#154 iLana Armida
Ever had someone ask you "whats your brand?" as an artist it can be one of the hardest questions anyone asks you. In this episode host Rae Leigh and guest Ilana Armida talk about the humanity of being an artist and how they believe the "branding" practice in the music industry is changing.
iLana Armida is an incredibly talented Pop/R&B singer-songwriter from Worcester, Massachusetts.
Raised in South Florida, iLana fell in love with music and found her passion from an early age. Writing and performing in local musical theatre. After high school, Ilana, attended Florida Atlantic University, where she got her degree in Commercial Music Business; and where she found her sound.
iLana first EP ‘Iridescent Flower Child” was compared to the likes of JoJo and Christina Milian. Blissful, trippy, hypnotic, haunting and powerful were just a few words used to describe it.
Connect with iLana:
Transcript
Rae Leigh: Welcome to a Songwriter Tryst with iLana Armida
iLana Armida: thank you. Thanks for having me
Rae Leigh: excited to get to know a little bit more about this alter ego you've been telling me about. Um, but also find out a little bit more about the person behind these really cool, sexy, fun songs that I've been listening to.
So I like to start by getting you to introduce yourself, tell us who are you and where do you come from?
iLana Armida: Okay. I'm Alana Armita I was born in Western, Massachusetts. I grew up in Florida and now I'm living in LA as a singer songwriter.
Rae Leigh: Wow. You make such a big journey sound so quick and easy. So where, where
did music start for you? When did you start writing music?
iLana Armida: I was performing long before I was writing. I just caught the bug when I was very little, like my parents put me into dance when I was three. And they would have me performing and talent shows and just any chance I could, I was just such a ham and wanted to always perform and yeah. And, uh, yeah.
When we moved to Florida, they put me in musical theater and that was like a game changer for me. I was like, oh, there was this outlet. All of a sudden that I could become these characters and really perform and dance and interact with an audience. And I just, I, you know, I did that.
During that whole time, this was like elementary school to high school. I was writing poetry. I was writing plays and short stories just because I loved it. I never thought of turning that into music until I was in college. And people were like where's your original music. And I'm like, huh, I guess I should probably start writing songs.
Um, yeah.
Rae Leigh: start off as poets, like writing poetry. Like I did that when I was a kid and I never thought about it. Yeah. Like, I didn't know how
to put words to music. Like that just seemed so mysterious.
iLana Armida: Yeah, it's funny. I didn't make that connection. I am the same, I guess, for you to like earlier that, you know, we love to sing and perform and then also to write, but those, yeah, the mediums never connected until later.
Rae Leigh: until the road.
iLana Armida: Right.
Rae Leigh: you were like, okay, let's, let's write some original music. Was there anything, like, what, what was it that kind of inspired you? Because there's one thing for kids like parents to encourage their kids as children to do arts, but it's another thing for us as human beings, as we become adults to choose this industry
iLana Armida: Yeah.
Rae Leigh: and like be a professional
in this industry, what was that decision process like for.
iLana Armida: Well, I knew I've always known that I wanted to be in the entertainment industry. I wanted to perform since I was very little, but I also heard, you know, I, I was, I'm a nineties baby. So I grew up with insane and spice girls and TLC and, oh my God, me
Rae Leigh: had a girls
iLana Armida: They still are like,
Rae Leigh: would be the spice girls.
Yeah. We totally like
iLana Armida: Ah, I always tried. I would get like my best friends.
I would force them to, like, I made a dance crew with them that was successful, but it never took off.
Rae Leigh: Than the rest of the group.
iLana Armida: Yeah.
me too. I literally, at one point
in my life, I was probably like 16. I invited all of my friends over and like print it out. I swear. I printed out agendas for everyone, for like, for the meeting. And I was like, I was trying really hard.
And everyone's like, you know, where's your parents alcoholic? What are we doing here?
Rae Leigh: That's so
iLana Armida: But I, uh, yeah, so.
Rae Leigh: to go as group, you know.
iLana Armida: Yeah,
Rae Leigh: All right, go ahead. Sorry.
iLana Armida: no, you're good.
Um, I feel you, uh, so yeah, I, I knew I always wanted to perform, but then, you know, I heard these horror stories, like, you know, how is TLC the number one touring. Group and they're bankrupt.
