I don’t know about you, but music is (almost) everything to me. I have a song for almost everything; a ride to work playlist, a shower playlist, an exercise playlist, you name it.
I can almost guarantee that the song you may be listening to right now is invoking some kind of memory; whether good or bad. Music is so powerful, that it has even been used as a type of healing therapy. Well, good news for you, I’ve got a new artist that you’ll definitely want to add to your playlist. Indira Imani is an R&B/ Soul artist from Washington D.C. Her soulful and edgy sound and poetic lyrics will both relax you, and inspire you to be your most authentic self. Give her a listen on Spotify, I promise you won’t be disappointed. We caught up with Indira to find out how her music journey started, what inspires her to create, and what she has up next.
Where did you get your start with singing?
I got my start singing in my family church. I remember when I was younger my parents told me I had to be involved in my church and they gave me an option of being in the choir or on the liturgical dance team. I was always interested in music so I felt like that should be the thing I pick, and I definitely didn’t see myself as the dancing type. So I joined the choir and it was the best thing I ever did. I feel like when I read interviews like this, the majority of the great black musicians get there start at church! So I’m happy to be a part of the club.
Can you describe your creative/ writing process? Has COVID impacted this process at all?
I’m a freestyle / mumble writer first. In the words of Andre 3000 I immediately “baby talk” in the studio or in my writing room to create any music. Music has its own vibrations and its own story. I’m just a vessel that finds the words for the story. After I do a few takes of freestyling I listen back to the ideas and anything that stands out to me I start from there creating the structure of the song. I never have a set writing structure; I just write what comes to me first, whether that be the verse or the chorus. I just write and then I decide what section each part falls into. After that a song is created.
COVID hasn’t impacted my process. If anything, being locked up in the house has allowed me the time to create more. I’m a person that enjoys being by themselves so being in my own space and creating has been the most peaceful moments for me.
What are your musical influences?
My musical influences range from film, fashion, musicians/artist, as well as my own personal life. I am a huge film buff, from classic films to modern day movies. Films help me visualize the feelings and concepts I want to grasp through my own music. Fashion also influences my music, because It’s an extension of who I am. Also as a musician I am heavily influenced by other musicians and artists. My first musical influence has to be Whitney Houston. She was the first person I ever heard and felt as an artist. She was the definition of what it feels like to truly be a part of your gift and being able to share that with others. Once I started my journey with my own music, I became more influenced by other artists. Some of those influencers have shaped me in my writing style, in my singing style, and in my artistry as a whole. Kendrick Lamar, Jhene Aiko, SZA, Nao, Frank Ocean, Rihanna & Solange just to name a few have become a huge part of my art. The last thing that is a musical influence is my own personal life. It’s something that I know honestly and truthfully. I sometimes embellish some of my life stories to be more appealing to a wider audience but for the most part at the core of each one of the stories, you will find me.
What do you want fans to get from your music? What separates you from other artists?
I want fans to get from my music the feeling that they can see a little part of themselves in me. I want them to also find healing or find the words they need to express themselves. Overall I want them to find themselves. If you’re mad then be mad. If you’re happy then be happy. If you’re at peace, be at peace. At the end of the day, just be your authentic self, and I hope one of my stories helps you to the point where you can be yourself. Because the stories in these songs helped me become who I am today, more than an artist, but a person.
What separates me from other artist is my creativity, my artistic ability, my songwriting, and my sound/ voice.
Is there a particular artist you’d like to collaborate with?
This is such a hard question because I have a lot of people on my list that I would love to work with; but I’m going to name some because I’m manifesting these things into my life. I would like to collaborate with SZA, Frank Ocean, Samoth, Rihanna, Ajanee, Kendrick Lamar, Iyla & Nao. I know you only asked for one but these are the top people that I have been writing down in my journal. I’m trying to create and prepare myself so that when the opportunity presents itself I’m ready.
What kinds of projects are you working on right now?
I’m working on a few things simultaneously like every independent artist does. The first thing that I’m super excited about is my album coming out very soon. I’m finalizing the mixes now and I’m so pressed. I’m thankful for the people that have assisted me on this project. It’s taking me so long to get to this point in my artistry and I am so proud of myself. I’m most proud of the confidence I’ve gained with this album. In the past, I’ve only released EP’s which normally have 3-5 songs, but with this project I will be delivering a full body of work, 16 songs to be exact. Another exclusive for you guys is the title of the album, which is called Chapter 1: “At the beginning was you”.
Another thing I’m working on is bringing more “Pen & Sings” for my followers/ fans. The “Pen & Sings” is something that I created that has actually gotten me a lot of feedback and a lot of recognition. It was something I used to keep my chops up as a songwriter and for people to get to know me as a musician. But the process is: I randomly go through YouTube, see what producers have been putting out for new beats and I write a verse or a verse and chorus to the beat. Then I share that with my followers. It’s shown my diversity as a writer and singer. The last thing I’m working on, will be another series called “Feature Me”. I will be creating a verse as if I’m a featured artist for popular songs that are already out to showcase my singing and writing.
What is your favorite record that you’ve written?
This is kind of difficult because I have two favorite records. My first favorite record I created is called “Feels” on a project I released in 2019 called “Lone Wolf”.
One reason that I really like this song was the fact that it was therapeutic for me. It was also something that just flowed like a freestyle. I literally didn’t have to write anything down, I just recorded this song. The last reason why this is my favorite record is because I produced the instrumental for the song. That was groundbreaking to be able to do that [stuff]. My second favorite record is a song that you guys are going to hear in the future. The song is called “Grown Enough” from my up and coming album. I did a “Pen & Sing” to the instrumental on my Instagram a while ago and I loved it so much I wanted to make a full song. Every time I listen to it, I get this feeling like “who the [heck] wrote this [stuff]”. I just get so hype about the growth of my art. I hope you guys will love it as much as I do.
Candace Green is a Birmingham, Alabama transplant by way of Washington DC. She enjoys reading, writing, cooking and eating amazing food, and Marvel movies. She is an author and blogger. You can follow her on IG: c_dog93.
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