We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful ILIJA. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with ILIJA below.
ILIJA, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
I believe that my education and experience play the main role when it comes to my confidence. I started my music education when I was 8 and haven’t stopped since. From elementary music school, Jazz high school, undergraduate studies at the Berklee College of Music, and now Master’s at the Los Angeles College of Music. I have been a part of numerous music festivals, competitions and music TV shows such as The X Factor, etc. All of those experiences contributed to my knowledge and confidence, not only through discovering new things in music but also just connecting to some incredible people from the industry and getting to perform for them.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a singer and songwriter, originally from Serbia but based in Los Angeles. My main influences come from the worlds of old-school R&B, gospel, soul, pop, and jazz. I create contemporary R&B music and have actually just released my first all-original album titled “ILIJA.” This album is an introduction to my artistry and is a mixture of everything I like and am inspired by. It’s available on all streaming platforms. This project allowed me to share some of my personal experiences, such as changing environments, dealing with epilepsy, losing a loved one, etc. My favorite part of working on my or other people’s music is creating vocal arrangements for the song.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I would definitely say persistence, consistency, and a willingness to learn. I was always very persistent when it came to my goals regarding music, which require a constant drive and a solid work ethic. I would attend every masterclass, show, or just a music hangout if given the opportunity. Having in mind that I was raised in a non-musical family, I tried to surround myself with other creatives, which definitely gave me even more inspiration. At a certain point, I learned that “failure” is not a thing and that each time I “failed” while trying to do something new, I actually learned a lot and was able to do it the next time. So I guess my advice would be to: know what your goals are and work hard towards them; be open to feedback and criticism; and don’t be afraid to “fail” on your journey every. now and then. It’s the best thing you can do for your artistic development.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
My parents have been a huge part of my artistic development throughout the whole journey, even though they are both from a completely different world. My father is a dentist, and my mom is an economist. They have been nothing but extremely supportive. They have pushed me and allowed me to move across the globe to follow my dreams and better myself. If it weren’t for their unconditional support and understanding, I wouldn’t be here today.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ilijaofficial/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/imihailovic6/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilija-mihailovic-6305b61a6
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@ilijaofficial?feature=shared
Image Credits
Marko Sovilj Finlay Mathias Raphael Edwards
