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

Alright, Aliyah thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

Well, my latest album; Anthology Of Chaos, Vol.1, is my prized possession. For a while, I couldn’t write anything. I released a compilation of songs when I turned 17 and although it did kinda well, (laughs), I knew this album had to be special. I couldn’t find the words to truly describe what I was going through, or maybe I felt alienated because I was still going through it, but either way, I spent a total of two years finishing the album. To see it chart and have the success it had internationally was life-changing. I felt a great sense of accomplishment. I’ll always cherish the album for that specific reason.

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?

People know me as iblamealiyah (laughs). That is my alter-ego. And to be transparent that pseudonym chose me. I think I shared the reason why people called me that a couple of times now. But it all started when I was in 9th grade. I’m a huge complainer (laughs), but in a sarcastic way though. And anytime, something would go wrong-trust me it happens a lot. I would blame myself. So I went with it.

I got into the music industry when I was five years old. I was a hyper-kid. Surprisingly enough, my mother noticed I had perfect pitch and was able to memorize songs by just listening to them once. She got me into guitar and singing lessons to help me manage and canalize my energy. I fell in love with the craft and never stopped. In 2018, I started learning about how to make beats and record songs, I followed YouTube tutorials (laughs) on how to build a home studio, record, mix, and master songs. Then I started posting songs on SoundCloud, lots of people loved what I do and I woke up with a huge amount of people wanting me to make more songs. To be fair, it was so surprising because everything that I do is strictly for the love of music and somehow I think people can feel it. They know that I love what I do and I’d like to believe this is why they like me and my music. They know that what I write is exactly how I feel, and they know that what I do is because I want to be doing it.

In 2021, I got a deal. It was the most beautiful day of my life (laughs). I was so proud of myself as I’d done everything on my own: from my music to my branding. So seeing the fruition of it all made me unbelievably proud. That’s when I decided to go from “Dark-Pop” to “Pop-Rock”. I’ve always loved the Pop-Rock movement, and seeing people support me through that change was overwhelming (in a good way).

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Yea, definitely. I do everything that I can to make people feel less lonely in their own journey. It may be surprising to some but I also feel lonely, (laughs). The lifestyle that I have may throw people off in the wrong direction making them believe that I have it all. But that’s not true. I think that a majority of creatives feel this way: lonely. I have the greatest opportunity of all time: doing what I love for a living. So I try to do my best and have an impact on people’s lives- as small as it may be. I’ve had thousands of fans send me the cutest messages about how my songs helped them in their voyage through teenagehood or adulthood. I always say that I’ve been sent on earth to make music and help people through my music. Those messages are what keep me going.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

Some non-creatives may struggle with the concept of life. I know it might seem weird to say it this way. But, I think that life is nothing more than an experience. People take it too seriously at times. I’ve had a lot of non-creatives asking me about my future; and what I want to be doing. I don’t think that far. For now, I enjoy the life that I have and if something has to change it’ll change in its due time. Life isn’t linear and we have to take it the way it is. It is important to make the most of the instant and that is a concept artists do understand, however, it is estranged to non-creatives because they usually think in a very logical way. They have to make sense of life, and truly life has no sense. Humans are subject to change and who you are today won’t be who you are in ten years as circumstances and events have an impact on the way we think, on what we believe, and most importantly who we are. Fuck it, just live you know (laugh). Love, travel do whatever you want to be doing.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/iblamealiyah
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/iblamealiyah
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/aliyahmusic
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5R4Ax5HOR0HNPArbnB5ZD0?si=xxYs_ysEQVyHCtJmyuq_fw