Aimyon

Singer/songwriter Aimyon captures the angst of young Japan through guitar-guided folk and rock songs that bravely explore the downbeat topics that J-pop often ignores. Born in Hyogo Prefecture in 1995, she grew up in a musical family, inspired by her grandmother, a former singer, and father, an audio engineer. She started writing her own songs in junior high school using an acoustic guitar. That led Aimyon to perform live shows while a high school student and eventually release music via indie label Lastrum Music Entertainment. Her creations—sparse and intimate, featuring lyrics about figuring out one’s future in an uncertain world or an unrequited attraction—marked a departure from the often lively sound and cheery themes of many J-pop artists in the 2010s like Nishino Kana and AKB48. Aimyon offered listeners a reality check even after signing with Warner Music Japan in 2016, with cuts such as “Kimi Wa Rock Wo Kikanai” and “Let the Night”, focusing on the challenges of growing up amid financial hardships. These lyrical topics helped make her a voice for Japanese millennials trying to find their place in an often unfair world. But rather than wallowing in the despair, Aimyon offers dashes of hope for a brighter future on hits such as 2018’s “Marigold”, which uses soaring electric guitar melodies to project a more upbeat mood.