Ai Tomioka: “I want to be the one who makes that magic”

Ai Tomioka talks about her music’s global reach, working with Korean artists, and using the power of music to the fullest.

For those who have not heard your music before, how would you describe it to them? How would you finish the sentence “Ai Tomioka is ___” or “Ai Tomioka’s music is ___”? 

“Ai Tomioka’s music can be very nostalgic and explores various vulnerable emotions.”

Who or what inspired you to become a singer?  

I have just liked singing from a very young age, but Taylor Swift definitely inspired me to start playing the guitar when I was in middle school.

How has your music changed since 2022? 

My music has changed vastly. After the release of “Good bye-bye,” I [learned] that I wanted to write and sing more relatable, honest songs, even if they aren’t always as pretty. 

How did you end up working with BIG Naughty on “Good bye-bye”?

We met a couple of times at music festivals in Korea. I was already a fan of his work and really love what he does and his voice, so it was really cool when this feature became real. 

Please describe the song “missing you” and its message.

The single “missing you” explores ideas [related to] living each day [while] longing for someone or something. People continue to smile their way through, [while] carrying various emotions. No matter how down someone feels, tomorrow will always come, so I hope this song provides a sense of comfort to everyone who is striving to live through each day.

How did you end up working with Skinny Brown on a version of “Ai need your love”?

I mentioned in an interview once that I was a fan of his work, and then he came to my first street busking performance in Seoul last year. We started talking about our music, and it was kind of him to listen to my [then-new] single, “Ai need your love.”

Please describe or share the stories behind each of these songs: 

“Anata wa Natsumelo”: “Anata wa Natsumelo” is my very first single. It has a message [of wanting] to become a part of people’s nostalgic memories. I feel like music is very powerful in terms of carrying emotions and making people remember [and] connect to the past. Everyone has at least one song they can just listen to and automatically [feel like they are back in] the past. I want to be the one who makes that magic. 

“I wanna”: “I wanna” explores a sense of dangerous love, a little similar to “Good bye-bye.” It [is about] trying to figure out what love is [and the] emotions in complicated relationships. 

“jealousy”: “jealousy” is pretty straightforward. It portrays the jealous emotions everyone feels at some point. It sends the message that it’s okay to be jealous of someone, and that in the end, we all just want to be loved. 

Any other song you want to talk about!: “Ai need your love” sends messages that I actually wrote towards my musical muse. It [has] lyrics like, “When this song becomes famous one day,” which I thought was cool, because it’s sending out a message to the future. 

Your music has gotten quite popular in Korea! Why do you think that is? What about your music resonates with a global audience? 

It was a surprise to me at first as well. I don’t speak Korean and have no background connected to Korea, so it was pretty amazing when I found out that my music was being recognized in Korea. I write lyrics using a mixture of Japanese and English, which might be kind of a unique approach. I grew up listening to American pop, UK rock, and indie music, so maybe some melody lines resonate a lot with global audiences. 

What are some of the proudest moments of your career so far? 

Hmmm… This is difficult, but I was pretty happy with my first Seoul live [shows that] I did in September. Singing in front of my fans might be [my] best moments. 

Did you set any specific goals for 2024, and if so, have you accomplished them yet? 

My goal for 2024 was to write a lot of songs. I did write quite a lot this year, up to maybe 80 or 85 songs in total so far, but I want to keep writing more. Doing a concert outside of Japan was another goal that I managed to achieve, so I am happy about that. Thank you so much to my fans. 

What are your long-term career goals? Are you currently working on any projects you can give hints about? 

My long-term career goal is to do a world tour. I want to start by doing a tour around Asia first. I am writing [and] recording songs and do tend to share a lot [about them] on my social media platforms. 

Lastly, is there anything else you want to say about yourself or your music? 

I am very proud of my music. I hope to build more opportunities to meet new people, visit new places, and share my music with more people in the future. I do believe that I am a nice person! So I really do wish to meet all of you who are reading this interview someday. 

Check out Ai Tomioka’s newest single, “missing you,” here!

Answers have been edited and condensed for clarity. Photo credit: Instagram.