Imagine a world where a simple YouTube discovery could catapult you into the spotlight, earning you eight prestigious Aria award nominations. That’s the reality for Ninajirachi, whose debut album I Love My Computer has not only taken Australia by storm but also cemented her place as a global dance music sensation. But here’s where it gets controversial: Can an album rooted in nostalgia and personal isolation truly resonate with a universal audience? Let’s dive in.
Nina Wilson, the mastermind behind Ninajirachi, is savoring every moment of her skyrocketing success. ‘I don’t want to rush into the future,’ she reflects, acknowledging the rarity of this career-defining moment. Released independently via NLV Records in August, I Love My Computer has garnered international acclaim, including a five-star review from The Guardian. The album’s high-energy, innovative twist on 2010s EDM has positioned the 26-year-old as Australia’s next big export in the dance music scene.
This isn’t an overnight triumph, though. Since gaining recognition as a Triple J Unearthed High finalist in 2016 and 2017, Wilson has steadily built her audience through a series of playful, dancefloor-ready releases and performances at EDM festivals across the US. And this is the part most people miss: Her recent surge in popularity isn’t just luck—it’s the result of relentless touring, high-profile festival slots at Coachella and Primavera, and a string of awards leading up to this week’s Arias.
Among her accolades, I Love My Computer has already snagged Triple J’s Album of the Year and the prestigious Australian Music Prize (AMP), a $50,000 award inspired by the UK’s Mercury Prize. For Wilson, the AMP wasn’t just a financial lifeline after her two-month US tour but also validation of her vision. ‘I really wanted to make an Australian album,’ she explains, emphasizing her use of accent and uniquely Australian lyrical references. This authenticity is a driving force behind the album’s appeal.
Wilson’s sound is deeply rooted in Australian electronica, influenced by icons like Flume, Pnau, and Wave Racer, who mixed I Love My Computer. Her music is a wonderfully eccentric blend of crystalline synths, sirens, mechanical whirls, eurotrance, and EDM drops—a mix she playfully dubs ‘girl EDM.’ The album is a collage of her adolescence on the New South Wales Central Coast, weaving together mundane and monumental memories, from Supré shorts to failed music assignments and even a nod to CSIRAC, the first computer to play music.
But here’s the bold question: Is her success a product of her isolation, or is it the internet that’s truly universal? Wilson’s journey began at 12 when she stumbled upon a Porter Robinson track online, sparking her obsession with EDM. ‘It felt like an original experience,’ she recalls, ‘because I was in this semi-isolated place with no one who shared my taste.’ Yet, I Love My Computer taps into a universal childlike excitement—the longing to connect to a world beyond your surroundings, even if it’s as unsettling as the eerie eurotrance track Infohazard, inspired by a disturbing online image.
‘Maybe that’s why people from different places and cultures have liked the songs,’ Wilson muses. ‘Because we all grew up on the internet together, whether we knew it or not.’ For her, this album marks a new artistic frontier. Appearing on her album cover for the first time, albeit partially obscured, Wilson is embracing vulnerability and authenticity in a way she never has before. ‘I didn’t have my voice on my music before,’ she admits. ‘It felt separate from me. I couldn’t have imagined getting to this point.’
As she adjusts to bigger stages and brighter spotlights, Wilson remains focused on what’s worked: creating music she loves. ‘I’ve released music I like for so long, even if not many people paid attention,’ she says. ‘I just hope I can keep doing that.’
I Love My Computer is out now via NLV Records, and the Arias will stream live on Paramount+ from 5 PM this Wednesday. Now, here’s the question for you: Do you think Ninajirachi’s success is a testament to her unique voice, or is it the internet’s ability to connect us all? Let’s debate in the comments!
