Meet The Soulful iyla
Encompassing a beautiful R&B/pop sound iyla is an artist that’ll capture everyone’s attention with her soulful voice and unique visuals. Hailing from Los Angeles, California the emerging artist grew up in a creative and unique home. With her mother working in wardrobe and design and a church choir director as a father§, iyla’s life has never lacked creativity.
Looking to legendary artists Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, and George Michael as her vocal guides, the rising artist has been able to create her own signature sound. Attending a performing arts school, iyla continued with her training by showcasing her talent amongst her peers. With a stint in a girl group, the rising artist soon focused on her solo career and embracing her voice.
With the release of her five-track EP WAR + RAINDROPS in 2018, being listed as one of 2019’s Foundry Artists by YouTube Music US and a new video for her single Flowers, iyla is securing her spot as one of the hottest R&B/pop acts.
We were able to chat with the songstress about her new video for Flowers, upcoming music and so much more…
We need to talk about your new video for the track Flowers, and its major Alice in Wonderland vibes. Can you take us through the creative process and how it came to be?
Flowers is a song that holds so much meaning and symbolism. I work with an incredible creative director named Embryo, and together we felt it was very important that the video told the story of the song, highlighting it’s themes. We created mood boards and brainstormed on what flowers and other material things meant in a relationship, and elaborated on the lyrics of the song. Don’t buy me flowers or gifts to distract from a mistake you’ve made in this relationship. Give me you… in all your honesty. When you give me material items I shrink, when you give me love and affection I grow.
The flower placements throughout the visual are so unique,
what message or symbolism do you want fans to take away after
watching the video?
To me, the flower placements in the video represent an overload of something I don’t want. Everything around me is made up of this excess amount of a beautiful thing, that is overwhelming and unwanted when it’s given in place of an apology or love. Give me flowers because you want to, not because you’re trying to use something beautiful to cover up the pain you’ve caused me.
Your EP War + Raindrops is absolute fire, what was the inspiration for the record?
Thank you! Me and my producer Kadis created “War + Raindrops” over the course of a couple years, so it’s very much inspired by my life. The ups and downs of loving myself, and others. It’s a journey of both self reflection and the ins and outs of the romantic relationships I’ve been in.
Every track is a banger, which out of the five songs were the
hardest and easiest to create?
The easiest song to create was “Shampoo.” Shampoo is one of those songs that just came to me. It’s easy to tell the story of feeling unseen and unheard in a relationship, while also going through a break up and remembering all the things you left with that person, hoping that they might see those things and remember you.
The most difficult song to create was Power (I). Lyrically/Melodically it came to me relatively quickly, but recording it was a long process because I was very emotionally connected to the song, and very emotional in the recording booth. When I listen back to Power (I) now, I feel like I’m transported back to that moment.
The EP has a fantastic R&B/Pop style to it, is that how you
would describe your sound?
Yes! I would describe my sound as R&B/Pop with a touch of jazz and hip hop.
How did you initially get your start in the industry?
My start in the industry is hard to pinpoint. I grew up in a very artistic family both in music and in other arts. I always knew I wanted to sing as my career, I just didn’t know how I would make it happen outside of singing and performing at church/family events. I went to a performing arts high school and majored in dance, I joined a girl group at 18, I sang demos, I featured on songs that were commercially successful and unsuccessful, I travelled locally and abroad performing every chance I could (while learning as much as I could.)
About 5 years ago, I met my producer Kadis, who was the first person to really believe in me as the artist that I wanted to be. We worked for years developing my sound and aesthetic, culminating with my first ever EP, “War + Raindrops.” It’s been quite the journey.
Has growing up in LA influenced your music and artistry?
Growing up in LA has greatly influenced me as an artist. Living in Los Angeles, I spent my whole childhood around this magnetic energy of people following their dreams (especially in and around the entertainment industry). That energy is easy to catch on to, and be inspired by.
Name your top five favorite albums?
Listen Without Prejudice – George Michael Acoustic Soul – India Arie I Put a Spell On You – Nina Simone
ANTI – Rihanna Sweet Sexy Savage – Kehlani
You have a second EP coming out soon, can you give us a
sneak peek what you’re working on?
I’ve been in the studio day and night creating my next project of music. My music is evolving and growing with me, and my goal is always to make the listener feel like they can relate to what I’m going through when they play my songs. I want my music to make you feel strong, emotionally connected, and worthy of greatness.
Will there be a “iyla tour” soon?
I cannot wait to go on my first tour. I don’t have any dates to announce yet, but it’s definitely in the works. Whenever it happens, I want it to be a magical experience for anyone
Make sure to check out iyla fantastic new video for Flowers below!
