Digital Cover: ilham
Photographer: Myles Tate
Stylist: Sophia Nieser
Makeup: Penelope Sierra
Ilham continues to evolve and find her true self on her new EP.
If anyone knows about relentless hard work, it’s Ilham. The Queensbridge native has spent years on a disciplined grind towards her goals, and with the release of her newest project, uhm…ok?, she is only getting closer to achieving it all. Away from industry pressure and limiting expectations, Ilham shines throughout the 10-track offering, expressing various themes of self-worth, healing, and confidence via songs like “no favors” and “company.” She has polished her skills of turning vulnerability into relatable bangers on the EP, crediting her team and the positive working environment that allowed her to truly be herself and have fun during the process. Following the favorable reception and praise of uhm…ok? It is only a matter of time until Ilham becomes a household name within the new generation of R&B.
A month after the release of her EP, Ilham gave us insight into the project, her team, new achievements, and why she agrees that this is her best work yet.
First and foremost, congrats on such a successful release of uhm…ok? How would you describe this past year and what does this project mean to you at this point in your life?
Ahhh thank you, that really means a lot. This past year has been crazy, in the best way. It’s been so fulfilling and really showed me how much power and impact I have. For the first time, I was able to be consistent, call the shots, and move on my own terms. I found myself having several viral and pivotal moments, and built a team I truly believe I can take over the world with. It’s wild because just two years ago I was in such a dark place… so to be here now, after all the hard work, feels like such a blessing.
uhm…ok? Sounds the most sonically polished and cohesive, and the most you out of all your previous works. The way the songs transition, the storytelling, it all flows well and with intention. What was the creative process behind compiling and putting together this body of work?
This was the first time I made the music I actually wanted to make, not what others or a “team” thought I should make. It sounds cohesive because I worked with a small group of people who really gave me the space to take my time and grow. The whole process felt positive and fun (what a concept lol). In the past, I used to be so stressed, and honestly, when there’s turmoil in my team or business, it shows in the music. But this time, it was just me and the gang, no pressure, no expectations, just making music that felt healing for me.
When you released “uhm…ok?” as the first single last year, were you expecting it to resonate with everyone the way it did? What was the influence behind the song?
No, not at all. Before I dropped it, I prayed and told myself, if it reaches just five people, I’ll be happy because I could finally release music again, legally. I’d known for months that I wanted to call my project uhm…ok? because I say that phrase all the time. It became a lifestyle for me; instead of stressing over the weird stuff people do, you just hit them with an “uhm…ok?” and keep it pushing. I wanted a title track that captured that energy, something fun, light, and very me. My friends and I made “uhm…ok?” and I dropped it a week later. The song felt urgent and fun; I didn’t want to overthink it. I was just excited to finally put something out that didn’t feel heavy, just something that made me feel good.
There’s themes of self-love, healing, and persevering throughout the project, and as listeners we can escape into your world and feel the good, positive energy. Is it rewarding to be vulnerable and tell your story through your music and in return help others going through hardships?
Yes, 100%. That’s one of the main reasons I make music, to heal people. I grew up naturally being a sad kid, and as corny as it might sound, my mission really is to help people heal or give them something to escape their realities with. I was that kid who needed that so badly. I used to escape through music and live in my imagination, dreaming about what life could be while listening to different songs.
Growing up, what was something you used to listen to escape reality?
Anything by Michael Jackson, Rihanna, Kelly Clarkson. Anytime I was in the car with my dad and “Break Away” by Kelly Clarkson came on, it was over. Windows rolled down, all my sadness out the window, and I was in a music video in my head.
On uhm…ok? We see you lean into more upbeat production, with the lyrics more fun, sensual, and confident. Was that an intentional choice for this project? What made you want to explore that side of your sound?
Yes, it was intentional. I finally wasn’t in a toxic space. I was working with people I didn’t have to prove myself to, and they appreciated me just for being me. I was healing from all the challenges any young girl alone in LA chasing her dreams would experience, so the music ended up uptempo because that’s the energy I was in.
How did the collaboration with Fridayy on “for me” come about? Did you always want a feature on that particular song?
Fridayy is my best friend and he also worked on a lot of the project alongside Mombru, so naturally we have a few records together. But for this particular session, Fri wasn’t originally planned to be there. He offered to engineer when the producer had requested one. I had just become independent so paying an engineer was not an option. I think the producer was about to cancel so Fri stepped in and said he’d handle it, and he didn’t mind at all. Lol, he had just gotten nominated for a Grammy, so we still laugh at how I walked into a session with a Grammy-nominated artist as my engineer, but hey, whatever gets the job done, right? He loved the record and was like, “Let me jump on the second verse.” He cut a melody, Lita and I wrote the lyrics, and boom, “for me” was born. Fridayy is insanely talented but also super honest. If he loves something, he says it, and if he doesn’t, he’ll voice it too. So when he jumps on a record with me, it’s always low pressure and feels natural.
What is your fondest memory of creating this project?
My fondest memory has to be watching Mombru, Hossy, and Fridayy just laugh. I know that sounds crazy but the way they kept making jokes and filling the session with hours of laughter literally healed me. I went from being a sad girl to trying to land jokes with the boys. In this industry, it’s easy to get lost, caught up in made-up rules, comparing yourself to other artists' optics, and taking in negative energy. So being surrounded by pure joy like that is hands down one of my favorite memories. There was a point where I looked at the boys and said, “I feel happy,” lol, and they just stared at me, smiling like they’d accomplished the mission.
The outro of “no favors” is a phone call of someone hearing your song out in the wild. How would you describe that feeling when it first happened to you? And what advice would you give someone trying to break through?
The outro is actually my sis and makeup artist Penelope, and it was inspired by all the voice notes, texts, and messages I was getting from friends around the world telling me they heard my song out in public. That feeling is honestly the most beautiful thing. The first time it happened, my friend Claudia from Paris called me saying she heard it blasting from a car driving by. I was shook, like, huh, people are really listening? That feeling is unreal.
As for advice, I don’t think I’ve fully “broken through” yet. I just feel like people are finally seeing the movement. They can choose to be a part of it or be haters and watch from a distance. The breakthrough feels so close, I can feel it. My advice to artists who have been grinding in the industry for years, like me, is this: keep going. Don’t compare yourself to others, and remember the power is within you, no one else. That one song or that one moment will come, so stay focused and trust your path.
What can we expect next from ilham?
You can expect bigger and better things on the horizon. More visuals, more music. My team is expanding, so hopefully I can start doing festivals and shows. When you come from nothing, you just want it all, and I’m really excited to see how far we can take this. I’m ready to get out the hood, stream my music ya’ll.
Lastly, what are you currently listening to?
I’m listening to my new EP “uhm…ok?” and different duas and prayers. Gotta stay grounded, you feel me?
