Aja

Aja is the solo moniker of Clémence Quélennec, a French musician best known as the former lead vocalist for the psych-punk/new wave outfit La Femme. Stepping away from the high-energy, eclectic pop of her former band, Quélennec’s work as Aja explores the intersections of ambient, downtempo, and experimental electronics.

Her sound identity is defined by a 'liquid' approach to synthesis and a heavy reliance on vocal processing that treats the human voice as a malleable instrument. The project gained significant traction with the 2019 release 'Dune Solitaire,' which established her aesthetic of desert-inspired, cinematic soundscapes. Her evolution has seen her move toward more expansive, long-form compositions, as evidenced by the 'Ajasphère' series. Critically, she is noted for her ability to maintain a pop sensibility within an avant-garde framework, drawing comparisons to artists like Alessandro Cortini for her synth textures and Grouper for her intimate, obscured vocal delivery. Her work occupies a unique space in the French electronic scene, bridging the gap between the 'Pain Surprises' label's art-pop tendencies and the deeper, more academic world of sound design.