| Zoom Lens | |
| Genre: | Electronic, dream pop, j-pop, shoegaze, ambient, noise rock |
| Country: | United States |
| Location: | Los Angeles, California |
Zoom Lens is an independent Los Angeles-based record label founded and operated by Faye Yim. The label was created "in order to explore the implications of popular culture on the human condition and the duality artistic expression discovered through an intersection of both local and international sounds".
In 2009, Zoom Lens was founded by Faye Yim, who was at the time "fascinated with Japanese harsh noise and film" and sought out to release music due to the influence of the Orange County experimental music scene.
The first Zoom Lens release was an album by Yim under the name of Yuko Imada entitled "Ome," which came packaged as a CD-R contained in a DVD case soaked in the artist's own blood.
In January 2015, Zoom Lens had its first video broadcast on national television through Adult Swim with Meishi Smile and their video "AJS."
On March 15, 2016, Zoom Lens had its first official SXSW showcase.
On February 22, 2022, the end of Zoom Lens was announced from a message on the label's site, while a new label and art collective, Meta Physica, was announced by Yim.
On October 27, 2023, Zoom Lens returned to operations, announcing a 10th anniversary edition of the Meishi Smile album Lust and plans for events in 2024.
Zoom Lens' sound has been categorized as "unpredictable", exploring sounds ranging from ambient music, noise music, chiptune, electropop, shoegaze and other forms of experimental music. The sound of Zoom Lens has been described as "broadening definitions of punk", as well as "dreamy indie with 8-bit and rave euphoria."
The Fader has noted Zoom Lens as "one of the most aesthetically compelling labels in existence"..
Many of Zoom Lens' images revolved around the concept of burnt photography. This practice was first put to use for an EP by Party Girl released in 2011. The imagery was said to be providing feelings about the disconnection towards memories, a commentary on "silver age" Japanese idol music (or Kayōkyoku) and the over-saturation of the digital music market. This theme was also explored in Zoom Lens merchandise.
In 2014, a shirt based on a manipulated image of Yukiko Okada was released on Zoom Lens' official site, with a banner reading "burn a face of forgotten idols to obfuscate the memories of the truth you lost". In a Red Bull Music Academy interview, Yim noted that they had felt a sadness in Okada's music and story, and "wanted to show people that Okada was a real person with real feelings, and that we all have such humanity."
Music critic Adam Harper has noted some of the imagery as "a conscious attempt at confronting and defamiliarising the visual objectification of women (and its consequences)."
The label has been referenced as one of "the best places for Japanese-inspired indie pop in the online underground," and it hosted a variety of online shows with Japanese venue 2.5D.
Red Bull Music Academy had also noted Zoom Lens' international roster, which "encompasses artists from Japan, the Philippines, Singapore and the US." and "[spans] cultural and continental canyons through our digital world." While Yim had identified Zoom Lens as something far more encompassing beyond their own personal views they have noted much of the label was established due to the influence of being a fourth generation Japanese (or Yonsei (Japanese diaspora)) and Chinese American, expressing that their identity felt rather unusual, lonely and that Japanese culture in America is still seen as taboo.
The label had ultimately sought out for the artists to "represent themselves for who they are, not just for the assumptions people make about their country". Despite heavy East Asian influence, Yim had said that the label was also about being unashamed of who you are and sharing the weight of existence.
