In her EP, Spinning Around, Danish-Japanese pop singer Mina Okabe showcases her warm vocals and dreamy pop sound. Using experiences such as heartbreak, self-reflection, and good adventures as examples, Mina’s stories are meant to relate to her audience on an emotional level.

In addition to its easygoing and dreamy vibe, the EP serves as an essential addition to her collection. The first track, “Talk to Me,” introduces the perfect new-wave jazz tone to the chill-pop singles “Waiting is a Waste” and “Rain.” Spinning Around fuses together all aspects of indie-pop, new-wave, and jazz to create a perfect album to listen to over and over.

Learn more about the EP and Mina Okabe in our interview below:

Laura:

I noticed on your Instagram the number of cafes and coffee you share. As a coffee aficionado myself, what is your coffee order? When choosing coffee shops, do you focus on the quality of coffee or the overall vibe of the place? Do you have a favorite coffee shop at home? If so, please describe why.

Mina:

I love coffee! I always order a cappuccino with oat milk. When choosing a coffee shop I feel that the vibe of the place and the quality of the coffee often go hand in hand – but taste is definitely a priority. There are so many great coffee shops in Copenhagen, so it is so hard to choose! Coffee Collective is in different places around Copenhagen and is really good. I also really like Roast Coffee!

Laura:

In light of the fact that you have lived in New York, Denmark, and Manila, are you ever interested in incorporating influences from these places into your music? Such as language?

Mina:

I have grown up in English speaking countries and attended English-speaking schools, so English is my native language. My mom is from Japan, and my dad is from Denmark, though, so I grew up speaking Danish, Japanese and English at home. I have tried singing in Japanese and Danish, but it feels very out of my comfort zone! Despite that, I would still love to one day incorporate Danish and Japanese in my songs. 

Musically, I am inspired by many different genres of music. Growing up I would listen to music that was popular in the places I lived. I feel that my music taste keeps getting broader because I spend so much time listening to different kinds of music.

Laura:

In your experience playing both shows and festivals, what are the highlights of playing to diverse crowds? Do you prefer to play one over the other?

Mina:

I love playing both shows and festivals! At festivals, there is usually a really good vibe because they typically take place outside during the summer, and people can’t do anything other than hang out with their friends and listen to live music. It was also especially fun last summer when I played at festivals in Denmark because I ended up staying at the festivals after playing and listening to other artists play. 

I also really like playing my own shows, though. In the fall of 2022, I toured Denmark with my own headliner shows, and it was such an incredible and unique experience. Whenever I played my own shows, I couldn’t believe that people had bought tickets to see me play. Being able to connect with people who listen to my music and see their faces is just so special.

Laura:

Regarding playing shows abroad, where is your favorite place you have performed? Do you enjoy visiting a lot of different cities on tour? Are there any places you typically visit when playing in a new city?

Mina:

I love traveling, meeting new people, and experiencing new places; so for years I have dreamed of playing concerts abroad! So far, I have only played shows in Scandinavia and Germany, but it has been so much fun. 

Earlier this year, I travelled around Norway with my guitarist to play support for Lukas Graham, and it was such an amazing experience. We drove a lot, but it was fine because Norway has such beautiful nature. I typically do not have much time to explore the cities I visit on tours, but recently I played a showcase in Berlin and am so happy I had time to walk around, visit vintage shops, and relax at a cafe.

Laura:

What inspired the lyrics in “Talk to Me?” Do you ever have difficulty expressing some of your feelings about a situation when writing? Is writing a way for you to release some of those feelings?

Mina:

“Talk To Me” is about the feeling of wanting someone to be honest and open with you. I don’t find it difficult to write song lyrics because I use songwriting to let out and express whatever I’m feeling or going through. I find it much easier to write about my feelings in lyrics than to express them in person. I think it can be scary to show people my songs after making them because they are often more honest than I am in conversations.

Laura:

When putting your new EP, Spinning Around, together, did you focus on a certain theme or sound? How would you say it differs from your last album? Can you tell me about anything you’re looking forward to in the EP?

Mina:

Spinning Around is a collection of some of my favourite songs that I have made this past year. I was inspired by different things after releasing my first album, Better Days, and feel that the EP shows development in both my sound and lyrics. 

I am very happy I got to release an EP with very different kinds of songs that show different sides of my songwriting and taste in music that I haven’t shown before. Now that I have released the EP, I have started to focus on my next album! I am beginning to have a fairly good idea about what direction I want to go with it. I really look forward to sharing even more music!