The singer-songwriter Ayumi, from São Paulo, at only 17 years old, takes her first official step in her musical career with the release of “Loucura Minha” (My Madness), a pop song that addresses the different phases of a relationship and the process of overcoming it after its end. With a light, humorous, and emotionally honest sound, the track presents a young artist, already aware of her voice and her influences, translating intense feelings with freshness and sensitivity.
Inspired by the idea that romantic relationships go through cycles — just like the seasons — “Loucura Minha” (My Madness) talks about the emotional excesses typical of youth and the ability to move on. Ayumi balances vulnerability and maturity by transforming disappointments into learning experiences, betting on an accessible pop sound that speaks to her generation without losing its identity.
The release is accompanied by a music video with a retro aesthetic and oriental influences, inspired by the pop of the late 1990s and early 2000s. In the visuals, Ayumi delicately and consciously highlights her Japanese ancestry, especially in her makeup and hair, reinforcing the connection between image, music, and identity. “Loucura Minha” thus marks a promising debut, showcasing an emerging artist who combines cultural references, an original perspective, and a desire to explore new paths in Brazilian pop music.
If you could choose one season to represent where you are right now, which one would it be—and why?
I think today I’m very much in the early stages of spring. That beginning when things start to bloom and you realize something new is emerging. Since I’m living abroad, studying, and experiencing many things for the first time, I feel like I’m in this phase of lighter discoveries, where everything is slowly opening up.
In the video, you incorporate Eastern references as a way to celebrate your Japanese ancestry. What did it mean to see this heritage reflected in your artistic work for the first time?
Even though I’ve always felt very Brazilian, bringing that reference into the visual aspect—especially my hair and makeup—was like finding a comfortable space between who I am and where I come from. It wasn’t something intended to represent cultural traditions per se, because I didn’t have that much contact with them growing up, but it was a way to value my features, you know? To look at the camera and think: “this is me, the way I really look.”
The song addresses the intensity – sometimes even exaggerated – of youthful passions. At what point in your life did you realize you were maturing emotionally?
I realized I was maturing when I understood that overcoming challenges is also a natural phase of things, and that not everything needs to be experienced at the height of drama to have meaning. When I started to see things more rationally, without taking everything personally, I realized I had changed. I think maturity came precisely from this combination of reflection and distance.
You draw inspiration from stories, films, and books. Which literary or cinematic work most helped you shape “Mine’s Madness”?
I don’t usually compose about my own life, so I always look for images and references from other narratives. In the case of “Minha’s Madness,” I had this strong idea of cycles, of someone revisiting the past. It wasn’t a specific work, but more contemplative films that deal with memory and time ended up influencing this universe. I mix these references with the sound I want and let the story build itself.
Her influences range from Anavitória to The Smiths, from Taylor Swift to Joni Mitchell. What from this musical melting pot stands out most strongly in her debut?
I think a little bit of everything comes through, but in very subtle ways. From Brazilian pop, especially Anavitória, I bring that delicacy in the melody. From the international scene, what stands out most is the narrative form—something that Taylor Swift, Joni Mitchell, and even musical theater soundtracks inspire me a lot. Despite that, “Loucura Minha” is still very much mine, because it brings together references, stories, and the musical aesthetic that I wanted from the beginning.
Current pop music often deals with love, pain, and overcoming adversity. What do you believe “Loucura Minha” offers that’s different?
I think it offers a more observant perspective on the feeling. I wrote it thinking more about the story I wanted to tell than about my own experience. And, despite being a song about a relationship that ended, it has a lighthearted humor that tries to balance the melancholy of the narrative. It’s a song about overcoming adversity that doesn’t take itself too seriously—which ends up giving it a different identity within that universe.
You mentioned that your inspirations change a lot and that the EP might surprise us. What artistic path have you felt like exploring, even if it seems distant?
To be honest, I’m still figuring it out. Since my references change a lot depending on what I’m reading or listening to, I like to think of the EP as still a blank page. But lately, I’ve felt like experimenting with a more acoustic and intimate sound, something that highlights the lyrics more—especially since I’m studying poetry and that ends up influencing me. At the same time, nothing prevents me from going in a completely different direction, more pop and more visual. It’s a very open process.
Studying literature and poetry at Michigan State University, what have you discovered about yourself in this process of learning to transform experiences and imagination into songs?
For me, writing songs is about placing references in the right place, choosing images, building scenes. And, at the same time, I’ve realized that even when I’m not talking about myself, there’s always a piece of me there, even if it’s in the choice of words or the tone of the story. The classes have helped me better understand this balance between technique and sensitivity—and that has been very important for me as a songwriter.
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