And like all of these horror stories about, you know, these boy bands getting ripped off and like all these artists going broke and my parents are not in the music industry. They are music lovers and they're, you know, a huge part of why I fell in love with music and performing. And, you know, my dad plays little drums and my mom kind of kind of sings and writes songs, but never professionally.
Um, so I decided to go to. Get my degree in music business before I even
Rae Leigh: Good idea.
iLana Armida: did the artist route. Yeah. So I went to a university called Florida Atlantic university in south floor. And they had a really authentic state of the art studios there. And somebody who runs the program, worked in the industry for a long time.
His name's Michael Zieger. He was huge in the seventies. He did like, he's like the creator of the, Ooh, like that sound is him literally in disco music. Yeah. The chant, the Oop
and disco music like that
Rae Leigh: brand, like That's probably the most random thing I've ever heard. Someone being famous for, you know, it's
iLana Armida: For the chance for the discogenic. Yeah, I mean,
It is, but absolutely so random. But yeah, so this, uh, this program was awesome. We ran a record label and kind of got to learn all the ins and outs of the industry, which, you know, it's forever changing. So that was awesome that I got that knowledge while I was there.
But yeah, it wasn't terrible. Probably close ethic, maybe my junior year that I was like, okay, like, I feel like at this point I've managed artists. I was the vice-president of the record label. I kind of got how everything was running. I understood the contracts and I was like, let's, you know, let's write some music and see if I can do this.
You know, I did the business thing and really where the business hat for a while. Um, and I was like, let me dive back into what I really want to do. Um, and I linked up with a producer who was in the program and I just, we wrote a five track EAP and, you know, it was absolute trash looking back at it like my first year, but I'm still yeah, yeah, yeah.
I, uh,
but you know, it was very juvenile. You know, we figured it out. And I think that I was like, you know, I can do this. Like if, if I really, and at that point, like my parents saw how serious I was about it. We turned my old childhood bedroom into a music studio, like phoned out the closet so I could really learn.
And I started learning logic and how to record myself and engineer music. And I started meeting up with producers and, and, you know, I graduated and moved home for. Almost two years and just literally lived in the studio and just wrote music all the time, mostly by myself, because in where I'm from in Florida, there's not, uh, an outlet for music makers, really like there's the guy singing, you know, guitar, strumming guitar down by the beach.
Uh, You know, wasted away again, Margaritaville, but there's not like
pop music and there weren't a lot of people to collaborate and that kind of pushed me to move to LA and
Rae Leigh: Okay. And so have you found,
have
you found that moving to LA has been a game changer for you?
iLana Armida: Oh, yeah, absolutely. I, I knew I was wanting to be in LA and if my parents kinda knew it too, they're like, you know, we know you're going to leave us and go to Hollywood eventually. Um, and an opportunity came up. There was somebody who needed a ride. And I was like, you know, just on a whim moved out here, but my, I think how much I've grown as a songwriter, as an artist, even just as a musician, like that could not have happened if I was anywhere else, but LA like, I really, I, you know, I have this love, hate relationship with the city, but I, it definitely was a game changer.
Rae Leigh: Yeah. Cool. And so do
you, do you do any of your own production now, or is it you working with other producers?
iLana Armida: Yeah, I, you know, I wouldn't say that for me, just sitting at a computer by myself, I can get a final product, but I do, I'm a very collaborative producer and songwriter. And even to like, you know, picking sounds, or I'm not, I may not be running the door, but I definitely am putting in
Rae Leigh: Yeah.
I think it's good to have
iLana Armida: from the production
Rae Leigh: creative control. That's good. Cool. All right. So tell me about the music that you are releasing and producing that cause you pumping them out pretty quickly.
iLana Armida: Yes.
Rae Leigh: What what's the goal behind all? Like, is there a theme behind your music or a message of a brand that you're trying to portray?
I'm guessing that you've probably put a lot of thought into it considering you've done the music business degree and.
iLana Armida: Yeah, I, so right now there are actually two
full projects that are finished for the most part. Like they're too similar. Like, you know, it's me, I'm the common thread in, in the music, but one is a little bit more like, uh, Warm and tropical and pop in the other one is a little bit more like funk, sexy, little like cooler children.
