafting technically intricate patterns. The Expert chart, designed by 隅田川星人 (Sumidagawa Seijin), sits at level 9+ (constant 9.6) and offers a taste of the song's fast-paced, rock-driven rhythm. The song later rolled out to Asian and Chinese region versions of the game on staggered schedules.
Videos
Charts
DX
BASIC
2(2)
96 notesDesigner: -|Tap 73Hold 10Slide 3Touch 9Break 1
ADVANCED
7+(7.6)
281 notesDesigner: -|Tap 236Hold 12Slide 14Touch 15Break 4
EXPERT
9+(9.6)
425 notesDesigner: 隅田川星人|Tap 318Hold 42Slide 22Touch 29Break 14
MASTER
12+(12.8)
592 notesDesigner: はっぴー|Tap 434Hold 39Slide 92Touch 20Break 7
Trivia
- needLe was originally created for the mobile rhythm game Project Sekai: Colorful Stage! feat. Hatsune Miku, where it functions as a key song for the in-game band Leo/need.
- The song's title is a portmanteau that combines 'need' and 'Le' (from Leo/need), with the capital L in the middle visually reinforcing the connection to the band name.
- A separate version of needLe featuring only Hatsune Miku's vocals (without the Leo/need character voices) exists within Project Sekai, giving players two distinct vocal arrangements.
- The arrangement was handled by Rockwell, a producer and arranger who has worked extensively on Project Sekai's soundtrack, contributing to songs like 'Ready Steady' and 'Forward.'
- In the Asian version of maimai DX, needLe arrived later, added during the FESTiVAL edition on May 19, 2023, roughly a year and a half after its Japanese UNiVERSE debut.
- The Chinese version (舞萌DX) received needLe even later, on December 4, 2025, as part of the 舞萌DX 2025 edition.
- The Master chart (level 12+, constant 12.8) was designed by はっぴー, a notes designer recognized for dense, technically demanding charts that test a player's stamina and precision at high BPMs.
- The Expert chart (level 9+, constant 9.6) was designed by 隅田川星人 (Sumidagawa Seijin), a chart creator whose work often emphasizes readable but energetic note patterning at intermediate difficulty levels.
FAQ
- Who composed needLe?
- needLe was composed and lyricized by DECO*27, a prominent Japanese Vocaloid producer. The arrangement was handled by Rockwell.
- Which version of maimai introduced needLe?
- needLe debuted in maimai DX UNiVERSE on October 15, 2021 in Japan. It later released in the Asian version during FESTiVAL (May 19, 2023) and the Chinese version in 舞萌DX 2025 (December 4, 2025).
- What is the BPM of needLe?
- needLe has a BPM of 190.
- Who are the vocalists on needLe?
- The song features Hatsune Miku (synthesized vocals) alongside the four Leo/need cast members: Ichika Hoshino (CV: Ruriko Noguchi), Saki Tenma (CV: Karin Isobe), Honami Mochizuki (CV: Reina Ueda), and Shiho Hinomori (CV: Yuki Nakashima).
- What does the title needLe mean?
- The title is a wordplay combining 'need' and a capital 'Le' (from Leo/need), the in-game band that performs the song. It also evokes the word 'needle,' tying into the lyrics' metaphor of mending a broken relationship.
- What difficulty is needLe's Master chart?
- The Master chart is level 12+ with a difficulty constant of 12.8. It was designed by the notes designer はっぴー.
- Is needLe a Project Sekai song?
- Yes, needLe originates from Project Sekai: Colorful Stage! feat. Hatsune Miku, where it serves as a signature song for the band Leo/need. It was later added to maimai DX as a crossover collaboration track.
