We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Abby Nkoma a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Abby, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I’ve always been a singer—for as long as I can remember, music has been a part of me. As a little French girl, I’d spend hours watching High School Musical or Lemonade Mouth, singing along even when I didn’t understand the lyrics. I performed for my mom, memorized every dance, and wrote songs in my diary—not because I had a plan, but because it felt natural.

Growing up, I always said I wanted to be a singer, but I didn’t realize it could be a real career. In school, I was told to find a “serious” path, and I felt lost trying to fit into something that wasn’t me.

Then one day, for an English assignment, I wrote and performed a song. I was terrified—but when I finished, the silence turned into applause. That moment made me realize I didn’t have to change who I was. I just needed to find a way to turn my passion into a future.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Hello! My name is Abby Nkoma, but as an artist, I go by Iga Kage. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to be a singer. I got into the industry thanks to a friend who was already part of it, and I was lucky enough to meet people who gave me the chance to share my music.

I write my own lyrics, sing, and sometimes even compose. Music means everything to me, and I’ve been investing more and more of my time into it. I’m a perfectionist when it comes to my art, so I’m especially proud that I released a song this past winter—even though I often feel like it’s never quite enough.

What matters most to me is that people can relate to my music—that they can feel the love, dedication, and hard work behind every song. I want each piece to be better than the last, filled with personality, authenticity, and meaning. I don’t aim to be perfect, just honest and real. I want listeners to feel something—to experience what I pour into every lyric.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I think people sometimes forget that art isn’t about money—and that greed can kill it. I fully understand that we need money to live, but when profit becomes the driving force behind your actions, your art loses depth. It becomes shallow, predictable, and uninspired.

People—especially those who aren’t in creative fields—often ask me why I spend so much time trying to reach something deeper, something more meaningful. They tell me it’s a waste of time, that I should just conform, because in the end, art is supposed to be mainstream and sellable. But that’s not my end goal.

Of course, it feels amazing when people connect with your work, and yes, being able to support yourself through your passion is a gift. But I don’t create to please—I create to express. To give form to what I feel. My art is my truth, not a product to fit a mold.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being an artist, for me, is simply creating. I know it sounds cheesy as hell—but it’s the truth.

There’s this rush that runs through your body when inspiration hits. You chase it, trying to shape it into something real. You work on it endlessly, tweaking every tiny detail to match the vision in your head. You scrap it. Restart. Rewrite. Reshape. You go through ten different versions, each one pulling you closer and further at the same time. You feel everything—excitement, frustration, doubt, misery, pride, joy. It’s chaos. It’s beautiful. It’s exhausting.

And then, finally, when it’s done, you breathe. You look at it and realize it’s a piece of you—alive, real, raw.

For me, it’s always been about the journey, not the outcome. My songs, my art—they live through that process. And when I finally get to perform something I’m proud of, something I poured myself into, that’s when it all makes sense. That’s the reward.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: igakage
• Facebook: Iga Kage
• Twitter: kage_iga
• Youtube: Iga Kage
• Soundcloud: Iga Kage

Image Credits

Iga Kage