Rae Leigh: Yep.
iLana Armida: So I have, so I've started releasing, I basically thought that the year of 2020 would be my year to do
Rae Leigh: Yeah, I
iLana Armida: Like I even, I saw this tweet I had in funny 19, that was like more shows in 2020. And I was like, Ooh, this did not age well. Um, yeah, so I kind of was forced to. Reevaluate and like, look at the music I was making and the direction I was going.
I'm so glad. I mean, obviously it was like a really rough year for a lot of people, but I, the silver lining is it kind of forced me to write a lot more and figure out my sound. And I think I was performing because I loved performing, but I don't think I was. Uh, I had honed in on who I am as an artist and kind of what the sound is.
And I feel like I'm a lot closer to that now. So they're the songs that I've held onto for a couple of years that I just was like, you know what, I, I'm not gonna wait for the perfect opportunity for these songs. Like I'm writing a song every day. Like, I, I think that these songs need to come out now. And so people can actually see my evolution and growth and see, you know, my music changing and, and the song I released in 2020.
It was called umami mommy. And it's, uh,
Rae Leigh: song, by the way.
iLana Armida: con a comedy
Rae Leigh: I love
it. It's like I can't
help it smile when I listened to it. I'm like, Ooh, I just want to dance.
iLana Armida: and that is exactly why I wanted to put that song out
because it was such a dark year. So many things were coming to a head. And like, there was so much tension in this, just like everything. And a lot of sad music came out. Like I was listening to new music Friday on Spotify and I was like, everything's so fucking
Rae Leigh: Yeah,
It's
like,
locked down. Here's a new song. Locked down, locked down. Isolation.
iLana Armida: Yeah, I know it was like, oh my God, I need some like music is my therapy. Like I needed an escape. I need something to bring me to, you know, back to happy time. So I was like,
just, you know, I wrote the song about quote unquote sushi. It was kind of the start of me being like, I don't want to just make music because I think it's what people want to hear.
Like I want to make music that feels good to me, that my friends jam with and like that it feels like I'm missing, you know, something that I'm missing in my life that I need. And I was like, we need comic comedic relief, and we need something that you have to sh to twerk to. And like, just, you know, like this is like the perfect song to like when you're getting ready in the mirror to just like put on and feel yourself and.
And so I kind of decided to release a lot of feel-good music this past year and a half, um, because I needed it
Rae Leigh: Yeah,
iLana Armida: uh, and I assumed other people need it too. But I, but some of the songs that I'm releasing right now will be rereleased in the form of a bigger project, hopefully early next year. And then there is one that's ready to go, uh, to follow that.
So,
Rae Leigh: Wow. So you've got like heaps on the go and I've talked to other music managers, like, and they talk about that. They say like, you know, always have like, if you're releasing a song don't ever not have like the next two or three things ready to go as well,
iLana Armida: ready to go?
Rae Leigh: yeah. There's like about building momentum.
It's like you have a massive hit, but then it takes you 12 months to
release the next thing you've lost your audience. Like they've forgotten you.
iLana Armida: Yeah. And, and that, and I've kind of
experienced that too, because I, I had a song, it was the second song I ever released since, you know, after moving to LA and kind of like, you know, focusing, you know, changing my focus to being an artist. And it was playlisted on an editorial playlist and it got like half a million streams, which was huge for you.
My second thing. And then I didn't have anything to follow.
Rae Leigh: Yeah.
iLana Armida: And a car. And I did, I went from having like a ton of people paying attention to me to just, you know, back to square one. And I'm like, dammit. So at this point, I'm just like, you know what, I'm going to, I have a ton of music and I'm constantly writing it.
I'm just going to put it out and try to make the best opportunities for the songs. You know, let's give them the, their best chance of going somewhere and not dying on my hard drive.
Rae Leigh: I love that though. I love that.
You're experimenting with yourself and doing it publicly. Like you're still sharing as you're growing. And I'm like, I feel like I'm doing the same thing. And, that there is, there is like skepticism, I think, because for so long, we've been teaching people that you have to have a brand and a personality and it has to be very specific and genre specific.
And I've got like a comedy song coming out soon and none of my music is comedy, you know, it's like, but I'm a, I'm a cheeky, fun person. Like that is a part of.
My human life. And I just want to show that to people. And you, like you
iLana Armida: I love that you have
Rae Leigh: y'all the common thread in your music and I love that line.
