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Zoom Lens (record label)

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Zoom Lens
Founded2009 (2009)
GenreElectronic, dream pop, j-pop, shoegaze, ambient, noise rock
Country of originUnited States
LocationLos Angeles, California
Official websitezoom-lens.org

Zoom Lens is an independent Los Angeles-based record label founded and operated by Faye Yim.[1][2] The label was created "in order to explore the implications of popular culture on the human condition and the duality artistic expression discovered through an intersection of both local and international sounds".[2]

History

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In 2009, Zoom Lens was founded[1] by Faye Yim, who was at the time "fascinated with Japanese harsh noise and film"[1] and sought out to release music due to the influence of the Orange County experimental music scene.[1]

The first Zoom Lens release was an album by Yim under the name of Yuko Imada entitled "Ome,"[3] which came packaged as a CD-R contained in a DVD case soaked in the artist's own blood.[1]

In January 2015, Zoom Lens had its first video broadcast on national television through Adult Swim with Meishi Smile and their video "AJS."[4]

On March 15, 2016, Zoom Lens had its first official SXSW showcase.[5]

On February 22, 2022, the end of Zoom Lens was announced from a message on the label's site, while a new label and art collective, Meta Physica, was announced by Yim.

On October 27, 2023, Zoom Lens returned to operations, announcing a 10th anniversary edition of the Meishi Smile album Lust and plans for events in 2024.

Sound

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Zoom Lens' sound has been categorized as "unpredictable",[6] exploring sounds ranging from ambient music, noise music, chiptune, electropop, shoegaze and other forms of experimental music. The sound of Zoom Lens has been described as "broadening definitions of punk",[7] as well as "dreamy indie with 8-bit and rave euphoria."[8]

Imagery

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Aesthetics

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The Fader has noted Zoom Lens as "one of the most aesthetically compelling labels in existence"..[6]

Many of Zoom Lens' images revolved around the concept of burnt photography. This practice was first put to use for an EP by Party Girl released in 2011.[9] The imagery was said to be providing feelings about the disconnection towards memories, a commentary on "silver age"[10] Japanese idol music (or Kayōkyoku) and the over-saturation of the digital music market.[11] This theme was also explored in Zoom Lens merchandise.

In 2014, a shirt based on a manipulated image of Yukiko Okada was released on Zoom Lens' official site, with a banner reading "burn a face of forgotten idols to obfuscate the memories of the truth you lost".[12] In a Red Bull Music Academy interview, Yim noted that they had felt a sadness in Okada's music and story, and "wanted to show people that Okada was a real person with real feelings, and that we all have such humanity."[1]

Music critic Adam Harper has noted some of the imagery as "a conscious attempt at confronting and defamiliarising the visual objectification of women (and its consequences)."[7]

Influences

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East Asian and global influence

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The label has been referenced as one of "the best places for Japanese-inspired indie pop in the online underground,"[13] and it hosted a variety of online shows with Japanese venue 2.5D.[14]

Red Bull Music Academy had also noted Zoom Lens' international roster, which "encompasses artists from Japan, the Philippines, Singapore and the US."[1] and "[spans] cultural and continental canyons through our digital world."

While Yim had identified Zoom Lens as something far more encompassing beyond their own personal views[6] they have noted much of the label was established due to the influence of being a fourth generation Japanese (or Yonsei (Japanese diaspora)) and Chinese American, expressing that their identity felt rather unusual, lonely and that Japanese culture in America is still seen as taboo.[15]

The label had ultimately sought out for the artists to "represent themselves for who they are, not just for the assumptions people make about their country".[6] Despite heavy East Asian influence, Yim had said that the label was also about being unashamed of who you are and sharing the weight of existence.[1]

Artists[16]

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Current

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*Alex Wang

Former

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*Aria Rostami
  • bod [包家巷]
  • Cyclops Rock
  • DJ Obake
  • Flowerinth
  • i-fls
  • Infinity Shred
  • Kenneth Takanami
  • KiWi
  • LAY BAC
  • mus.hiba
  • OHPLEASEDONT
  • Tallinn
  • This Deep Well
  • Thought Tempo
  • U-Pistol
  • WHITE BIKINI
  • Xyloid
  • yasumiyasumi
  • Yeule
  • Yoshino Yoshikawa

Discography[17]

