Meet ILU

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful ILU. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with ILU below.

ILU , so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.

My confidence and self-esteem is definitely something that has grown tremendously with age. When I was younger I was very meek, self-conscious, and self-deprecating. I would hate having to speak in front of classes to present projects and all that stuff. I even hated the idea of being perceived or seen at one point. I would choose to stay quiet rather than confront or speak up for myself which came from a few different things growing up. However, I think a universal experience for most who find a purpose is a feeling of knowing who you are and what you’re made of. That knowing is truly the key to confidence. Aging is a parallel to that because with age you experience things and can determine what you like and don’t like. When you find a calling that makes you feel full and useful it really makes you glow and stand up taller. I discovered that purpose when I made the hip hop squad during my freshman year of high school. Dance made me feel good and I was great at it. That feeling of purpose was magnified when I discovered my love and talent for singing and songwriting. Essentially, artistic expression has been a vessel I have poured into and in return it has poured back into me tenfold. Confidence and self-esteem comes from living a life that allows you to be authentic and in tune with what your heart and soul yearns for. It’s important to find out what that is and to indulge in it as much as possible. That’s what truly built my confidence.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

My life mission now and for the past 5 years has been to make singing a full-time career. They say you don’t work a day in your life if you love what you do. Music is the only thing that would provide that truth for me. I am a singer and songwriter who is heavily influenced by various eras of music. I gravitate to music that feels dark, distorted, deep, and at times ominous. As a scorpio and woman who has endured some heavy life experiences beginning at a young age, I find that I experience life in a very thought provoking and emotional way. As a result, my music is very lyric driven and vulnerable. Despite heavy emotions and subject matter I find that my music can be something that you can let loose to. The beats are fun, groovy, and vibey. My music is special because it comes from a true place of wanting to express myself and connect with my audience. Art has saved me so many times, it would be a crime to not my own art with the intention of possibly saving someone else. Music can be a lifeline, a feeling of not being alone, embracing chaos, or a melody that makes you feel seen. That’s my mission when I’m writing and showing up as my artistic self. I recently dropped a single titled ‘Dissociation’ that successfully aligns with that mission. At this time, I am focusing on refining and completing demos I have accumulated over the years. I am also focused on performing as much as possible and experimenting more with other artistic outlets that have peaked my interested such as videography/editing, and poetry.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Three qualities that are the most impactful in my journey are authenticity, grace, and consistency. Being authentic has resulted in me creating music that I am truly proud of and that pride shows in my performance and overall presence. Grace has been essential because I describe life as a valley. There are ups and downs and when you find yourself in the lows it is very easy to give up or talk down on yourself. My ability to have grace with myself and others allows me to not be so negative or pessimistic when I am experiencing a low. It allows me to understand that the low is temporary and that the high is inevitable. That quality has been a huge reason why I have been able to remain consistent in my music journey which is essential for growth in any realm of life.

My advice to artists who are starting is to fully put yourself out there. Don’t do it for money, fame, or ego boosts. Art is palpable when it is made from a deeper intention it is noticeable and timeless. Believe in yourself and believe in the slow burn. Greatness doesn’t happen over night. Don’t give up. Dreams are meant to fight for and when you stop fighting for them and settle for something else out of comfort or societal pressure you dim your light. Don’t ever dim your light.

What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?

Embracing solitude and realizing that happiness does not come from external sources. I am heavily locked in to fitness, wellness, and spirituality. Shifting my mindset and lifestyle habits has tremendously impacted my mental health which has overall allowed me to be a much better version of myself. I am the strongest, most patient, confident, grateful, and healed version of myself that I have ever been. I am still extremely messy and have so much more growth to experience. However, to compare who I am now to who I was before is style something that is evidence that I’m doing the right work. This growth and newfound mindset shows in my lyrics, my stage presence, and who I show up as everyday for myself and others.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ilumusic__/?hl=en
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7I6Wmyu8gU
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/ilu111

Image Credits

Phillip Lopez
Polaris Castillo
Dakota Kass
Adrian Usher