A wash of colorful sound & confessional reflections hit the ears as Grace Aimi spills her soul in “Rainbow,” a vulnerable and moving tapestry of intimate emotion taken off the Japanese pop artist’s major label debut EP ‘PICNIC’.
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Stream: “Rainbow” – Grace Aimi
You’re every color of the rainbow, through bad and good; every color of the rainbow, misunderstood.
A wash of colorful sound and confessional reflections hit the ears as Grace Aimi spills her soul in her latest single. A vulnerable and hypnotizing outpouring, “Rainbow” is a moving tapestry of intimate emotion heralding the Japanese indie pop artist’s fast and furious ascent.
You look red when I say “I love you”
And you looked white when I asked you about the truth
And you seemed happy on those orange summer days
And you look sad when your yellow fades away
If you could just explain to me what all your colors mean
Then I’ll know what to say when you’re feeling low
If you could just explain to me what all your colors mean
Then I’ll be the one waiting next to your pot of gold
Released May 14, “Rainbow” is Grace Aimi’s (pronounced “eye-me”) fifth single since debuting last August and the final teaser track off her upcoming debut EP PICNIC, out May 21 via +81 Music / Capitol Records. Heralded by some outlets as an up-and-coming “Gen Z Pop Icon,” the 20-year-old singer/songwriter born and raised in Okinawa, Japan started her musical journey off making YouTube cover songs in both English and Japanese with her brother on ukulele; their channel, Grace & Gabe, has over 95,000 subscribers and millions of views.
Aimi’s transition to releasing her own songs looks effortless from the outside; working with famed Japanese hip-hop producer Chaki Zulu, she has spent the past ten months carving out her own cinematic, intimate space in the pop world. Her debut single “Eternal Sunshine” is a buoyant, summery, and sun-drenched kiss of connection and nostalgia, longing and desire. Her following songs “Open,” “My Eyes,” and “True Feelings” have filled out a still-blossoming artistry full of depth, raw perspective, soulful nuance – with colorful keys and bubbling guitars lighting the way for Aimi’s finessed vocals to shine bright and true.
Arriving just a week before Aimi’s PICNIC EP makes the full sell, “Rainbow” offers three stirring minutes of observation and deep introspection. An ethereal backdrop sets the tone for Aimi’s hushed, effected vocals; she steadily rises to a fever pitch as she reckons with her own emotions, ultimately breaking out in a vivid, electrifying chorus:
You’re every color of the rainbow
Through bad and good
Every color of the rainbow
misunderstood
You’re every color of the rainbow
Through bad and good
Every color of the rainbow
misunderstood
“I’ve been looking forward for you all to listen to ‘Rainbow,'” the artist tells Atwood Magazine. “The taste of each song that I have released so far has been a little different, but “Rainbow” is the complete opposite. It’s a little darker and mysterious. After this I’m also releasing my first EP PICNIC, so please listen to it! I think it will be perfect for the coming summer mood! To my fans, thank you for your warm support.”
Every color of the rainbow don’t amount to nothing
If all those colors aren’t from you
And I’m sorry if I ever made you smoke on greens
Cause I’m the one that made you blue
We go back and forth we fight
I know we disagree sometimes but
Baby when you’re cold
Your heart is black as night
If you could just explain to me what all your colors mean
Then I’ll know what to say when you’re feeling low
If you could just explain to me what all your colors mean
Then I’ll be the one waiting next to your pot of gold
Grace Aimi spellbinds in stirring highs just as she does spellbinding lows, and “Rainbow” is all the proof of concept we need in order to appreciate her vast talent.
While still emerging, experimenting, and discovering her voice and her sound, Grace Aimi’s first five songs have presented a cool, confident, and composed portrait of an artist who knows herself and feels comfortable in the spotlight. Her penchant for weaving visceral feelings and mesmerizing melodies together ensures we’ll be listening to PICNIC the moment it releases.
Until that time comes, get lost in the immersive tones and textures of “Rainbow,” and be sure to watch the Dai Takahashi-animated music video, out now.
You’re every color of the rainbow
Through bad and good
Every color of the rainbow
misunderstood
You’re every color of the rainbow
Through bad and good
Every color of the rainbow
misunderstood
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Stream: “Rainbow” – Grace Aimi
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