Check Out ILU ’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to ILU

Hi ILU, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Music has always been a big part of my life. I can’t think of many times where I haven’t had music playing on a speaker or through a pair of headphones while living my day to day life. Creating my own original music and seriously pursing singing/songwriting as a career wasn’t something I really considered till I got an invite from a close friend in high school to go to his studio and record a hook that he had written for his song back in 2015. Singing is something I knew I liked to do but the love and seriousness I felt for it didn’t awaken until that studio session. I felt a level of passion, purpose, and joy that I have never felt before. After that studio session I told myself and my friends that I wanted to create more and so I did. Initially, I wrote and recorded numerous hooks and verses on my friend’s hip hop and rap songs and that quickly turned into me writing and recording my own solo records. I created and released my first pop/alternative EP ‘Yesterday’ on Soundcloud in April of 2016 and was really surprised by the amount of people who listened to it and genuinely enjoyed it. I believed in myself and the music I was making prior to releasing it but hearing that other people also believed in me really pushed me to start pursuing music even more. After releasing my first EP ‘Yesterday’ I continued writing and recording singles and releasing them on Soundcloud. I haven’t stopped creating my own songs since and have managed to release 12 solo singles and 3 albums so far. In June of 2020 I released my album ‘Futuristic Casket’ and at that point I really saw the evolution and growth in myself as an artist. I found a confidence and understanding in my own voice and desired direction and decided to branch out and evolve more. As a result, I started thinking about getting a guitar so that I could create indie rock, alternative, and grunge music which has always had a special place in my heart. My Dad surprised me with an acoustic guitar during the COVID lockdown and learning how to play it became the focus of my musical endeavors at that time. From 2020-2023 I focused on learning guitar and writings/recording my album CHANNELS which dropped on October 31st of 2023. It is my greatest and most beloved work I have published so far and it has really set the foundation for all of the work I have waiting to be released this year. At this point in my career I am experimenting with as many genres and sounds that I can. My level of experimentation is directly impacted by the talented artists I have the privilege to cross paths/collaborate with. My next single ‘Full Time Love’ is set to be released in July of this year and I have several singles that are completed and ready to be released consistently afterwards. Music has been a constant in an ever changing world for me and it is something that will always be a part of me.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Music has definitely not been a smooth road. Nine times out of ten an artist hears “oh that’s a tough industry” when they tell someone that they’re pursuing a career in the arts and it’s true. It is an extremely competitive industry with a limited number of spots and that truth creates a lot of self- doubt and fear at times for me. I’d say my biggest obstacle is myself and getting caught up in my own mental warfare which can be debilitating at times. When I’m not creating I don’t feel like myself or like I am living in my purpose so it’s like this loop that I constantly have to break out of. Imposter syndrome is extremely real and honestly I struggle with it often. I think that being an artist comes with extreme fragility mentally and emotionally and I relate to that deeply. It’s so beautiful to feel and see so much beyond the surface level and it can also be difficult to navigate through in times of block or overall burn out. Additionally, we live in a day and age that is extremely immersed in social media and online presence. Social media is a great tool that does create more opportunities for connection and exposure. However, I do feel that social media is causing artists and consumers to focus less on what the music sounds like and more about what it looks like visually. I think social media is taking the true beauty and divinity out of art and turning it into this commodity that is more about quantity and not quality. It’s hard not to feel pressured and discouraged by that. Lastly, as an independent artist who does not come from wealth or connection it is hard to have the resources and guidance needed to know what to do to be successful in the music industry. The journey truly does feel like walking on a tight rope blindfolded but I just keep going cause I love it and even if I fall the journey is thrilling and worth it.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a singer, songwriter, and guitarist. My specialty is my songwriting which is deeply rooted in my real life experiences and emotional state. Writing in general has always been a strength of mine so writing lyrics that can paint a picture and resonate with my listeners is a gift I have that I am truly grateful for. I am known for my voice and the way that it captivates my listeners. I have often been told that my voice is unique and soothing which ultimately makes my music a sonic haven and I am so proud of that. Music has always been a source of comfort for me and it means the world that my music has created that feeling for others. I am extremely proud of the fact that I haven’t put myself in a box in terms of what genre of music I create. My discography is everywhere in terms of genres and that is something that will never change.
What sets me apart from others is my approach to songwriting and overall creation. I create from the belief that I am a channel through which divine energies transmit. The source of my art is my inner truth and experience that is divinely led and connected. I do not create from ego. I create from the intention of connection and love through music and know that it is bigger than myself.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I am pretty introverted and socially anxious so this is the part of artistry that I personally struggle with the most. What has worked well for me is going to open mics. I have truly met so many people and friends in the industry at various open mics around LA and OC. This ultimately has led me to getting booked for actual shows and meeting artists that I have genuinely connected with which has led to making some seriously amazing collaborative tracks. My advice is to go to as many musically focused events as you can, perform as much as you can, and show genuine love and support to others that you really rock with. Despite popular belief in this generation I believe it takes a village and community to truly be happy and successful in every realm of life. With that being said, my advice is to go into every experience with the mindset that every situation and person has something to teach you. There is inspiration and guidance all around you at all times. The more open minded and grateful you are the more you will be open to receiving the guidance and knowledge that you need to level up.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ilumusic__/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ilumusic_
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/noir_tsuki

Image Credits
Photographers: Michael Williams, Sarah Hannaford, and Ernest Nunez