| Catalog # | Release Date | Artist | Album Title | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZL-01 | 2009 | Yuko Imada | Ome | Edition of 20 CD-R. Contained blood-soaked letter in DVD case. | |
| ZL-02 | 2009 | Yuko Imada | Untitled (Moon) | Edition of 10 CD-R. Contained in hand-stamped envelopes. | |
| ZL-03 | 2009 | Class of 1923 | Class of 1923 | Edition of 30 CD-R. Contained in hard CD case w/ unique inserts and photographs | |
| ZL-04 | 2009 | nono. | nono. | Edition of 50 CD-R. Contained in slipcase w/ lyric inserts. | |
| ZL-05 | 2010 | Thieves of Zozo | Never Knows Best | Edition of 100 CD-R. Contained in slipcase. | |
| ZLEP-01 | 2010 | Thieves of Zozo | Never Knows B-Sides | ||
| ZLEP-02 | 2010 | Carnage '84 | Obliterfiscantionalisms | ||
| ZLEP-03 | 2010 | MEISHI SMILE | Synthetic Girl | ||
| ZLEP-04 | 2010 | Young Henry | Pollen | ||
| ZLEP-05 | 2010 | Party Girl | Foulin | ||
| ZL-06 | 2011 | Young Henry | Octagon | ||
| ZL-07 | 2011 | Zoom Lens | V.A. | 1st Zoom Lens Compilation. | |
| ZL-08 | 2011 | Yuko Imada | 六本木 NIGHTLIFE | ||
| ZL-09 | 2011 | Smoke Room | Vol. 2 | ||
| ZLEP-06 | 2011 | Thought Tempo | Soft Day | ||
| ZLEP-07 | 2011 | OHPLEASEDONT | It Goes Away | ||
| ZL-10 | 01.01.12 | Apollo Knives | The Harshest Winter | ||
| ZL-11 | 2012 | This Deep Well | From | ||
| ZL-12 | 09.22.12 | MEISHI SMILE | LUST | Edition of 30 cassettes. Contained lyrics sheet. 1st collaboration with Orchid Tapes. | |
| ZLEP-08 | 2012 | LAY BAC | Shortcuts | ||
| ZLMT-01 | 2012 | Aegyokiller | Island of Love (Jeju) | First in a series of Zoom Lens mixtapes. | |
| ZLMT-03 | 2012 | MEISHI SMILE | ZLMT-03 | ||
| ZLMT-06 | 2012 | Apollo Knives | ZLMT-06 | ||
| ZLP-01 | 2012 | Various Artists | Promo Mix | ||
| ZL-13 | 01.19.13 | i-fls | Residential town loneliness | ||
| ZL-14 | 04.01.13 | Rinkin Panku | Rinkin Panku | April Fools Release. | |
| ZL-15 | 06.30.13 | Uio Loi | Uio Loi | ||
| ZL-16 | 2012 | Slime Girls | Vacation Wasteland | Later released on cassette in 2013. | |
| ZL-17 | 2013 | yasumiyasumi | Tokyo Digital Love | Edition of 50 cassettes. Contained handmade zine. | |
| ZLEP-09 | 2013 | The Bilinda Butchers | The Lovers' Suicide! | ||
| ZLEP-10 | 2013 | Aegyokiller | Gogal | ||
| ZLMT-10 | 2013 | KinokoNiji | Witches' Electric Warp | ||
| ZLMT-12 | 2013 | The Bilinda Butchers | 泣かないで | ||
| ZLMT-15 | 2013 | Wakesleep | Time Life / Body Fusion 2 | ||
| ZL-18 | 2014 | MEISHI SMILE | LUST | Edition of 100 vinyl / 300 CD. 1st collaboration with Attack The Music. Remastered/reissue. | |
| ZL-19 | 02.25.14 | Space Boyfriend | bug spray (never give up) | ||
| ZL-20 | 03.08.14 | yeule | yeule | ||
| ZL-21 | 06.17.14 | LLLL | Paradice | Edition of 250 CD. | |
| ZL-22 | 2014 | Ulzzang Pistol | Girlfriend | ||
| ZL-23 | 2014 | Plaster Cast | مالتا | Credited as Malta. | |
| ZL-24 | 12.28.14 | DJ Obake | H | Edition of 100 CD. Contained postcard + sticker. | |
| ZLEP-11 | 2014 | KinokoNiji | Guts | ||
| ZLEP-12 | 2014 | Yoshino Yoshikawa | Yumetatsu Glider | ||
| ZLEP-13 | 2014 | i-fls | Fictional Standard EP | ||
| ZLEP-14 | 2014 | White Bikini | Omni | ||
| ZLEP-15 | 2014 | Slime Girls | Heart On Wave | ||
| ZLEP-16 | 2014 | LLLL | Paradice: Revisited By Friends & Lovers | ||
| ZL×MARU-001 | 2014 | Mikeneko Homeless x Yotsuba Lifestyle | LED MEMORY | Collaboration with Maltine Records. | |
