We recently connected with ILU – and have shared our conversation below.

ILU, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?

It was definitely a surreal moment seeing money I made through music. I legit screamed and happy danced in my bedroom. I didn’t connect my bank account to my distribution site till maybe 2 years after uploading a lot of music onto streaming platforms so when I did I was able to cash out on an accumulation of streams my music got over the years which ended up being a lot more than I expected. I was so humbled and proud to see actual dollars I made from my craft. Monetary reward has never been the driving force of my creativity but of course I dream of being able to make a living off of it so that it can be the main thing I put my time and energy into. Generating revenue from music for the first time was just another reminder that I can make that dream a reality.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a singer, songwriter, and guitarist based in LA/OC. I spontaneously got into music after being invited to the studio to record a hook for a song when I was eighteen. I instantly fell in love with the process and the feeling I got when being in the studio and singing. I decided immediately that music is my purpose and it’s the one thing that evokes this immeasurable passion and excitement for me. I love so many different genres and periods of music and I believe my discography and approach to music is symbolic of that. My desire to stay genre-less is what sets me apart from others. I aspire to create music that is multi faceted like the human experience so I dabble in many different sounds and sometimes mesh multiple genres together that can sometimes even be considered a new genre. I am most proud of how much time and effort I have put into my craft for the last 9 years. I am starting to see all of the hard work pay off and all of my dreams come into fruition. One of the goals I set for myself this year was to perform consistently and really master my stage presence. I am so proud and grateful to be able to say that I have had two or more shows a month this year and I am confident that I will continue this throughout the rest of the year. Something I would like my fans to know about me is that my music is a product of my internal universe and desire to genuinely connect through music. I believe music and art is healing and can truly create a space of belonging and love. That safety and love is what I want my music to symbolize and attract. The world can be a bleak and scary place and I want my fans to know that they aren’t alone in it. Human nature is to love and be there for one another despite our differences and flaws. I am excited to one day sell out stadiums and have a huge community of people all in one space vibing with that same mindset and understanding.

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?

Something I think a non-creative would struggle to understand about my journey is the emotional turbulence that comes with being a creative. I think naturally humans experience different emotions that change like the seasons but being a creative almost amplifies that nature. It’s interesting because I see my artist identity ILU as a different version of myself. ILU likes the parties, limelight, late nights, and this sort of fast, rockstar lifestyle. Then I switch to the more tamed version of myself which is Bry. Bry likes the 7AM wakeup time, quiet time, reading, hitting the gym, eating healthy, and this sort of stable and safe way of living that is very much about wellness and presence. It’s hard to find a balance that honors both sides of myself without getting lost in one side for too long. There’s this shadow self that thirsts for the darkness and then there’s this rooted self that needs the light to function optimally. I think a lot of artists experience this which has led to the stereotypes that artists are obsessive, isolated, and sometimes even deemed “crazy.” I don’t think that’s true about us at all. I think we are extremely sensitive beings who function on a different emotional wavelength. Our art allows us to express those emotions but sometimes we use mediums that cannot be understood by some. I am so thankful for the people who do connect and understand.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I am still actively unlearning to this day is viewing my artistic journey from a place of comparison instead of from a place that honors my own progress and growth. I was listening to the podcast The School Of Greatness with Lewis Howes and the guest speaker on it mentioned the concept of a culture of progress instead of a culture of comparison and it really resonated. I now try my best to only compare myself to the old me and where I came from. Incorporating this mindset into my life has done wonders for my work ethic, self-talk, and overall wellbeing. I would always get so down on myself and sometimes still do when I compare my own accomplishments to other artists accomplishments that seem much bigger than mine. Comparison truly does kill inspiration and works against us in the end. It’s been a struggle unlearning this behavior but I get better about it everyday. This also plays into the concept of “consistency.” I had to unlearn the idea that consistency is functioning at 100% nonstop. Consistency to me is now staying in tune with my artistry but understanding that what that looks like will change based on my emotional and mental state. We do not have to be constantly creating and inspired to be considered a true artist. It is okay to take breaks to get re-inspired and in tune with yourself. It’s all about quality over quantity.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ilumusic__/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ilumusic_
• Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/fmfcEnak7fomWZk47

Image Credits

Photographers:
Ernest Nunez
Taylor-Jai Leggette
Michael Williams
Sarah Hannaford