Um, and it's, it's not often I've met people who have the same opinion.
iLana Armida: Well, good. I know. I'm glad you feel that way too, because I,
when I do talk about this, especially with people who have record labels and management and a publicist, they're like, whoa, wait, like we have to, is this on brand? Like, is this, you know, is this going to get the numbers? And I'm, you know, there
pros and cons of this, but me being completely independent, I have all of the creative freedom.
So while I have that, you know, while I am. Yeah. Hopefully I maintain my creative freedom as long, you know, forever. But at least at this point when it's completely me, like, I do want to know who, you know, what audiences I can reach with different songs and like what resonates and you know, I'm not a one dimensional person.
So these are all of these songs are parts of me, you know, I can have this, like you said, cheeky, like funny side and also saying something that's very serious
Rae Leigh: it's called being a human. Like no one feels the same all the time and any emotional song can make you feel good. A funny song can make you feel good and a really sad, depressing song can make you feel good, ironically, you know,
like, because sometimes it feels good to cry and sometimes it feels good to laugh and
iLana Armida: Yeah. And it feels good to know that somebody else might, you know, feel the same way that you're feeling. And, you know,
we resonate with things
Rae Leigh: Whereas I think like with record labels, it used to be like, okay, you want to feel this way? Go listen to Amy Winehouse. But if you want to feel a different way, you've got to listen to a completely different artists. It's like,
well, I'm sure Amy Winehouse had some good days, you know? So it's
iLana Armida: she probably had some songs that no one will ever hear where she's
just like, you know, messing around in the studio and like having
Rae Leigh: Yeah,
iLana Armida: but it wasn't on brand.
Rae Leigh: wasn't on brand.
iLana Armida: very anti pop music to be like imperfect or an Inn or not on brand. And like I'm making pop music that is all over the place and eclectic and you know, I, and I hope that that resonates with some people.
Rae Leigh: think it will. And I think we are now that like with socials and Tik TOK and all that stuff, we come into a world where I think. We're expecting people to be a little bit more authentic. And I think showing all sides of you is more authentic than, you know, like trying to be Billie Eilish. Who's supposed to be emo and depressed all the time.
You know,
it's just not, it's not authentic
really. Is it? So I think they're catching on anyway.
iLana Armida: I hope. So it seems to like, even like you, you
brought up Tik TOK and
like I'm super late to the game. Like I've just now like started figuring out how tick-tock works. It just, yeah, it didn't feel genuine to me to, to hop on that
Tik TOK train, although it is really working out for some people, it blows my mind.
But the platform itself really does seem to. See through the bullshit, like it like kids, you know, and the majority of people watching are on Tik TOK. I I'm pretty sure. I don't know if this is true, but our youth, you know, the children, the children,
Rae Leigh: next generation.
iLana Armida: yeah, exactly. And they don't want the fake
perfect thing. You know, they want to relate to something. So hopefully things are slowly moving in the right direction.
Rae Leigh: They want to take off the filters and have fun and be
iLana Armida: Yeah.
Oh God.
Rae Leigh: also be entertained.
iLana Armida: I say that with my fake eyelashes glued onto
my face.
Rae Leigh: I wish we had a video right now. Okay. So
iLana Armida: I'll send you.
Rae Leigh: yeah, I don't think we, I think we said that offline. Do we want to tell everyone what you're wearing right now?
iLana Armida: Oh, yeah, that's right.
Yeah, as I I'll set the scene again, as I sit in my teeny studio apartment, deadly lit in my sweat pants, I have a full drag makeup on right now because my really good friend, uh, is a makeup artist from Atlanta. He just moved to LA and he's. Practice. He needed to actually create some tick-tock content.
So he's like, you know, can I borrow your face? And I'm like, of course, and I'm wearing like these huge eyelashes and just full face glamour while I'm talking into a microphone on at my
Rae Leigh: so is there a picture of this makeup on tick-tock?
iLana Armida: I think he just, yeah, I think he just made it. I can send it to you.
Rae Leigh: Yeah.
iLana Armida: Literally as, as we started this, his tick-tock
handle is Darien Isaac.
