Diandra Interviews Grace Aimi: Life Is One Happy Picnic

Grace Aimi is a lightbulb when it comes to giving off good vibes and joy, especially in her new EP: Picnic. She embraces her roots, eclectic style, and hope for a brighter future with a sound that feels like fashion became a song. She completely embodies how music can be an aesthetic. In our interview, we discuss how she uses self-empowerment as a writing tool for songs with a clear message: if you want happiness in this world, then be happy.

Diandra: Known for your empowering message, what is one positive advice you give or repeat to yourself to empower yourself?

Grace Aimi:  Reminding myself that we all die someday and that I want to live the short life I’ve been blessed with to the fullest. I definitely have my sad and gloomy days but I never want to let the dark days get the best of me. I want to be the change and happiness that I want to see in the world around me.

Diandra: You have said you want to express your thoughts like Tyler The Creator and Amy Winehouse. What is it about their expressions that fascinates you and signifies art?

Grace Aimi: Amy will always be one of my top ten, I remember listening to her for the first time as a little girl and falling in love. She and Tyler both have such an original and authentic sound. When I want to get inspired, they are two people that I fill my playlist with. I honestly couldn’t tell you exactly what it is about them that attracts me to them but I think it’s a feeling that I can’t really explain.

Diandra:  What are your top 3 Karaoke song choices?

Grace Aimi:  Oof. This is super hard to answer as a karaoke addict. Buuuuut, “Set fire to the rain – Adele” “女々しくて – ゴルデンボンバー” “Show me – Bruno Mars” 

Diandra: You said you want to approach problems with a lyrical lightness. How do you feel or keep the light in yourself and your word when approaching issues? 

Grace Aimi: I never force anything. I just let myself be myself and the right melody and flow kinda come to me. In general, I’m a pretty light-hearted person and my mind is very open and simple. Issues will always come and go and everyone goes through them. So I know I’ll be ok and I think that comes out in my lyrics.

Diandra: With songs about issues, what are issues you have yet to approach in your songs?

Grace Aimi: I don’t really have a good answer for this question but my emotions always bubble into songs so you’re just going to have to look forward to my future music to find that out haha. I guess I haven’t been through a midlife crisis so I can’t write about that yet.

Diandra: When you see your music as a thread weaving your life, what would you say is the connection between your songs that always remains singular or same: from sound to message? 

Grace Aimi; All of my music is about true and real situations and my songs are very sincere. I picked the songs for the EP to make it feel like a picnic. Message wise, there wasn’t a big concept for this EP but I think as a whole, all of my music leaves you feeling happy. Even though songs like “True Feelings”, I’m talking about being alone in your own mind, I still like to keep it bright and optimistic at the end. But most of all, my music is about being 100% yourself. In every song I’m very honest about how I’m feeling. And I think that honesty is what connects it all. In the future I want to make EPs dedicated and inspired by strong feelings so you can have a body of work completely focused on a certain emotion.

Diandra: What is a book, film, or tv show, you feel would be a great concept album? Why and from what angle?

Grace Aimi: The shining. I love scary and suspenseful movies and I think I would be able to make a very interesting and haunting sound to match.  Going insane and slowly losing yourself and those around you. In the shining you can see Jack lose his sanity little by little and the look in his eyes turn so dark and evil. Something that I love most about the movie is that there are not a lot of solid answers and it keeps you questioning everything in the most unsettling way. I would want to capture that feeling and emotion into a jazzy and mysterious album.

Diandra: You ask existential questions like, Why does earth exist? or “why do I exist?” What are the things that most launch you into existentialism like, existential triggers, and what is one existential question that constantly loops in you or in some way your music?

Grace Aimi: I think life itself launches me into that thought process but for me those questions like “why do I exist?” Are the most normal thoughts ever. I mean really, why do we exist??? It’s an internal loop that I think everyone has been caught in but everyone has a different answer for. I don’t see myself ever not asking those questions, but common questions that I use in my music, “what is perfect?” “What would make the world a better place.” I need to study more so I can write about more. I wanna write about everything under the sun and moon.

Diandra: You are close to your family. So if you could dedicate each song of your EP to one of them which would it be and why?

Grace Aimi: I wonder which family member I’m gonna friend zone lol. Ahhhh this is so hard. 

 “Rainbow” is for my Mom and Dad, they raised me and definitely have seen my most good and bad times but they’ll love and support me forever for who I truly am. “Open” is for Marie and Mikey because quite simply I love when they’re open and spilling their emotions out on me. “Eternal Sunshine” is for Anna and Gabe, they always make me feel really light, happy and warm, plus they are both very trippy people. “True feelings” is for me. “My eyes” and “Friend zone” sadly didn’t make the list (haha). 

Diandra: Wanting to promote self-love and self-belief, what are the things you most believe and love about yourself that you feel makes you a star?

Grace Aimi: I believe in my message and I love my soul. There is only one me and it has taken my awhile to accept that. I’m not completely there yet, but I am happy that I am me. I feel like the biggest star when I can make other people feel the happiness that they’ve been craving. Having the power to ignite that light in someone gives me the best feeling ever. 

Diandra: What are 5 facts about Grace Aimi that you say, If you don’t know this, you don’t know Grace Aimi?

Grace Aimi: I’m born and raised in Okinawa, Japan and I went to Japanese school.

  -I’m not a very serious person.

  -I’m going to accomplish what I put my mind to.

  -I love a quality sarcastic conversation.

  -My dream is to make a song with Post Malone.

Click Here To Buy Grace Aimi’s Picnic,