JENNY KAORI

Could you tell us about your profession?

I'm an illustrator. I've recently been able to work in 3D as well, so alongside visual illustration I also do 3D modelling.

In what kind of environment or moment do you usually find yourself listening to music?

I can't do without it when I'm walking or commuting. It's also a moment of relaxation when I'm stuck on something in my work or need to decompress.

When I want to find new ideas or inspiration, I sometimes head out with just my iPhone and walk.

Could you tell us the track you'd like to introduce for this feature?

"THE GARDEN" by Silver Apples.

How and when did you first encounter this song?

From my teens I was drawn to "electronic music" as a genre — not techno or electro in the conventional sense, but the kind of music that gets filed under "other" at record shops. Quite niche stuff.

This album is one I discovered during that time.

Is there a memory or episode connected to this song that stands out to you?

Not just "THE GARDEN" — electronic music as a genre has this quality of feeling analog even though it's made with electronic instruments. There's a sense of the maker's touch and mood within that "machine-ness." The texture, the warmth, the humidity, the curiosity of the artist — I love all of that.

Almost all of my illustration work is done digitally, but encountering electronic music became a catalyst for me to ask: "When something digital still carries a human touch, what exactly is being drawn there?"

How do you feel this song has influenced who you are today?

As I started learning 3D, the question arose: "Can you feel the maker's hand in 3D too?" And that brought me back to electronic music.

There's a piece of software called Substance Painter, used for creating 3D textures. On a whim, I thought it might be cute to turn the cover of "THE GARDEN" into a rug, and I spent about three days digitally stitching away at it. It's a practice piece I have fond memories of.

As for whether I ever figured out what "a human touch in the digital" actually means — honestly, I'm still not sure. What remains is more like a memory of a journey, discovering the creatures on the album cover one by one.

Is there any music or artist you've been into recently?

A French artist called miki. I love the naivety and playfulness.

Is there anything you try to value in your everyday life or lifestyle?

Keeping a diary. Not just about work or projects, but making sure to include at least one small joy from the day — like "the meal I cooked was delicious" or "I hung out with a friend and it was such a good time."

When you drift through each day on autopilot, you miss those fleeting moments of "oh, this is what makes me happy." Writing about work achievements or creative output can make a diary feel more "productive," but I realized that framing everything as "I earned this fulfillment through effort" makes it easy to feel a sense of lack when you look back.

So instead I write things like "a random message made me laugh" or "the weather was so nice I went for a walk." Lately, I feel like I've found a more relaxed, natural kind of positivity.

Do you have any upcoming shows or announcements you'd like to share?

I post my latest updates mainly on X and Instagram — please give me a follow!

PROFILE

JENNY KAORI

2D/3D illustrator. Interests include sociology.