Rae Leigh: Darian Isaac. or I'll have to go look it up.
iLana Armida: Yeah, I can also send it to
Rae Leigh: Yeah, that'd be
iLana Armida: form, but yeah.
Rae Leigh: cool. All right. So tell me about your collaboration process. You talked a bit about collaborating. How do you collaborate with people? Do you co-write and what's your
advice around collaborating and co-writing with people.
iLana Armida: Yeah, I love to collaborate. Like I think, you know, I mentioned, I spent a long time just by myself, in my bedroom studio. So I, once I moved out here and I'm like, oh my God, there's a bunch of other people who want to like, pull the thoughts out of their head and write them down and turn them into melodies.
Like that's crazy. So I started writing with everybody I could, and every time you collaborate, you know, it's different. I it's, the LA thing seems to be at least in the pop song, writing community here, it seems to be you, you come into a session and the first hour or so is just get, especially if it's with a stranger, you know, getting to know that person, or, you know, if it's specifically for an artist, like what is that artists dealing with or going through.
And I, like I said, I started writing poems before music. So the lyrics are really the, the fun part to figure out for me. So I try to pull from what an artist is going through, or even just something that happens within that first hour, you know, like, oh, we, we all related on some specific thing that happened.
Like we all had breakfast burritos this morning, let's write a song called breakfast burritos or whatever. But, yeah, so usually the first hour is like getting to know the, you know, feeling up the vibe as they say. And then I, again, depending on who I'm collaborating with, I like to create some type of chords or production and I'll let a producer kind of like get his groove and then come up with some melodies. And then eventually come back to our concepts that we've come up with and write, write the lyrics, and collaborating out here is so awesome because there's so many different people and different ideas. And, and I just, and I don't think, I truly don't believe that, you know, one person has the best eye idea.
You know, if you have, sometimes you'd pull different parts of the idea from different people and, and, you know, you know, the collaboration is what makes the perfect. Idea. Just, I think the collaboration itself is, is what can create a great
Rae Leigh: Oh, it's powerful stuff. I don't think anyone. I mean, you got, you get your super triple threats. Like you John mayors who write amazing lyrics and play amazing guitar and sings, you know, and it does happen rarely, but
iLana Armida: yeah, absolutely.
Rae Leigh: the us common folk, you know, we need to work together because we can be really good at, at one thing.
But it's so much, it's quicker and easier. If you've got good people skills to collaborate with other people who are stronger in the areas. We're
waking and, and then it's
iLana Armida: Yeah. And sometimes,
Rae Leigh: you're going sometimes.
iLana Armida: Oh, just sometimes, you know, you have a bad day or, you know, one of the writers in the session is having a bad day. And even though they're the best writer in the room, like they may, they just might not have it in them that day. And somebody else has to, you know, step in and in, in that, that works out to.
Rae Leigh: And we all have those days. No one, no one's ever on all the time. Like that's, it's just, it's just life. You know, we all have days where we're filled with energy and just completely clear-headed and it's all go, go, go. And then we have days where, you know, we're pouring milk
into our water
bottles and we just don't can't think clearly and you know, nothing goes right.
Yeah.
iLana Armida: seems like a very specific
Rae Leigh: Well, yeah, it was school holidays and I've got three kids. And I literally did that yesterday morning. I was like this, that was at like 9:00
AM in the morning. I was like, this is not going to be a good day for me
these days,
iLana Armida: have them all of the
Rae Leigh: I was meant to be like filling up my water bottle, you know, because I like to have bottles, bottles of filtered water at my
hand, and I was pouring in milk and it was already half filled with water.
And I'm like, what am I doing
iLana Armida: At least you realize that as you were pouring and not like later when you went to take a sip and you're
like, what is this watery, Milky substance I
Rae Leigh: Uh, I was just, I was trying to do way too much at once. Like parents are like mums or multitask is like, that is what we are known for is doing, like making the lunch, making the breakfast, packing the bags, doing the shoelaces, making sure everyone's hair is brushed. Like we do all of that all at once while trying to get a sip of a cup of tea,
iLana Armida: Yeah.
Rae Leigh: but I was just, I was doing too
much.
iLana Armida: I know, but honestly, you're a superhero just for being a mom. Like, I, I obviously I don't have any kids, but like, I just know that like, from my friends who are moms, like you got your superheroes. I don't know how you do that and then have your own life on top of it. It's just
Rae Leigh: I think a lot of moms
iLana Armida: women. Women are amazing.
