Meet Ilana Armida of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ilana Armida

Hi Ilana, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, and raised in Florida. My passion for music started early, and my parents were incredibly supportive, getting me involved in musical theater. As a kid, I found every possible outlet to be creative—forming a dance crew with my friends, joining the step team, entering playwriting contests, and performing in talent shows.

I pursued a degree in Commercial Music Business at Florida Atlantic University, where I started writing music and developing my sound, blending Pop and R&B influences.

In 2017, I moved to Los Angeles to further my career as a singer-songwriter, which ultimately led to a Grammy nomination for my contributions to Doja Cat’s Planet Her (Deluxe) in 2022.

My music bends genres, fusing Pop, R&B, club, and alternative styles with empowering themes and cinematic storytelling. In October 2024, I released Bleed, a single addressing women’s rights and reproductive freedom. The song marked a shift in my sound, and its sci-fi horror-inspired music video amplified the message.

Right now, I’m working on The Armida Project, an EP that introduces a new sonic direction while embracing the character Armida. Armida is both my middle name and my alter ego, inspired by the enchantress from the Renaissance poem Jerusalem Delivered. In mythology, she used beauty and magic to entrap knights, but my Armida reclaims her power—turning femininity from something to be controlled into something unshakably dominant.

The project will be a collection of songs that bring Armida’s world to life. My next single, Alibi, drops on April 4th, and I’m especially excited about it because, for the first time, I’m incorporating opera and my classical training into a pop song.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road has definitely not been smooth haha
As an independent artist I have had to wear every hat. songwriter, performer, creative director, marketer, and business manager. It’s a constant balancing act, and while it gives me full creative control, it also means I’m responsible for everything, from funding projects to handling logistics, which can be exhausting. On top of that, being a woman in the music industry comes with its own set of challenges. I’ve had to fight to be taken seriously, navigate situations where people assumed I didn’t understand the business side, and push back against industry norms that often prioritize male voices and perspectives. Luckily I have some good people around me that I work with but finding genuine people with good intentions in this industry isn’t always the easiest.
One of the biggest setbacks I faced was signing a bad contract with a manager who turned out to be a real con artist. He mismanaged me, stole a bunch of money from me and then wouldn’t let me out of my contract and prevented me from releasing music for 2 years.

Oh also covid hitting right when I started playing shows! But all of that gave me perspective and pushes me to work harder

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a singer, songwriter, performer, musician, producer and creative director. I produce music and music videos/visuals.

I was honored with a Grammy Nomination for my contributions to Doja Cat’s Planet Her Deluxe Album.

My music videos have recently received some awards at Film Festivals. “Armida” won Best Creative Design at Simi Music Video Fest! I am most proud of the music video for “Bleed” It was so awesome to bring that idea to life. I worked with the incredibly talented Director/Cinematographer Nico Van Den Berg and everyone involved was so wonderful and committed to the message of the video.

What sets me apart is my ability to seamlessly blend genres, incorporating everything from club and R&B elements to classical influences—I even use opera in my upcoming single, Alibi. But beyond the sound, I think my perspective as an artist makes me unique. I use my platform to tell stories that challenge expectations, explore female empowerment, and create immersive worlds, especially with The Armida Project, which introduces my alter ego, Armida, as a symbol of unshakable feminine strength.

At the core of everything I do, I want to inspire people to embrace their power, stand in their truth, and never let the world define them.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Chat gpt is a good friend of mine when it comes to the business side of things, analyzing contracts and such but I get my inspiration from a lot of different films and shows. I love cinema!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ilanaarmida.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ilanaarmida
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheArmida
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@IlanaArmida

Image Credits
Black and white image – Justin Gaar
Headshot with hair covering an eye – Angelo Kritikos
Singing into mic with wine on table – Frankie @namastefrankie
sitting at desk in suit – Jenna Nikole