Belgian-Japanese electro-pop duo Aili & Orson return with new single ‘Achi Kochi’, out 11th September 2026 via cult Belgian indie dance label Eskimo Recordings.
The first taste of their forthcoming second album, ‘Achi Kochi’ marks a subtle but significant evolution for the duo. Where acclaimed debut album Nandakke? revelled in neon-pop energy, the new single finds Aili & Orson moving into more reflective territory — inventive yet introspective, urgent yet melancholic.
‘Achi Kochi’ roughly translates as “all over the place”, neatly capturing the song’s central theme: the exhausting business of keeping everything moving at once. Family, friends, careers, hobbies and obligations all compete for attention, creating a constant feeling of being pulled in different directions.
Sung entirely in Japanese, the track once again demonstrates Aili & Orson’s ability to make language almost irrelevant. Looping vocals and motorik rhythms carry the emotion, while energetic disco drums — courtesy of guest Lander Gyselinck — collide with dreamy synth pads and a hypnotic Moog bassline.
The result is an intoxicating contradiction: propulsive and immediate, yet warm and melancholic. A sonic carousel of stimulation built for temporarily exorcising the chaos on the dancefloor.
Following growing recognition in Japan and across Asia, ‘Achi Kochi’ also strengthens Aili & Orson’s connection with Aili Maruyama’s Japanese heritage.
The decision to sing the track entirely in Japanese, rather than adopting the duo’s usual bilingual approach, follows their previous collaboration with Tokyo creative label TOKA, which released a special Japanese edition of their debut EP Dansu.
As their second album cycle begins, Aili & Orson continue to occupy a fascinating space between European electronic music, indie-pop and contemporary Japanese culture.
Aili & Orson are Belgian-Japanese duo Aili Maruyama and Orson Wouters.
Forged in Belgium’s alternative club scene and drawing heavily on the nuances of Japanese culture, their minimalist, colourful sound combines electronic beats, samples and Aili’s distinctive Japanese vocals.
The pair met by chance in 2019 and quickly discovered a musical chemistry built around playful, spontaneous songwriting.
Their debut EP Dansu, released in 2021, spent eight weeks at No.1 on Belgium’s Radio 1 VOX list and led to their collaboration with Tokyo’s TOKA label.
Their debut full-length album Nandakke?, released through Eskimo Recordings, pushed the duo further onto the international stage, reaching No.1 on KCRW’s Top 30 Album Chart in the US and receiving airplay from KEXP, BBC Radio 6 Music and Nova France, alongside appearances on tastemaker playlists including Metropolis and Pollen.
Aili & Orson have built an equally formidable reputation on stage, playing sold-out headline dates across Europe and Japan.
In late 2024 they joined L’Impératrice for an extensive European tour, appearing at venues including L’Olympia in Paris, Melkweg in Amsterdam and London’s Roundhouse.
‘Achi Kochi’ is out 11th September 2026 via Eskimo Recordings.
AILI & ORSON ARE:
Aili Maruyama
Orson Wouters
UPCOMING LIVE DATES
OCTOBER 2026
22 October – Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE), Amsterdam, Netherlands
MARCH 2027
10 March – Ancienne Belgique (AB), Brussels, Belgium – Headline Release Show
SINGLE DETAILS
Single: Achi Kochi
Release Date: 11th September 2026
Label: Eskimo Recordings