Producer Aibai and vocalist Vinny form the new musical duo of aibai & vinny. With their debut self-titled EP, they introduce a sound that feels both grounded and otherworldly. Having met while working in music licensing, and despite living in different states, the two found an unexpected creative spark that led to this evocative collaboration. Across four tracks, they explore themes of love, reflection, and emotional growth, drawing from personal experiences to craft something deeply heartfelt and sonically rich.

Their process, marked by remote collaboration and genre-blending instincts, led to a body of work that feels cohesive yet dynamic. Variance spoke with aibai & vinny about how they balance organic instrumentation with ambient textures, the real-life stories behind their songs, and how their partnership is helping challenge outdated ideas about who gets to shape sound behind the scenes. 

Hi aibai & vinny! Congratulations on your new self-titled EP! The four-track release has such a dreamy, immersive sound. How did you go about merging indie folk and ambient electronic influences into something cohesive?

Merging indie folk with ambient electronic influences has been a fun challenge for us. We’ve both always been inspired by a mix of organic and electronic sounds, so it felt natural to bring those elements together. For us, it starts with the foundation of acoustic instruments—guitar, piano, and vocals—which give the tracks that earthy, folk vibe. From there, we layer in ambient electronic textures, like subtle synths and effects, to create a dreamy atmosphere without overwhelming the natural sound of the instruments.

The key for us was making sure that the electronic elements complemented the organic ones rather than taking over. We wanted to maintain the intimacy and warmth of folk while adding a touch of depth and space through the electronic layers. It’s a balance of keeping things grounded in the natural sound but letting those electronic elements enhance the emotion of the music.

It’s been a process of experimentation, but we’re really happy with how it’s all come together!

Your entire project was created remotely—what was that like creatively and logistically? Did it shape the sound or workflow in unexpected ways?

Working remotely has definitely presented some unique challenges, but overall, it works well for us and we've found a good flow. We pass files back and forth, each adding our own contributions to the song piece by piece. Working separately gives us the time and freedom to really dive into the details and create the sound we’re aiming for.

You’ve mentioned that the EP covers themes of nostalgia, introspection, love, and growth—are there any personal stories behind the songs that you’re open to sharing

Vinny - The music has a lot to do with navigating love and relationships as an adult. Running Around is about my first long term and serious relationship. It’s about realizing that connection and vulnerability in a relationship are worth the challenges and trials that come with love. So the song Running Around is really a message of gratitude to my first real loving and healthy relationship and for the patience me and my partner had for each other in such a pivotal time of our lives.

Still Broke is actually about a person that I know, I was very close with them while their partner was cheating on them. When I heard them vent about their experiences I just felt so much pain imagining what they must have gone through, so I decided to try and channel those feelings into a song. It’s a song about betrayal. It talks about noticing inconsistencies and being afraid to bring them up even while the emotions were swirling around and building up inside of their mind. It’s really a heartbreaking story.

You’re challenging some long-standing stereotypes in music, with vinny as the singer and aibai at the production helm. What message do you hope your collaboration sends to others—especially women and underrepresented voices—in the music industry?

We want to show that there are no limits to who can do what in music—gender, background, and expectations shouldn’t dictate creativity. For women and other underrepresented voices, we hope our work sends a message that you can carve out your own path and take control of your artistry, no matter what others might say. Everyone has something valuable to contribute, and we want to inspire others to embrace their own unique roles in the industry. 

Now that your debut EP is out, what’s next for aibai & vinny? Any plans for live shows, visuals, or future collaborations?

We’re continuing to make music together, and our next goal is to release an album. We hope to play live shows soon, though we need to figure out the logistics since we live in different states. As for collaborations, we’re always open to working with other artists, so there’s definitely a possibility for that in the future. Overall, we’re just excited to keep creating and sharing our music!