“I wanna fuck my computer,” states a deadpan Ninajirachi on the aptly titled “Fuck my Computer”, her debut album’s second single. What might first read as a tongue-in-cheek lyric becomes significantly more profound when nested in an album exploring early-internet culture, online trauma, and technology’s impact on human creativity.
Nina Wilson, aka Ninajirachi, is a 25-year-old Australian artist from New South Wales. Coining the phrase “girl EDM” to describe her sound, Nina seamlessly blends the relentless face-melting sound design of 2010s EDM with ethereal vocal layering reminiscent of PC Music. It’s no surprise that her ever-expanding cult following consists of pop-heads and rave-goers alike. Following performances at Laneway Festival, Lollapalooza and EDC, a US tour with umru, and a sold-out London debut, Nina’s debut album I Love My Computer was released last Friday (August 8).
“I didn’t want to just make a bunch of music and call it an album,” explains Nina. “If I was going to make an album, it had to have a distinct sound and world to it, and I didn’t know what I wanted that to be.” “All I Am”, the first single from I Love My Computer, gave Nina her initial inkling of an album being her next step: “That was the first song that I made where I was like, okay, I feel like this could be a palette or maybe a North star – this is something I can build around.”
Inspired by the immersive lore of fantasy IPs, world-building plays an essential part in Nina’s creative endeavours, and she samples both herself and regular collaborators in her work. 2024’s “Ninacamina feat. Izzy Camina” incorporates soundscaping elements from Nina’s ambient 2022 track “Tiankeng”, transforming it into an unrecognisable club-ready dance track. Kota Banks’ mirrored vocals in girl EDM’s “Ice u Out” and “Kota on the plane”, meanwhile, are more obvious. “It’s just easier to clear [the copyright] honestly,” says Nina. “I love fantasy worlds with their own vocabulary and ‘IFKYK’ references. I want to create that feeling for other people if I can.”
Despite her intentionally digital-sounding instrumentals, Ninajirachi’s music boasts an undeniable humanity. In “Sing Good”, the album’s tenth track, Nina is particularly vulnerable about her experience of singing in her music, despite lacking confidence in her voice. “I actually really can’t sing. I really can’t.” Nina says, only laughing when rebutted. “I think I’ve just become a good enough producer that I can – I would never sing live.”
Still, she concedes that the rawness of her vocals might have helped to endear her to her audience. “Growing up, a lot of the dance music I listened to would have broken chops and stuff — it wouldn’t necessarily be even lyrics, but it still felt emotional,” she explains. “Maybe that’s the balance of making it feel human.”
Below, the Australian ‘girl EDM’ star breaks down her online obsessions, from Pokémon Mystery Dungeon to a meme about Heinz Barbecue sauce.
Ninajirachi: My computer. My album is called I Love My Computer because it’s the greatest collaborator I will ever know in my life. I would’ve never become so involved in electronic music without it because I’m from a small town in Australia where that doesn’t really exist. I’m grateful to my computer forever. Plus, I just don’t really use any other gear.
Ninajirachi: This is the first game I ever played with a plot that made me cry. I have spent so many hours playing it that it feels like the OST has been permanently seared into my brain. I listen to the first music that I ever produced, and I can hear the sounds of this game through it.
Ninajirachi: Alt-J’s An Awesome Wave. This album came out when I was 12years old and it’s stayed one of my favourite albums of all time since. I don’t know if this is the right way to explain it, but the music feels like producer music even though it’s band music. The textures and percussion never sound predictable and I’m never sure where the songs are going to go, they almost always completely change by the end. I love this album so much – there are no skips for me.
Ninajirachi: I don’t know if this is my definitive answer, but I really, really really love this movie. There are so many, but it’s one that’s just been a long-time childhood favourite. I feel like I’ve appreciated it more as I’ve got older as well. My favourite scene is the highway scene with the wolf that puts its paw up and waves. I didn’t understand it as a kid and still don’t really know what’s going on, but it’s just awesome and beautiful. I really love animals.
Ninajirachi: I saw this yesterday and really liked it.
I Love My Computer is out now.