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Catalog # Release Date Artist Album Title Notes
ZL-01 2009 Yuko Imada Ome Edition of 20 CD-R. Contained blood-soaked letter in DVD case.
ZL-02 2009 Yuko Imada Untitled (Moon) Edition of 10 CD-R. Contained in hand-stamped envelopes.
ZL-03 2009 Class of 1923 Class of 1923 Edition of 30 CD-R. Contained in hard CD case w/ unique inserts and photographs
ZL-04 2009 nono. nono. Edition of 50 CD-R. Contained in slipcase w/ lyric inserts.
ZL-05 2010 Thieves of Zozo Never Knows Best Edition of 100 CD-R. Contained in slipcase.
ZLEP-01 2010 Thieves of Zozo Never Knows B-Sides
ZLEP-02 2010 Carnage '84 Obliterfiscantionalisms
ZLEP-03 2010 MEISHI SMILE Synthetic Girl
ZLEP-04 2010 Young Henry Pollen
ZLEP-05 2010 Party Girl Foulin'
ZL-06 2011 Young Henry Octagon
ZL-07 2011 Zoom Lens V.A. 1st Zoom Lens Compilation.
ZL-08 2011 Yuko Imada 六本木 NIGHTLIFE
ZL-09 2011 Smoke Room Vol. 2
ZLEP-06 2011 Thought Tempo Soft Day
ZLEP-07 2011 OHPLEASEDONT It Goes Away
ZL-10 01.01.12 Apollo Knives The Harshest Winter
ZL-11 2012 This Deep Well From
ZL-12 09.22.12 MEISHI SMILE LUST Edition of 30 cassettes. Contained lyrics sheet. 1st collaboration with Orchid Tapes.
ZLEP-08 2012 LAY BAC Shortcuts
ZLMT-01 2012 Aegyokiller Island of Love (Jeju) First in a series of Zoom Lens mixtapes.
ZLMT-03 2012 MEISHI SMILE ZLMT-03
ZLMT-06 2012 Apollo Knives ZLMT-06
ZLP-01 2012 Various Artists Promo Mix
ZL-13 01.19.13 i-fls Residential town loneliness
ZL-14 04.01.13 Rinkin Panku Rinkin Panku April Fools Release.
ZL-15 06.30.13 Uio Loi Uio Loi
ZL-16 2012 Slime Girls Vacation Wasteland Later released on cassette in 2013.
ZL-17 2013 yasumiyasumi Tokyo Digital Love Edition of 50 cassettes. Contained handmade zine.
ZLEP-09 2013 The Bilinda Butchers The Lovers' Suicide!
ZLEP-10 2013 Aegyokiller Gogal
ZLMT-10 2013 KinokoNiji Witches' Electric Warp
ZLMT-12 2013 The Bilinda Butchers 泣かないで
ZLMT-15 2013 Wakesleep Time Life / Body Fusion 2
ZL-18 2014 MEISHI SMILE LUST Edition of 100 vinyl / 300 CD. 1st collaboration with Attack The Music. Remastered/reissue.
ZL-19 02.25.14 Space Boyfriend bug spray (never give up)
ZL-20 03.08.14 yeule yeule
ZL-21 06.17.14 LLLL Paradice Edition of 250 CD.
ZL-22 2014 Ulzzang Pistol Girlfriend
ZL-23 2014 Plaster Cast مالتا Credited as Malta.
ZL-24 12.28.14 DJ Obake H Edition of 100 CD. Contained postcard + sticker.
ZLEP-11 2014 KinokoNiji Guts
ZLEP-12 2014 Yoshino Yoshikawa Yumetatsu Glider
ZLEP-13 2014 i-fls Fictional Standard EP
ZLEP-14 2014 White Bikini Omni
ZLEP-15 2014 Slime Girls Heart On Wave
ZLEP-16 2014 LLLL Paradice: Revisited By Friends & Lovers
ZL×MARU-001 2014 Mikeneko Homeless x Yotsuba Lifestyle LED MEMORY Collaboration with Maltine Records.
ZLMT-18 2014 Aria Rostami Intimate Inanimate
ZLMT-19 2014 Revolution Boi Hoodies Headphones and Cuties
ZLP-02 2014 Various Artists Untitled Sold as a promotional release at shows. Later released online.
ZL-25 01.28.15 la pumpkin pain everywhere. all the time. Edition of 50 CD-R. Contained transparent cover + note. Online release party w/ SPF420.
ZL-26 05.19.15 Cyclops Rock Crush Punk
ZL-27 08.27.15 Tallinn Special Economic Zone Edition of 60 cassettes.
ZL-28 10.06.15 Meishi Smile ...Belong Edition of 350 vinyl / 350 CD.
ZL-29 2015 yui lui wonder
ZLEP-17 2015 mus.hiba White Girl Remixes
ZLEP-18 2015 KiWi Promise EP
ZLEP-19 2015 Flowerinth Code
ZLEP-20 2015 Plaster Cast Sunless
ZLEP-21 2015 Meishi Smile Breathe
ZLEP-22 2015 The Bilinda Butchers Sentimental Girls Violent Joke
ZLEP-23 2015 oh my muu Self Help
