Introducing: Aynjel

Photo creds are Andrée Adley

Styling is Aynjel

1. Your new single ‘Start of The Breakdown’ drops on the 25th — can you tell us the story behind the track and how it captures the emotional journey you've been on over the past year?

So the lyrics in this song are partially a response to a song of the same name by Tears For Fears. They’re asking the listener if it’s the start of the breakdown and I’m telling the listener that it IS the start of the breakdown. I worked with their producer a bit a few years ago so that’s a reference to that for myself.

A lot happened last year - and I feel like I spent most of my spare time in the bath staring at the walls - I truly had a breakdown and not many people noticed - this song isn’t glamourising it at all, it’s just recognising that about myself and not hiding it.

2. You self-write and produce all your music, which is super impressive. How has having full creative control shaped your sound, especially compared to your time in a band?

Ah thank you!! Yes for the first time ever I’ve been able to put whatever sounds and lyrics together and not had to answer to someone else about it - which feels super freeing to me. When I have written songs for other people/bands I try to get into their brain space and write for their influences - but this time it’s all about me and I can’t hid behind the veil of a group!!

3. Your love for late '70s and early '80s vinyl — from Visage to Depeche Mode — really comes through. What draws you to that era, and how do you channel it into your modern production?

I started collecting records at age 13 when I fell out of love with the charts at the time - and I found the music from then SO exciting (I still do!) I loved how art was a massive focus, a record collection is like a little art gallery in a box.

I fell in love with the Blitz Club / New Romantic scene via YouTube - how they boys dressed like girls and the girls dressed like boys and 1800s poets and bands made a whole world to escape into for their music (lavish music videos and outfits) - this was all SO far removed from my drab lonely days at girls school in Kent and that’s why I would’ve been drawn to it.

I never try to emulate exact synths and drum machines from bands back then - I think that’s how I achieve a more modern production sound. Even though I’d LOVE to own some 80s drum machines, I think it’s a bad idea for my own music - I never want to sound like a cheap rip off and I enjoy creating my own sounds too much anyway!!

4. You mentioned building a community of young New Romantics and goths on TikTok — how important is that visual and cultural identity in your music journey right now?

Image for music is so important to me - it signifies who you are, what your interests might be, your politics, what your music might sound like before it’s even heard…

And on a less intellectual level - I fucking love dressing up. I was on my way to see my artist friend Abi Joy model for Sarah Garfield and I got a bit lost - someone else who was lost came up to me and they said I looked like someone who would be going to the show and we found it together - I love that aspect of image - you can feel safe with a stranger because you belong to the same scene.

5. With tracks like ‘Tell Me When’ already picking up BBC Introducing airplay and your own club nights/radio shows growing, how are you planning to translate that energy into live performances when you start gigging again?

Oooh I’m plotting. It won’t be a band for sure - I’ve had some ideas including vinyl and I’ve had some ideas about using lights, triggering the tracks myself and I’ve also considered dancers - we’ll have to see when we get there!