Nandakke?

Following the warm reception that greeted the release of their 2021 debut EP Dansu, Japanese/Belgian duo Aili return with their first full-length album. Formed around the musical partnership between singer Aili Maruyama and producer Orson Wouters, Aili’s music is an exuberant electronic pop, with elements of electro and house music. On the surface, Nandakke? (a Japanese word that loosely translates to ‘Well, What was It?’) is an album full of energy and euphoria – replete with vintage synthesizers, drum machines and samples – that delights in Japanese pop culture, fashion and food. Under this glossy veneer, there lies a deeper emotional complexity that approaches the bittersweet. Having left her native Tokyo aged seven, Maruyama has since dealt with the feeling of disconnection this cultural separation brings, manifesting in the language she uses for songwriting, which is a unique mixture of French and Japanese. The opening title-track explores this theme of communication, in this case between Maruyama and her father, in their shared navigation across physical and linguistic barriers. ‘Babychan’ is a quirky love song, in which the pair directly translate Dutch idioms into Japanese sentences, creating a surreal confusion of language that reflects the awkward first pangs of romance. Imbued with a vibrant sense of fun, while simultaneously playing with themes of separation and belonging, Nandakke? is a strong debut album filled with personality.