Full of life and digital synths, SHIMA's songs make you feel like you're at the intergalactic party of the century. Aptly describing her music as "space disco", the Japanese-American producer-singer puts together a soundscape that's beyond this world.
"I make such a wide variety of music but I tend to stick to an electronic base. I like digital synths, electronic drum kits, and re-pitched vocals," she tells Bandwagon.
"None of my music is consistent in terms of genre, BPM, or mood, but I like to use the catchphrase 'Welcome to the Space Disco' because I want people to instantly feel as if they've travelled to a disco in outer space when they hear my music."
BANDWAGON TV
Beyond bringing outer space to earth, SHIMA also threads between two different types of world. Raised in Tokyo and now based in Los Angeles, the electronic act has always been divided between Japanese and American culture.
Wanting to bring the best of both worlds, the bilingual artist serves slices of both halves in her music, whether it's through languages or philosophies.
"I want to help bridge that gap by collaborating with artists, labels and brands from both sides, and making my music as accessible as possible to both sides by keeping everything bilingual," she shares.
To make her dreams a reality, SHIMA recently signed with Universal Music Japan where she released her latest singles 'After The World Ends' and 'CONMAN'.
Bandwagon recently caught up with SHIMA to talk about her musical beginnings, the process behind her "space disco" music, and what lies ahead in her journey.
Hi SHIMA, what have you been up to lately?
This year, as well as last year, I've been mostly staying at home due to COVID lockdowns in LA which I can't really complain about because I've been able to really buckle down and focus on music like I've never done before in my life.
There were some weeks where I was pumping out a song or beat a day for multiple days straight. Other than that, I've been enjoying going on hikes around LA, which are about the only outdoor activity I've been able to do.
View this post on Instagram
What are some of your earliest memories of music?
Music has been a part of my life since literally the day I was born. My mom is a huge soul music fan, and she brought a boombox to the hospital on the day I was born.
She made sure 'I Feel Good' by James Brown was playing the moment I came into the earth. As a young child, she would play Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, Beyoncé, Christina Aguilera, and a soulful Japanese singer named AI.
View this post on Instagram
Who were some of your favourite artists growing up?
In elementary school, I was absolutely obsessed with Destiny's Child, Beyoncé, and Christina Aguilera. I liked powerful female vocalists.
As I grew older my dad introduced me to Björk, and I began to venture more into alternative and electronic music. In high school, I was a huge fan of Crystal Castles, Odesza, Kaytranada, and other electronic musicians.
What do you think is your biggest strength as a musician?
I think my biggest strength is that I write, produce, and perform everything myself. I don't have to rely on anyone else to make music. What I make is really truly my own.
Of course, I love collaborating with other musicians and would love to continue doing more collaborations, but I love that this is an option and not a necessity for me.
View this post on Instagram
You recently just released ‘After The World Ends’, could you walk us through what the track is about?
This song is about how even if something really terrible happens and it feels like your world is ending, don't fret because something even better may be right around the corner. Oftentimes, destruction and death are necessary for creation and birth.
When things fell through with my old label and management, I felt devastated and hopeless. But only because that relationship died before I signed a contract, was I available to start working with Universal under an infinitely better contract just a few months later.
The hook goes, "The sun goes up when she falls down" and that just means that even when the sun goes down and your world becomes dark, it's actually rising in another part of the world - even if you can't see it yet.
The track comes as your first release under Universal Music Japan, how do you feel about this new chapter in your music career?
I am beyond excited about this new chapter of my life. I basically spent this entire year in lockdown pumping out a bunch of songs so I have a lot of unreleased tunes just ready to go out into the world. Next year, I want to release a full album.
View this post on Instagram
Congratulations on your new track titled ‘CONMAN’! Could you tell us more about the song and what we expect from it?
Yes! We just released 'CONMAN' and it's a collab track with my friend Sumire, a Japanese model and actress who also speaks fluent English. We actually started writing this song last year during the 2020 US presidential election, so that was the main inspiration of the track.
It's also about the ultra-rich and powerful in general, who abuse their power and trick the people around them to enrich themselves. It's about people like Jordan Belfort, Harvey Weinstein, Jeffrey Epstein, Elizabeth Holmes, and of course, Donald Trump.
Coming from different cultures, how do you feel your different identities play out in your everyday life and music?
When I'm in Tokyo with my friends, we all speak Japanglish, so it's very natural for me to also write lyrics in Japanglish. I also like to take western philosophies and introduce them to a Japanese audience via Japanese lyrics, or take Japanese philosophies and introduce them to a Western audience via English lyrics.
By "philosophies" I mean sentiments like "be yourself" or "it's ok to be different" which we teach kids in America from a young age, but Japanese education does not emphasize at all.
Where do you see yourself in the next couple of years?
I see myself helping to bridge the gap between the Japanese and American music industries. Right now, these industries are two of the strongest in the world, but they are totally separated from each other.
Although a lot of Japanese people listen to American pop, Americans largely don't know anything about Japanese music outside of anime, and there is almost no collaboration happening between American and Japanese artists.
View this post on Instagram
Share with us some plans you have for your music.
I really hope to release an album next year. I also want to focus more on writing and producing for other artists, since I make songs at a faster rate than I can release them as a solo artist.
I also make a lot of hip hop beats and since I'm not a hip hop artist and can't use them myself, I want to produce for Japanese hip hop artists.
Listen to SHIMA's 'CONMAN' featuring Sumire here.
Like what you read? Show our writer some love!
-