After months of silence, Zima Kamimoto has finally opened up about her double album Warfare/From Russia, with Love in an exclusive interview that delves into her decision not to promote it, the new version of her debut album The Snow Queen and her three old EPs that were released again back in September.
The Decision to Go Dark
When Warfare/From Russia, with Love was first announced, fans were thrilled by the concept of a double album, which promised to merge powerful storytelling with Zima’s signature girly yet ever-evolving style. However, in October, just days before its release, Zima made the shocking announcement that she wouldn’t be promoting the project. In this exclusive interview with Yonkers Observer, she shared how deeply personal the album had become during its creation.
“I was going through a very hard time, I was simply weak,” Zima admitted. “And this isn’t just an album; it’s my story. There were so many moments where I wondered if I’d gone too far, if I’d revealed too much. I didn’t want to feel like I was exploiting my pain or people for attention, and even if the whole world agreed that wasn’t the case, I think I would’ve simply broken down in tears during interviews. I was going through a very hard time at the time.”
She confessed that the decision to step away from promotion stemmed from her experience with Tristan, the album’s fifth single. “The concept of writing letters to people that impacted my life was a good concept till that song came out. That song was a literal letter to someone and then it felt weird to promote it and let the whole world read it too,” she confessed. “Don’t get me wrong, I don’t regret having done it and I’d probably do something like it again, but it was an overwhelming thought at the time. Everything was overwhelming.” Despite her initial apprehension, Tristan went on to become her fastest-growing song in terms of streams.
She went on to release the music video for Hiding From The Moon two weeks ago, which was also postponed back in October. “I’ve always been drawn to analog horror — I always knew I wanted to incorporate it in my work. At the same time, I couldn’t stop thinking about Florecita Dreams’ videos. They’re so absurd, creepy, off-putting and weird, but there’s something mesmerizing about them. It felt like the perfect juxtaposition to bring both influences together.”
The Story Behind the Album
The double album is divided into two distinct parts: Warfare and From Russia, with Love.
• Warfare tackles themes of internal and external battles, self-doubt, and resilience. “It’s about the wars we fight in our heads, with others, and within our identities,” Zima explained.
• From Russia, with love offers a more intimate, nostalgic tone. “This album is a collection of metaphorical letters to people who are no longer part of my life. Revisiting past relationships, lost connections with a sense of introspection.”
The Re-Release of Three EPs
In the midst of this album cycle, Zima also made headlines for re-releasing three EPs from her early career: Queen of Manhattan (2016), Grey (2017), and Munich (2019). These projects had been removed from streaming platforms years ago, and their return marked a significant moment in Zima’s evolution as an artist.
“I was deathly afraid of being perceived as an artist back when I originally released those EPs”, she recalled. “Every single one of those songs were based on my life, but I created fictional concepts about them so that people wouldn’t think I was being 100% honest. Every time I released a new EP it would be deleted in a month or so.”
The re-releases were met with excitement and fans were eager to revisit Zima’s earlier experiments in sound and storytelling. “It’s been amazing to see people connect with those songs,” she said with a smile. “It feels like coming full circle.. I think this has been my favorite part of my career so far.”
The Snow Queen (Winter Solstice Version)
The Russian singer also revealed her excitement about The Snow Queen (Winter Solstice Version), a reimagined edition of her debut album. This special release features updated versions of the original tracks, most of which return to their original versions, along with two songs translated into Russian for the first time.
“When I was going through the archives, I found the original versions of these songs. My friend Lena Vesper produced them and we had to scrap them due to various reasons, but I knew there was no way I was going to let this year end without not releasing them. Waiting for Winter Solstice felt like an eternity. This is actually my favorite version of the album.”
What’s Next for Zima Kamimoto
When asked about her future plans, Zima hinted at even more exciting projects. She teased that she has plans to expand her discography with music in Russian, with the first single from her Russian debut being slated for release early next year. “I’m so excited because this is yet another lifelong dream coming true. It’s an extremely important project to me.”
A Message to Fans
As the interview came to a close, Zima expressed her gratitude to her fans for their support in 2024. “I’m so incredibly grateful for the support I received this year. I appreciate and cherish every single gesture of support I receive. I can’t wait for you all to see what’s in store next year.”
