There is a character that is sometimes by the side of the Los Angeles artist Joon Gloom, a mysterious steampunk cipher who wears a top hat and has a brass face filled with gears and other mechanical appendages. In my email exchange with the artist, I learned that this character has a name: Mr. Gloom. The unnerving dude appears in the video for “Joker,” Joon Gloom’s newest bloggy electro-pop banger. During our interview, I also learned about her history as a DJ, her love for Drain Gang, and a lot more. Read the article, and listen to “Joker,” below.

I read that “Joker” had a long gestation period. Could you tell the tale of how that song came to be?

Joon Gloom: This was years ago now, but at that point, Lucio and I were deep in making really ambient tracks. Seriously, every track was so lush and reverbed out, and I was itching to make something more dry and beat driven. I also wanted to simplify my vocal style instead of going on crazy melodic tangents with unintelligible lyrics etc. Lucio had gone to visit his family on the East Coast but then had to quarantine alone in his hotel room the whole trip because he got Covid … Then bada bing bada boom … He made the drums for “Joker” and we went from there. 

Could you talk a bit about the “Joker” video? What’s up with that steampunk person?

Oh, that’s Mr. Gloom. He’s been around with me for a while now. I’ve been putting his voice in my radio mixes for close to five years. Honestly I wish he could sing because I’ve always wanted to do a duet. For now he just tells me what to do … Mostly he says I’m not pushing myself hard enough. Kind of annoying but necessary.

How does your history as a DJ inform how you write songs?

It’s funny because I don’t really consider myself a DJ. There are DJs going off like multiple parties a week type thing and I have mad respect for that … Sounds like my personal nightmare though. Anyways … I do dabble in DJ things sans the lifestyle. And it has definitely informed my songwriting significantly. In DJing and in making mixes, I’ve always had a hard time sticking to one genre and letting it rock. Maybe it’s ADHD, maybe the pendulum is swinging hard and I can’t let go … But making mixes has especially conditioned me to draw unlikely connections across various genres, decades, tempos, etc. So I’m naturally going into every song I make with that headspace. One day, I’d like to calm down and focus on one thing though … Like I’m making this bing bong bubble gum baby voice pop right now but I’m making some womanly stuff in the background too … We’ll see.

Are there any electro-pop artists that you have been inspired by lately?

Recent releases that I’m listening to aren’t really in the electro-pop realm. There are a lot of fabulous artists out there at the moment though. There are so many detailed elements within songs that inspire me—whether it’s the songwriting, production, singer’s confidence, etc. But does that mean I’m replaying the track nonstop or that I truly love it? Not necessarily. That kind of connection is hella emotional.

Most of my core sources of sonic inspiration are stuck in the past for the most part. Some artists/projects (purely within the electro pop realm) that have inspired me a lot through life are: Sally Shapiro, Egyptian Lover, Inna, Molly Nilsson, Nadia Oh, Grimes, Confessions on a Dancefloor era Madonna ... I’m sure I’m missing a bunch, but that’s what comes to mind. 

How did you link up with Varg²™? Are you a big Drain Gang fan?

We met through Woesum. Him and I had been sending stuff back and forth for a little while. I sent him “Poseidon” with different production I had done on it and then he sent it back with production them three had done together. Honestly I didn’t think it was going to come out … Then I think it was over a year later that Varg hit me up wanting to release it. 

And yeah, that music is like medicine I think. They are the blueprint for so much of today’s music. Bladee is one of a kind and will be remembered historically. It’s funny… I know so many secret little drainers out there who are too cool to admit it or something ... Pee ew! Get out of town!

Do you have a personal song of the summer?

Electronic Dream 2 by araabMUZIK start to finish and the Mel Robbins podcast.  

What are some of your favorite things to do at night in Los Angeles?

I spend most nights locked in my apartment because I say no to things. But I love being downtown at night. Brings me back to one of the most magical times of my life. 

What’s on the horizon for Joon Gloom? What do you want your 2026 to look like?

I want to be more chill. I have no chill.