Moisturized
7 QUESTIONS
Guruguru Brain — Can you tell us who you are & where you are from?
Moisturized — We’re Moisturized, a music duo made up of Keita Ise and Ayami Suzuki. Keita’s a multi-instrumentalist from Tochigi, Japan, known for playing bass in the krautrock band Minami Deutsch. Ayami’s a vocalist from Tokyo, recognized for her solo projects and her work in ambient and improv music. We’re currently based on the outskirts of Tokyo, making music that blends our shared but diverse influences.
Guruguru Brain — Where did “Moisturized” come from? What does it mean?
Moisturized — The name Moisturized came up because we were both super into skincare back then—literally keeping our skin moisturized every day! Our music often comes from stuff in our daily lives, so picking a name that connects to our everyday routines and conversations just felt right. Japan’s super humid, especially in summer, so in a way, everyone here is ‘moisturized’ by the atmosphere. We also liked the idea of our music ‘moisturizing’ things that might feel a bit withered or dry, bringing some freshness and life back through sound.
Guruguru Brain — What are the main themes running through the singles?
Moisturized — The themes of our singles, Yobari and Day Vigo, are all about the states between sleep and being awake, which fits perfectly with an autumn release—a season that naturally feels like it’s made for rest and reflection. Yobari plays around with that blurry line between dreams and reality, like a whimsical bridge between the two. Meanwhile, Day Vigo dives into the hazy space right between being awake and asleep. Both tracks kind of invite listeners to drift and explore these in-between states, just like autumn brings a slower, more thoughtful vibe.
Guruguru Brain — Where did the track titles come from?
Moisturized — The track titles Yobari and Day Vigo each have their own story. For Yobari, the melody came first, and like Ayami often does, she started singing gibberish to match the music. The word ‘Yobari’ just kind of came out and fit perfectly with the vibe. Later, Ayami found out that ‘Yobari’ is an old Japanese word for bed-wetting, which we thought was a fun, playful bridge between dreams and reality—perfect for the song.
Day Vigo, on the other hand, is a twist on the name of a sleep aid we sometimes take when we can’t sleep. The track was inspired by that strange, almost electric feeling of hovering right between being awake and asleep, and then suddenly snapping into clarity when you cross that line.
Guruguru Brain — Is there a feeling or vision you want people to experience when they hear the record?
Moisturized — There’s a folklore here about a giant kinmokusei tree growing on the moon, and we’d love for listeners to feel as though they’re exploring their inner universe, catching the scent of kinmokusei, a symbol of autumn in Japan, as they journey across their own moonlit landscapes.
Guruguru Brain — Was there any vision that you had in your mind when you were making the singles?
Moisturized — When Ayami first came up with the melody for Yobari, she imagined it as a journey on land, like a tribute, honouring someone or something along the way. Then, when Keita was working on the arrangement and mix, he pictured a forest with withering trees, and it felt like the music was bringing that landscape back to life. He wanted to keep Ayami’s clear voice pure, fitting right into that scene.
For Day Vigo, the vibe shifted to a sense of awakening. Keita saw it as coming out of a dream-like state, snapping into clarity, while Ayami imagined diving into an underwater adventure, moving from land into the depths of the sea. She could picture colorful fish, coral, and seaweed all swaying in the current, almost dancing along with the music.
Guruguru Brain — What do you think of when you hear the word “Autumn”?
Moisturized — The sweet scent of kinmokusei, the fragrant olive blossom, which fills the air; the serene tradition of Ohigan; moon-viewing nights; roasted sweet potatoes; the chorus of bell crickets; and Ayami's birthday.
