San Diego singer-songwriter Ainjo’s debut album, HIM (Hopeless in Men), follows a complicated path through love, distrust, desire and disappointment.
The jazz-infused R&B record draws on experiences she had long carried with her, including sexual assault. Its title came from the song that gave her a way to tell that story.
In this FM PRO 10Q, Ainjo talks about writing with candour, hearing an audience respond to the songs in person and seeing SZA share her music.
Producers Elliot Reidy and Ben also join the conversation to explain how live instruments, digital production and Ainjo’s performance shaped the album’s sound.
I wanted to tell my story and why I feel the way I do.
Q1. HIM (Hopeless in Men) is a striking title for a debut album. What does it capture about the experiences and emotions behind the record?
I believe that everyone has a HIM, right? And the project is a very vulnerable body of work. I believe that everyone can listen and think to themselves, “Yup, I know HIM.” This body of work is for everyone because everyone has lived and experienced life — good, bad, scary, entertaining, ugly, and everything in between. That’s what I want people to experience, and the emotion is all of them.
Q2. The album traces the distance between wanting love and recognising when it is no longer serving you. How does that tension unfold across the tracklist?
This is interesting because the project is a little bit like a rollercoaster. So the project is a story, and it starts as me from a baby. I was taught not to trust men because of my father…in the middle it’s Fuck men and why, and at the end it’s like “y’all are okay”, but then it ends with me waking up out of my sleep lol. It’s a full up and down and left and right type of thing.
Q3. How did writing HIM change your understanding of the relationships, choices and expectations that inspired it?
Writing HIM changed my understanding of relationships because I believe that everyone now knows that anyone can get the smoke. Like Weirdo, I’m pretty sure he heard it lol, and it pisses him off. Chapstick Rick, if he heard it, he’d immediately know it’s about him, and I think that having creative freedom and relatability is my favourite thing about this project.
Q4. What role do jazz influences play in the album, both musically and in the way you use your voice to communicate emotion?
My producer Elliot Reidy actually helped me find my sound. I’ve always loved jazz, and I’ve been an Amy Winehouse fan because of her voice and instrumentation. So I wanted to add something a little jazzy and snazzy to the music so it would sound like me — a lot of live instruments throughout the project.
Q5. Which track became the emotional centre of HIM, and when did you realise it carried particular weight within the project?
Hhmmm. So I would say Hopeless In Men is the emotional centre of the project. That song inspired the entire body of work. I believe that the unfortunate thing is that a lot of people experience assault, and a lot of us relate in that way…so allowing myself to put out to the world that, yeah, I have been too. Like, some people don’t report the assault; sometimes it happens at home. So many people have experienced something so unfortunate, and I wanted to tell my story and why I feel the way I do.
Q6. SZA’s repost of If Pretty Was a Contest introduced your music to a larger audience. What did that moment mean to you at this early stage of your career?
Seeing my face on SZA’s story made me feel like I need to keep going because I’m in the right direction. I’m a huge SZA fan, and her seeing me and hearing my voice and music, gosh. All I thought to myself was, “She likes what she sees!!! She likes what she heard.” It’s wild — big blessing.
Q7. You introduced the album through an intimate live experience in San Diego. What did performing these deeply personal songs in front of your community give back to you?
People were crying! I loved it! As soon as I heard the sniffles and saw people crying, I felt in my soul that I created something special.
Q8. The album’s ending complicates the idea of choosing yourself. Where does the story leave you, and what does choosing yourself mean now?
Aaahhh. I wouldn’t say that lol. I know that this sounds odd because the album is about me…but it’s mainly about men and how they affected me. In the end, I didn’t choose myself…I found, like, the love of my life, but realised it was all a façade. But choosing myself now looks like me putting myself and what’s important to me first! Oh, and also not worrying about the things I can’t control!
Q9. FM PRO TECH: How did you balance live instruments, digital production and vocal recording to give HIM its character?
Elliot Reidy: In the production, we used a combo of live and digital instrumentation and recording technology to make sure we paid homage to the music inspiring the sound while balancing affordability and modernity.
Ben: And actually, funnily enough, I try to record you as polished as possible. What gives it that character is you, your performance and your voice, and the production decisions Elliot made. Recording the songs polished just makes the songs sound modern and pleasing.
Q10. FM PRO TECH: Which digital tools have been most valuable in reaching your audience and sharing HIM?
My managers have been helping with that. Shoutout to Quay, Vianca, and Underground Superstar for their support! We’ve used Laylo and Komi and sent out emails and texts about all the music.
©fm