Fashion curator, singer and electronic music producer—Aya Gloomy is a Tokyo-based multi-disciplinary artist who is constructing her own imaginative and multi-coloured world, free from the ennui of everyday life. Since her early years in high school, Gloomy has been expressing herself through music and fashion, fusing obscure electronic beats with a “kawaii” fashion style that could only be found in the heart of Tokyo’s Harajuku district.

After being discovered by Harajuku record label and shop Big Love Records, she released her first EP Ennui Ground before shortly following it up with her debut album in 2018, Riku no Koto; a retro-synth heavy electro-pop record featuring her dreamy vocals. Like leaves carried by the wind, her words float over sonic landscapes, carried by drum loops—flitting in and out—threatening to fade away in their lightness.

This year the artist returned with a new single IRO IRO, a playful song exploring ideas of colours and vibrancy, perfectly matching the singer's unique personality and style. Released on 21 N FUN, the single is accompanied by a Mahne Frame-directed video that features some amazing styling, showcasing everything good that the artist is trying to do with her vintage clothing shop—Pom Pom Shop.

GATA recently met the musician in Tokyo’s Sangenjaya area, taking the opportunity to experience one of the artist’s favourite pastimes— kissaten (a kind of retro cafe that can only be found in Japan). From her trips to LA sourcing vintage items for her shop to joining the music club in her high school days and her favourite spots in Tokyo; take a trip into Gloomy’s colourful world and escape reality for just a bit.

GATA: Hi Aya! Thank you for your time. Could you please introduce yourself to our GATA readers? Who is Aya Gloomy?

AYA: I’m a songwriter and music-maker based in Tokyo. I also run my own vintage clothing store.

アヤ：私は東京を拠点に作詞作曲、音楽を作っています。そして自分でセレクトした古着屋を営んでいます。

GATA: You started creating music super young, when you were in high school. Has music always been the main way you express yourself?

AYA: Yes, music has always been at my core. In high school, I joined the music club and spent every day there, especially in my first year. It was there I started composing music for band competitions. I become interested in electronic music and wanted to create it myself. So I saved up some money and bought myself a synthesiser; creating every day. I had so much joy being able to create music with just that one synthesiser.

アヤ：はい、いつも私の中心は音楽でできていました。高校生で軽音楽部に入って、特に１年生は毎日のように軽音楽部で過ごし、そこでコンテストにでるためのバンドで作曲をしたりするようになりました。そこからエレトロニックな音楽に興味が出て自分で作りたいと思うようになり、お金を貯めてシンセサイザーを手に入れて毎日のように作りました。自分がシンセサイザー１台で音楽をクリエイトできる喜びがすごくありました。

“My Store ‘Pom Pom Shop’ in Harajuku, only has clothes that excite me and that I want to wear.”

— Quote Source

GATA: What did music mean to you back then, and what does it mean to you now?

AYA: Back then I become interested in indie, alternative and electronic music from overseas. I’ve always got a lot of pleasure from discovering new music and being able to create similar music myself. Now I get a lot of joy from being able to create melodies that I’ve never heard before or use sounds that I’ve never had the chance to use. Music always gives me new discoveries and joy.

アヤ：その当時は、海外のインディー、オルタナティブ、エレクトロニックミュージックに興味が出て、いつも新しい音楽を発見する喜び、そして似たような音楽を自分でクリエイトできる喜びがすごくありました。今は自分が今まで聞いたことないメロディーなどが作れたり今まで使ったことのない音を使ったりするときにとても喜びを感じます。音楽は常に新しい発見や喜びを与えてくれます。

GATA: Electronic music has always been an influence on you; what is it about electronic music that excites you more than other genres?

AYA: When I was younger I liked the sound of bands and it was from there I discovered electronic music which was really exciting and stimulating. I found music that I couldn’t even imagine, so I think it was a genre that was always exciting for me. I’m drawn to people who create their own interesting worlds, they don’t have to be strictly “electronic”.

アヤ：若い時はバンドサウンドが好きでそこから電子音楽に出会ってすごくエキサイティングで刺激的で自分の想像できない音楽に出会えたりしていたので常にワクワクさせてもらえるジャンルだったと思います。特にエレクトロに特化しているわけではなく、こだわりをもって、「 interesting」な自分の世界を作っている人々に惹かれます。

GATA: How did you start Pom Pom Shop and what is the inspiration behind it?

AYA: I went to LA for the first time in 2016 and bought too many clothes there. I worked in a vintage clothing shop in Harajuku in the past, so I decided to try selling them online. From there, I went to LA several times each year to buy clothes and I sell them online four times a year in a pop-up shop. Pom Pom Shop only has clothes that excite me and that I want to wear.

