Aya Gloomy — formerly just Gloomy — has been a presence in Tokyo’s indie music scene for a few years now, creating a scratched-surface dream pop that fit in lovely alongside artists such as Canopies and Drapes, and Batman Winks. Now, she’s prepping for a proper debut via Big Love Records in February, highlighted by…
“Only You” is Gloomy at her most despondent. It’s a tar-pit of a song, all slowly sinking synths and a drum pattern moving like slime, except when it’s bursting into something resembling Portishead’s “Machine Gun.” It’s a slow burn into oblivion, capped off by Gloomy’s singing, which matches the bleakness of the music — to…
Batman Winks (formally Atlanta Girl) has been all about confrontation on the small amount of music he’s released over the past couple of years. Obviously taking cues from LA pop weirdo Ariel Pink (and not shy about declaring his love for the dude), his songs have often deliberately been hard to listen to or, at…
It’s a simple trick, but one that young music-maker Gloomy pulls off well on “Roller Girl.” It’s the old “upbeat meets crushing” formula, of mashing something sunny against something not so bright. On “Roller Girl,” the sunshine comes courtesy of Gloomy’s vocals which practically skip, even when she starts to adopt a cadence bringing to…
I’d like to think this a case where a music scene’s very existence proves itself to be vital, to be responsible for fostering a young artist and helping them improve over time. Gloomy popped up on our radar late last year, when they (I believe they are a duo) appeared on the bill for one…