Rae Leigh: I think a lot of moms sacrifice their own lives for their children, which is, you know, an honorable thing and a very, understandable choice to make. But, I think for me, I made a conscious choice that the fact is children do, as you. They don't do, as you say, that's a very, very simple truth that anyone with children will understand.
And for me, I, I want my children, boys, and girls to always
live their own life and do what they love And and be happy.
iLana Armida: Yeah. And how better to show them than by demonstrating that.
Like, I still am, you know, other than being your mom, I also am my own person
Rae Leigh: Hmm.
iLana Armida: and, you know, look, I can do both.
Rae Leigh: and I want to, so I, I do work probably harder than your average person to make sure that I
iLana Armida: I'm sure.
Rae Leigh: at the same time, it's important to me, I think, to, to show that. But I also know that normal judge me, if I just said I'm a full-time mom of three small children and that's all that I do for now, no one would judge me for, for not doing anything else.
Um, I would
just judge myself because that's the type of person I am anyway.
iLana Armida: yeah. And that's awesome.
Rae Leigh: What tell me what's the best advice you've ever been given in this industry?
iLana Armida: Let me think. The first thing that comes to mind is just. Maintaining creative control, and not jumping into a contract because somebody is promising you fame or fortune or whatever it is. I've even after getting my degree in music and like really studying the business side of things, I signed a management deal.
Set me back two years. Luckily it was just a two year contract and didn't it. Wasn't one of these like seven year cold, all my music kind of a thing, but it did prevent me from releasing any music for two years.
Rae Leigh: Oh man.
iLana Armida: And it was like, so I was like, this is exactly why I D I did this, but you still like, you know, I just moved to LA and I met somebody that was like, you know, you're perfect.
And I'm going, gonna make you a big star. You know, it was literally the typical, like Joan, you know, all warning signs, like don't do it, but I, you know, it got that. This is something I've been working toward my whole life. And I got excited and I signed, so I I've definitely learned my lesson at this. And, yeah, I guess the best advice I've ever gotten is just like, hold on to who you are and your creative control.
Don't let anybody have a say, if you are an artist and you truly are a creative and an artist, be that, and don't let anybody else, you know, have a say that you don't trust.
Rae Leigh: Yeah.
I know what you're signing as well.
You're not the first person from LA that I've spoken to. That's had that
sort of experience of just
iLana Armida: Oh, it's oh, so many people have,
Rae Leigh: What did, like, what is it about LA that people
like that there's like, sounds like there's like predators on the streets at the airports waiting for young people to come in and be like, I want to be a
iLana Armida: I honestly think there are, there's just, yeah, there's just a lot of people. A lot of people move to LA with the twinkle in their eye. Like I'm going to be a big star and, and it's. And I think there are bad people in the world who take advantage of that. And that's just, I mean, it's everywhere. It's just LA it's, there's so many people here.
And so many people here for the same reason that you just hear about it more, but yeah, people take advantage no matter where you are and you have to just, you
Rae Leigh: I mean, correct. Don't get me wrong. It happens in Australia. I mean, I talked to people from Nashville, New York and Canada, or in LA and UK and Australia. And so I, you know, I get this and, and the same story does come from every country. It does not, it's not specific to LA it's just more often with the people I speak to from LA.
It seems to be. Issues with
contracts just seen. So like, I'm like, okay. Just mental note. Don't trust anyone from
iLana Armida: that's why. Exactly. Yeah, no, honestly, I do not blame you. I feel that same way too. And that's why I'm in, I'm in zero contracts right now. Like, although I don't have, you know, this incredible songwriting career, you know, I've had a couple of big placements, but I'm still very much, you know, working my way up.
That you know, in this industry, but, I I'm at the point where like, unless the right deal comes across the table, I'm gonna maintain my publishing. I'm gonna maintain my, you know, my, control as an artist and until the right thing happens, because I just, you know, it's, it's worth it to me. It's, I've dedicated so much time to this that, you know, I'd rather have longevity than the 15 minute.
