Ulzzang Pistol is Manila-based artist Zeon Gomez whose fascination with pan-Asian cultures glints brightly like the twinkling eye of a blushing anime character. The solo musician, who has has heretofore released only a couple of EPs, refracts various elements of dream pop, j pop, and k pop, into a simultaneously soothing and disquieting brand of electronic music.
On Ullzang Pistol’s upcoming debut album, Girlfriend, which will be released via our good friends ZOOM LENS, the delicate undulations of dream pop dovetail into the blissed out, shoegaze-influenced sound of ’90s Shibuya Kei–think an even dreamier version of Japanese duo Cibo Matto–all with the ever-present kawaii aesthetics that have become such a universal touchstone. But this version of kawaii is a little twisted, a little evil.
The video for titular single, which you can view below, manages to encapsulate all aspects of Gomez’s catholic interests: The transitions between Japanese and English; The gauzy film filter, the seemingly analgesic instrumentation. At the same time that you are being entranced and lured into a comfortable head space, you can’t help but feel an atavistic bit of dread, as though you are being intentionally deceived. Gomez’s girlfriend personifies this insidious feeling as she draws our protagonist into false security only to betray his trust and emotions at the end. Like I said, a little twisted.
Did you guys dig this? Did it creep you out? Both? Lewt us know in the comments below and on Twitter!