アヤ：Pom Pom Shopは2016年に初めてLAに行きそこで自分の服を買いすぎてしまいました。原宿の古着屋で働いていた経験もあったので売ってみようと思って買ってきた古着をウェブサイトで売り始めました。そこから毎年何回かロサンゼルスに買い付けに行っています。小さい頃から自分しか見つけられない1点物の特別感が好きで古着が大好きでした。Pom Pom Shopは自分がワクワクする服たち、私が着たいものだけを集めています。年に4回程のpop-up shopとウェブサイトで販売しています。

GATA: The work of Aya Gloomy is a combination of your dark side with shades of neon and bright visuals. When do you create your music, and how do you combine these two sides into one?

AYA: In practice, I don’t do it that way because I want to. I always just come up with visuals and write songs based on my feelings at the time. If I had to say, it’s probably the contrast between the darker side of my core and the colourful clothes and hair that I love.

アヤ：実際はそのようにしたいと思って考えてやっっている訳ではありません。いつもその時のフィーリングに乗って曲を作ったりビジュアルを考えたりしています。強いて言うなら私の核の根暗な部分と大好きなカラフルの洋服だったり髪だったりのコントラストがそう見せているのかもしれません。

GATA: Big Love Records was the first place to stock and sell your records. Could you tell us a little bit about it to those who may not be very familiar with the place?

AYA: Big Love Records is a shop/label that stocks the newest vinyl records from all over the world. They were the label to release my first EP and album.

アヤ：Big Love Recordsは原宿にある世界中のかっこいい音楽の新譜ヴァイナルレコードのお店件レーベルです。私の最初のEPとファーストアルバムをリリースさせてもらったレーベルでもあります。

GATA: Was discovering this shop and meeting Naka san an essential part of your development as an artist?

AYA: Yes, it was a place where I was able to grow a lot. I was initially a fan of the music and the shop itself. As I visited the shops more and more, I became friends with the people I met there and learnt more about different kinds of music. I was really happy when the owner Naka san, suddenly asked me one day if I wanted to release my music on his label. Working with Naka san has been an incredible learning experience and I’m very grateful.

アヤ：はい、大きく成長させてもらえた場でした。私は元々Big Love Recordsの扱っている音楽やお店のファンでした。お店に通うにつれてそこで出会う人と友達になったり色々な音楽をもっと知ったりと大好きな場でした。オーナーの仲さんからある日突然私の音楽をレーベルからリリースしてみないかと言われた時は、本当に嬉しかったです。仲さんと仕事するのはいつも学びがあり成長させてもらいとても感謝しています。

GATA: What is the current music scene like in Tokyo? Do you have any artists that you really admire right now?

AYA: I don't know anything about the scene, to be honest. Especially since I don’t personally belong to a scene or anything like that. But if we were to talk about Japan, I would say that I like Shintaro Sakamoto. He just keeps doing what he likes and what he wants to do.

アヤ：私はシーンのことなどはわかりません。特に私は日本の何かシーンなどに属しているわけではないので。日本だったら坂本慎太郎さんが好きです。勝手な印象ですが好きなこと、やりたいことをずっと続けている気がして素敵です。

GATA: Tell us a little bit about your favourite spots in Tokyo.

AYA: Tamagawa and Olympus (a cafe) in Denenchofu. Olympus was used for the karaoke scene in the music video for KANJIRU, and I used to go there often when I lived in Denenchofu and I loved the owner (who played the drums for KANJIRU). Tamagawa is another place I used to go to when I lived in Denenchofu and I have many memories of it.

アヤ：田園調布の多摩川とオリンポスです。オリンポスはKANJIRUのMVのカラオケシーンで使わせてもらったところで、田園調布に住んでいた頃よく行っていてマスター（KANJIRUではドラムを叩いてる）が大好きでした。多摩川も田園調布に住んでいた頃よく行っていて、いろいろな思い出がある場所です。

GATA: Your newest single, "IRO IRO" just came out 21 N FUN; what was the message you wanted to convey with this song?

AYA: I wanted to create “many different colours” in my own world.

アヤ：いろいろな色‘を自分の世界に生み出してほしいなと思いました。

GATA: Cinema is a main source of inspiration for many artists; are there any films that have inspired your style or music to this day?

AYA: I can’t pick and choose because I love films but The Fifth Element always inspires me. It’s in space, the clothes are tight and iconic and the colouring and storyline are interesting. I also like directors such as Harmony Korine, Katsuhito Ishii, Leos Carax and Miranda Julai.

アヤ：私は映画が大好きなので選びきれないですが、フィフスエレメントはいつもインスパイアをもらいますね。宇宙ものですし、お洋服はタイトでアイコニックだしカラーリングもストーリーラインも面白いので好きです。他にはハーモニーコリン、石井克人さん、レオスカラックス、ミランダジュライなどなどの作家の作品が好きですね。

Kaleidoscopic Dream Pop: Meet Musician AYA GLOOMY