Music Existence Because of Music, We Exist
Today, on January 25th, the music world welcomes a new star as Zima Kamimoto releases her highly anticipated debut album, “The Snow Queen.” Bursting onto the scene with a fusion of hyper pop and cyber-themed elements, Kamimoto’s musical journey promises to be an exhilarating ride through uncharted sonic territories. In anticipation of this milestone release, we had the privilege of sitting down with the visionary artist herself to delve deeper into the creation of her groundbreaking album and explore the inspirations behind her electrifying sound.
1. Congratulations on your debut album! How does it feel to have your first full-length project out in the world?
It’s the most surreal, beautiful feeling I’ve ever felt. I have been dreaming of this moment since I was 5 years old.
2. What inspired you to pursue a career in music, and how does it feel to see your dreams come to fruition with this album release?
It was natural, this has always been my plan. Again, it’s just surreal. Seeing my music up on all these platforms, being an official part of the music scene is just wild to me, a dream come true.
3. Can you tell us about the journey from aspiring musician to releasing your debut album? Any significant milestones or challenges along the way?
My favorite part has been making one song out of a bunch of random lines I wrote years ago. Some lines in this album were written 8 years ago, others weeks ago. That was something I enjoyed a lot. But also, coming up with melodies was a lot of fun. Easier than I thought!
4. How would you describe the overall sound and vibe of your debut album to someone who hasn’t heard it yet?
It’s hyperpop, girly, but it’s also slow and serious. The album has a cyber theme, you know, cyberpunk cities and virtual reality, but lyrically, I focused on being as real, poetic and raw as possible.
5. Were there any specific artists or musical influences that played a significant role in shaping the sound of this album?
Sonically, my main influences were BLACKPINK, Grimes and aespa, they inspired me to take this artistic route. Miranda! too. This album is hyperpop, but when I was younger I used to listen to a lot of artists similar to this genre, such as Girls’ Generation, Red Velvet and Alizée, and remembering all that vibrant imagery associated with them was also really inspiring.
Lyrically, my biggest influence has always been Taylor Swift, now specifically her lyricism in Folklore, Evermore and Midnights. But Courtney Love has also helped me shape my songwriting tremendously. I love how raw her lyrics are. She isn’t afraid of putting out unhinged lyrics, and that’s why she’s one of my favorite singers. Her honesty in her lyricism is what has made me stood by her all these years and her rawness is something I appreciate a lot. I wanted to do the same.
7. Can you share any personal stories or experiences that inspired the songs on your debut album?
The main concept of this album is the vision of onself. I wanted to do the same not only because this is my debut album, but because my favorite records growing up were Nobody’s Daughter and Live Through This by Hole, and the reason why they meant so much to me was because the main concept was the relationship with yourself. There are songs in The Snow Queen that talk about love, yes, but the overall main theme is the relationship with oneself; my self-image, thelonging for advantage, beauty, perfection. These were struggles I experienced a lot growing up and sometimes to this day.
8. What do you hope listeners will take away from listening to your music for the first time?
I just hope they can feel identified, heard. And I do have a whole song about this on the album, “Jennie and Taylor”. But I hope you find at least a little bit of solace in my music and I hope there’s at least one person out there who can resonate with my lyrics.
The Snow Queen is available on all streaming platforms now.
