Tell us about your Record Store Day release pack and what it includes.
Hot pink vinyl containing 4×4 and girl EDM EPs with a bonus track, an art print and girl EDM ear plugs.
You’ve said in the past that Girl EDM is like a sister and sequel to the 4×4 EP.
The idea for 4×4 was to release four four-to-the-floor dance songs and girl EDM was originally a b-sides release called 4 more.
Was that one of the reasons for creating one vinyl that included both?
Yes! I made all the music around the same time so it feels like one body of work to me. The 4×4 release concept was the only reason it was split in two. I just released whichever four tracks were finished first.
Any significance in the hot pink colour?
I haven’t done a pink vinyl before, and it looked cute against the cover art heh.
How would you describe ways the two EPs correlate; how are they linked and how would you describe their differences?
It’s kinda what I said before, all the music was written in early 2023 so it’s one big release in my mind. Except for the song girl EDM which I started and finished a few weeks before it came out in mid 2024. The girl EDM EP songs are a bit tougher actually, maybe because they had to live up to the title, and I was more inspired by the shows I was playing in America while finishing them.
You’ve explained your sound as ‘Girl EDM’, what does that term mean to you in 3 words?
Computer magic fantasy
What artists have influenced you and your sound?
SOPHIE, Skrillex, Doss, Grimes, Laces, Porter Robinson, Flume, Danny L Harle, Olswel, Lonelyspeck, Iglooghost, umru, oklou, Syzy, sv1, Baauer, MGNA Crrrta, Charli XCX, there are too many to count.
You’re no stranger to big stages and crowds; is there one highlight that felt like a real pinch-me moment? Or one that stands out to you for sentimental reasons?
I opened for Porter Robinson in February, and his Sydney show in 2013 was my first live music experience ever period, so that was really sentimental and full circle, I feel so grateful.
What is your favourite part about playing to a live audience?
Making eye contact with people in the crowd who know the words or just feel really excited to be there. I can’t help but jump around a lot when I’m playing and when I can see other people doing the same it feels like we are in it together with the music. I love hearing my music really loud like that.
Take us through your creative process. Do you prefer to collaborate or write solo?
I don’t have a preference, but sometimes working alone can feel more pure. Although, literally everything I make is a collaboration with my computer, so I never feel like I’m truly working alone. It’s hard to answer.
Is there a favourite collaboration or studio session?
Making All I Am with Ben Lee, Maz from WAAX, Jenna from Hevenshe and Alex from Phantom Planet in 2023. Ben invited us all to his home studio and the only goal was to play and record whatever, for fun and nothing else. I was at the computer, recording and arranging everybody, filling in the gaps. When the song emerged towards the end of the day it felt very special. It felt like it appeared out of thin air. People talk about that happening and it sounds silly if you haven’t experienced it, but it’s so real.
Writing Undo U with my friend Jack was really cool too. We were set up by our managers and had never met or talked before, but we hit it off right away and made that song in like an hour.
Speaking of collaborations, tell us a little bit about the Kota Banks collaboration ‘Ice U Out’, and picking the track back up after 8 months.
It was actually more than 3 (?) years, because the v1 project file is from 2020 and it didn’t come out until 2024. I was going through old projects in 2023 and unearthed it. It was originally written around the time we were working on True North together, but it never went anywhere. We have a thousand songs from that era that met the same fate. It felt good to rework it and make something new out of remnant materials.
In your world of EDM, do you like to collect records? Could you pick a favourite out of your collection?
I mostly buy CDs but I have a lot of vinyl too. Some of my favourites are my Charli XCX Number 1 Angel / Pop 2 Vinyl and alt-j This Is All Yours lucky dip colour vinyl.
What are your plans for RSD 2025?
I’m gonna go and buy something :3
4×4 and girl EDM EPs on a limited edition 12” translucent hot pink vinyl will be available Saturday 12 April in stores only.
Find out more about ninajirachi here: www.ninajirachi.com
Find out more about NVL Records: nlvrecords.com