| ZLMT-18 | 2014 | Aria Rostami | Intimate Inanimate | ||
| ZLMT-19 | 2014 | Revolution Boi | Hoodies Headphones and Cuties | ||
| ZLP-02 | 2014 | Various Artists | Untitled | Sold as a promotional release at shows. Later released online. | |
| ZL-25 | 01.28.15 | la pumpkin | pain everywhere. all the time. | Edition of 50 CD-R. Contained transparent cover + note. Online release party w/ SPF420. | |
| ZL-26 | 05.19.15 | Cyclops Rock | Crush Punk | ||
| ZL-27 | 08.27.15 | Tallinn | Special Economic Zone | Edition of 60 cassettes. | |
| ZL-28 | 10.06.15 | Meishi Smile | ...Belong | Edition of 350 vinyl / 350 CD. | |
| ZL-29 | 2015 | yui lui | wonder | ||
| ZLEP-17 | 2015 | mus.hiba | White Girl Remixes | ||
| ZLEP-18 | 2015 | KiWi | Promise EP | ||
| ZLEP-19 | 2015 | Flowerinth | Code | ||
| ZLEP-20 | 2015 | Plaster Cast | Sunless | ||
| ZLEP-21 | 2015 | Meishi Smile | Breathe | ||
| ZLEP-22 | 2015 | The Bilinda Butchers | Sentimental Girls Violent Joke | ||
| ZLEP-23 | 2015 | oh my muu | Self Help | ||
| ZLEP-24 | 2015 | Thought Tempo | (The Flow) | ||
| ZLEP-25 | 2015 | This Deep Well | Entry | ||
| ZLEP-26 | 2015 | Ulzzang Pistol | Moonlight | ||
| ZLP-03 | 2015 | Various Artists | Belong (The Flow) | ||
| ZL-30 | 12.02.16 | Ulzzang Pistol | Waste | First 100 CD came with a poster. | |
| ZL-31 | 2016 | Yoshino Yoshikawa | Event Horizon | ||
| ZLEP-27 | 2016 | Plaster Cast | Permanence | Released as a 45 RPM 12" record. | |
| ZLEP-28 | 2016 | Meishi Smile | (reclamation) | Released as limited edition cassette. | |
| ZLEP-29 | 2016 | Xyloid | Assemblage | ||
| ZLEP-30 | 2016 | Flubber Rimm | The Cell | ||
| ZLEP-31 | 2016 | Yoshino Yoshikawa | Mirage | ||
| ZLEP-32 | 2016 | Yoshino Yoshikawa | Opt-Out | ||
| ZLEP-33 | 2016 | Thought Tempo | I Can Fila | ||
| ZLP-04 | 2016 | Various Artists | A Better Yesterday | ||
| ZLP-05 | 2016 | Various Artists | Fragility | ||
| ZL-32 | 2017 | Aria Rostami | Reform | ||
| ZL-33 | 2017 | Infinity Shred | Even Further | ||
| ZL-34 | 27.06.17 | FAKKU & ZOOM LENS | Metempsychosis | Edition of 350 vinyl / 350 CD. Came with a 36-page artbook, in collaboration with Fakku. | |
| ZL-35 | 2017 | yasumiyasumi | Tokyo Dreampop | ||
| ZL-36 | 2017 | bod [包家巷] | Piano Compositions [钢琴组成] | ||
| ZLC-01 | 2017 | LLLL | Chains "Phase 1: Resent" | ||
| ZLC-02 | 2017 | LLLL | Chains "Phase 2: Remain" | ||
| ZLC-03 | 2017 | LLLL | Chains "Phase 3: Reflect" | ||
| ZLEP-32 | 2017 | Yeule | Coma | ||
| ZLC-04 | 2018 | LLLL | Chains "Phase 4: Resembalance" | ||
| ZLEP-35 | 2018 | Tallinn | Varieties of Exile I | ||
| ZL×MARU-002 | 2018 | Meishi Smile, LLLL, U-Pistol | Always, (feat. Calendula) | Collaboration with Maltine Records. | |
| ZL-41 | 2020 | The Bilinda Butchers | Night And Blur | Neon green vinyl. | |
| ZL-43 | 2020 | Mark Redito | Natural Habitat | Run of 50 special edition vinyl was shipped with "Natural Habitat" blend coffee. 250 non-special records were also on sale. At least one test pressing also sold. | |
| ZL-44 | 2021 | Meishi Smile | Ressentiment | Limited run of LP records, as well as VHS records | |
| (none) | 2024 | Meishi Smile | LUST [10th Anniversary Edition] | Released on clear vinyl and CD with accompanying booklets; 300 of each. Pre-orders of the album shipped with a bonus CD containing demos. |