Q&A: Kyra Machida on Confidence, Chaos, and Her ‘Blonde’ Era
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY SHEVON GREENE ☆
MAGNETIC IS ONE WAY TO DESCRIBE KYRA MACHIDA’S BLONDE ERA — It’s a world painted in hot pink and black lace, where self-discovery meets performance art. Machida is embodying the art of pop music, turning every beat into a reflection of who she’s always been in her new EP, Blonde, out now via Sound Factory Records/RECORDS/RCA Records.
Raised between Japan’s countryside and the fast pace of Los Angeles, Machida’s sound bridges cultures, and the EP radiates with pop nostalgia and a streak of defiant modern femininity. It’s a project that balances glitter and grit, and Machida has been inspired by icons who built entire worlds through their music.
“When you’re confident, it comes out truthful,” she says; a mantra that defines her approach to both songwriting and life. Machida’s world is filled with escapism and self-expression, and every song feels like a mirror fogged from the heat of the dance floor.
We sat down with Machida to talk about Blonde’s layered storytelling, her hands-on creative direction, and how she balances chaos and control in her art. Read on for the full conversation.
LUNA: I love that Blonde has this great balance of mystery and defiance, but it also feels like a character study as much as a pop project. When you were creating it, did you see it more as a story about becoming someone new, or revealing who you’ve always been?
MACHIDA: At first, I was thinking more like, “Who could I be?” But the more I reached this version of myself, I realized I’d always had it in me. It wasn’t about creating a persona; it was more about removing the layers and filters I’d put over myself.
LUNA: I love that realization—that maybe this version of you was always there. That self-discovery through music is always so powerful.
MACHIDA: Yeah, I feel like when you discover a new part of yourself, it’s not that you’re meeting someone new, you’re just finally getting to know that part of you. That’s how I felt, and it’s been a journey since then.
LUNA: You’ve mentioned having “bleach in your brain,” which is such a fun phrase. What does that mean to you now that the EP’s out? Has the meaning evolved?
MACHIDA: Not really. It still means I’ve just stopped overthinking. I just do. If my body’s moving, that’s where I’m going. It’s like a lobotomy. People should try it.
LUNA: That’s your message: everyone get a lobotomy!
MACHIDA: Yeah, get a lobotomy and listen to Blonde (laughs).
LUNA: Some of the songs carry spunk and sass but also playfulness. How do you balance that confidence and playfulness in your songwriting without losing honesty?
MACHIDA: Ever since I dyed my hair blonde, I’ve become looser and more confident. When you’re confident, you don’t lose anything; you just say whatever’s on your mind. I’m such an Aries; I’ll say whatever immediately without thinking. So imagine being blonde, having bleach in your brain, and being an Aries—double homicide, but the best kind. When you’re confident, it comes out truthful.
LUNA: Confidence and honesty are intertwined. I love the “Blonde” video. It feels like a movie with bold styling, but also like a fun night out. How hands-on were you with the creative direction, and what story did you want the visuals to tell that the song alone couldn’t?
MACHIDA: I was very hands-on. I worked with Diane Lac, who also directed my previous video “handsy.” For “Blonde,” I wanted to show there’s more than just fun—there’s an undertone of darkness people might not realize. The video’s a continuation of the burlesque girl from “Handsy” coming offstage—from glamour and glitz to being out in the middle of the night, exhausted, trying to forget everything. It represents how girls are covered in all this beautiful makeup and fashion, but people don’t see the blisters in our four-inch heels. We keep wearing them because it makes us feel beautiful. That was the message I wanted.
LUNA: It’s fun but real; showing what’s hidden behind the glam.
MACHIDA: Exactly. It’s escapism. I know it’s not always healthy, but I keep going back to it.
LUNA: You’ve lived in both Japan and Los Angeles, two very different creative worlds. How do you feel your Japanese upbringing and your time in the U.S. coexist in your music and visuals?
MACHIDA: Even though I grew up in Japan, my family’s very diverse. Both my parents are mixed, but we lived in the countryside, so I was kind of forced to follow the rules. The more restricted I felt, the more I wanted to break out. I listened to early 2000s Japanese artists who were influenced by Madonna and electronic sounds. Those influences just meshed together perfectly. Japan is also so fashion-forward. I’ve always loved patterns, stripes, mixing colors like black and pink. I was that weird kid walking through rice fields in heels and striped shorts with nowhere to go, just my headphones on.
LUNA: I love that image. And I love how your influences come together in such a unique way.
MACHIDA: Yeah, it’s those unexpected pieces that somehow just work together.
LUNA: You’ve cited Gwen Stefani, Pussycat Dolls and Lady Gaga, artists who turned pop into performance. What have you learned from them about creating a persona that still feels authentic?
MACHIDA: People often separate pop from deeper artistry, but creating a world within pop is what I love. I like pulling people into my world; I’m not asking them to stay, just to experience it. That’s what I admire about those artists. They’re not asking for anything, they’re just showing. I always say I’m like a black cat—not your enemy, not your best friend, just here showing you my world.
LUNA: The black cat analogy is such a good way to put it.
MACHIDA: Exactly. Take me as I am.
LUNA: Do you see songwriting as self-confrontation or storytelling for others?
MACHIDA: In the beginning, before my “lobotomy,” it was self-confrontational because I didn’t know how to fix myself. Now it’s more like, here’s my story, here’s how my night went, the chaos, the fun. It’s more storytelling now, but still a mix of both.
LUNA: I love that shift; from self-confrontation to storytelling, still infused with your perspective. If Blonde had to be summed up in one lyric, which would you choose and why?
MACHIDA: Definitely “My t-shirt wet, martini dry.”
LUNA: I love that line.
MACHIDA: It’s self-explanatory! I was dancing so much everything was wet. I love when the mirror fogs up—it’s messy, but it means people are dancing, feeling something. That’s my favorite feeling in the world; when nobody cares and everyone’s just moving.
LUNA: Now that you’ve built this first chapter with Blonde, what side of yourself do you hope to show next? Is there another “color era” around the corner?
MACHIDA: I just performed in New York, which was so fun, and I have my first LA show coming up. I’m excited! Lots of dancing, fun patterned outfits… I want to mix black lace with hot pink—sexy, bold, and playful.
LUNA: I love that combo. Timeless and so you.
MACHIDA: Exactly. I loved pink as a kid, and now I love black. It’s more mature but still feminine and fun—timeless.