ZLEP-24 2015 Thought Tempo (The Flow)
ZLEP-25 2015 This Deep Well Entry
ZLEP-26 2015 Ulzzang Pistol Moonlight
ZLP-03 2015 Various Artists Belong (The Flow)
ZL-30 12.02.16 Ulzzang Pistol Waste First 100 CD came with a poster.
ZL-31 2016 Yoshino Yoshikawa Event Horizon
ZLEP-27 2016 Plaster Cast Permanence Released as a 45 RPM 12" record.
ZLEP-28 2016 Meishi Smile (reclamation) Released as limited edition cassette.
ZLEP-29 2016 Xyloid Assemblage
ZLEP-30 2016 Flubber Rimm The Cell
ZLEP-31 2016 Yoshino Yoshikawa Mirage
ZLEP-32 2016 Yoshino Yoshikawa Opt-Out
ZLEP-33 2016 Thought Tempo I Can Fila
ZLP-04 2016 Various Artists A Better Yesterday
ZLP-05 2016 Various Artists Fragility
ZL-32 2017 Aria Rostami Reform
ZL-33 2017 Infinity Shred Even Further
ZL-34 27.06.17 FAKKU & ZOOM LENS Metempsychosis Edition of 350 vinyl / 350 CD. Came with a 36-page artbook, in collaboration with Fakku.
ZL-35 2017 yasumiyasumi Tokyo Dreampop
ZL-36 2017 bod [包家巷] Piano Compositions [钢琴组成]
ZLC-01 2017 LLLL Chains "Phase 1: Resent"
ZLC-02 2017 LLLL Chains "Phase 2: Remain"
ZLC-03 2017 LLLL Chains "Phase 3: Reflect"
ZLEP-32 2017 Yeule Coma
ZLC-04 2018 LLLL Chains "Phase 4: Resembalance"
ZLEP-35 2018 Tallinn Varieties of Exile I
ZL×MARU-002 2018 Meishi Smile, LLLL, U-Pistol Always, (feat. Calendula) Collaboration with Maltine Records.
ZL-41 2020 The Bilinda Butchers Night And Blur Neon green vinyl.
ZL-43 2020 Mark Redito Natural Habitat Run of 50 special edition vinyl was shipped with "Natural Habitat" blend coffee. 250 non-special records were also on sale. At least one test pressing also sold.
ZL-44 2021 Meishi Smile Ressentiment Limited run of LP records, as well as VHS records
(none) 2024 Meishi Smile LUST [10th Anniversary Edition] Released on clear vinyl and CD with accompanying booklets; 300 of each. Pre-orders of the album shipped with a bonus CD containing demos.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Thomas, Russell (November 9, 2014). "Interview: Zoom Lens' Meishi Smile on J-Pop, Living On The Web, and Real Life". Red Bull Music Academy. Retrieved 2015-06-01.
  2. ^ a b "About". Zoom Lens. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  3. ^ "Albums". Zoom Lens. Retrieved 2015-06-01.
  4. ^ "Meishi Smile - AJS". Adult Swim. January 15, 2015. Retrieved 2015-06-01.
  5. ^ "Zoom Lens SXSW 2016". SXSW. Retrieved 2016-06-28.
  6. ^ a b c d Cooper, Duncan (May 21, 2015). "Fader Mix: Meishi Smile". The Fader. Retrieved 2015-06-01.
  7. ^ a b Harper, Adam (June 4, 2014). "System Focus: Inside 1080p, Zoom Lens & the New Digital DIY Labels". The Fader. Retrieved 2015-06-01.
  8. ^ Harper, Adam (February 6, 2014). "Pattern Recognition Vol. 10: Pon! Cuter Love". Electronic Beats. Retrieved 2015-06-01.
  9. ^ "Party Girl "Foulin'" EP". Zoom Lens. Retrieved 2015-06-01.
  10. ^ "Idollica". Idollica. Retrieved 2015-06-01.
  11. ^ "Zoom Lens Tumblr Ask". Zoom Lens. December 2, 2012. Retrieved 2015-06-01.
  12. ^ "Zoom Lens Yukiko Shirt". Zoom Lens. Retrieved 2015-06-01.
  13. ^ Harper, Adam (April 4, 2014). "If You've OD-ed On The Internet, This Music Will Save You". The Fader. Retrieved 2015-06-01.
  14. ^ "2.5D x Zoom Lens". 2.5D. Retrieved 2015-06-01.
  15. ^ St. Michel, Patrick (April 29, 2014). "Meishi Smile brings anime-influenced sounds to Japan". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2015-06-01.
  16. ^ "Artists". ZOOM LENS. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  17. ^ "Releases". zoom-lens.org. Retrieved 2021-01-07.
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