You know, a
Rae Leigh: never know what's going to happen. Yeah, well, like I heard, I only heard yesterday actually that, um, turns and I, you know, dance monkey. She's a local girl from where I live and she had huge hit, obviously massive. And then, um, You know, signed a massive contract right before COVID gosh, about timing. Like I feel sorry for the
iLana Armida: Oh, no.
Rae Leigh: but like she, you know, she's released music, but she's just announced that she's taking a break for, for a few years because it just all happened too quickly and she got overwhelmed and, um, can't sort of hack it for whatever reason, but it's like, you know, that is a thing, like maybe it just happened too
quick and you know, things just happen at the right time.
iLana Armida: Yeah. And I think that's happening a lot more
too, is as you know, these teenagers who are getting massively famous overnight on Tik TOK are not prepared for what that really means. And like it's so much at once and now you have a record deal and you have, you know, millions of people paying attention to you and, and, and it's, you can't cope.
Rae Leigh: the sacrifice of your life and your freedom. Like, I mean, being an artist for me is like being a public servant. You know, you, you become a servant to the public and your life becomes
a projecting ground for everyone, you know? And.
iLana Armida: It's like, here's my, here's my art. Here's my soul judge. Me
Rae Leigh: Well literally
iLana Armida: judged me now.
Rae Leigh: saying it's okay, you can judge me. I can take it. And, and on a big scale, like, you know, you can't go to the shops, you can't like there's this, it takes away a certain level of freedom, that it doesn't really get, I guess, the downside. Fame doesn't really get shit.
I don't think massively. And so it's very much glamorized. And then of course, kids are going to want to copy their heroes and want to be famous and stuff. And everyone needs attention. Everyone needs to be seen and heard and that's okay to want attention. But as long as you don't throw out reasons, you know, like if you're just doing it
for attention And then you get too much, you probably gonna freak out.
iLana Armida: Yeah. And that, and it happens seems to happen a lot. Like it's definitely a choice. Like, you know, I'm deciding at this point, like I want to be an artist and a songwriter and I want, I want that. You know what I mean? Like I would love if I couldn't go to the mall and people were stopping me to take pictures of me.
Like, I, I signed up for this shit, like, this is what I've wanted forever. And that's the. You know, obviously like not having the privacy, isn't like the best thing, but the payoff is like, I can do what I love and, you know, interact with this many people in resonate with this many people. But when you don't realize what you're signing up for, when you just decide to make a tic-tac video and then all of a sudden you're massive.
It's yeah. That's it can be way too much for people I'm
sure.
Rae Leigh: And so, I mean, mental health is important thing to think about in those areas, but, anyway, tell me, what about speaking of maybe guess bad experiences? What's the worst advice you've ever been given
sign under the dotted line?
iLana Armida: camping. yeah, basically. Yeah, just like the,
you know, trust the process, you know, just, I know more than you. So trust me, you know, I've been in the industry for. The however many years, tens of years, trust me, like, that's, you know, this is how it goes. Any of that, like, oh, you you're your novice.
Like you, you don't know. I, you know, I know better, like that's bullshit. Nobody knows what they're doing in life in general. And then this industry is just a bunch of people, you know,
they don't know how to say this without swearing.
Rae Leigh: You got to trust your intuition.
iLana Armida: Yeah, exactly. Yeah.
Rae Leigh: I think that's an important it's, it's, it's an important thing to learn, to trust your gut. And I'm still learning that. And I had the same thing, like going to a studio, really overwhelmed, never been in a studio before trusting everyone else around me because they're the supposed to know what they're doing.
And then ending up with a product that it's just not what I wanted and I was paying for it and it was my art, but I didn't get what I wanted because I trusted people that. I thought knew better than me. And so, Yeah. I think that's, that's something that we all have to learn as we go.
iLana Armida: Yeah. Everybody ha has that at some point in their life. And I it's very, like, it's something I have to continuously remind myself of too. Just like being in this industry, it's very cutthroat and
Rae Leigh: Um,
iLana Armida: I want to come from a good place in a positive place. I, but you also have to be like, You have to trust your gut.
You have to, because sometimes you have to say no to people who you think you, whose opinions you value and who you think know might know more than you. You just have to, at some point, like, trust your talent, trust your gut, and like, and, and go for it. But yeah, that's definitely a tricky thing to navigate, especially when you're in emotional artists.
Rae Leigh: Yeah, well, I mean, yes was happy, sad, crazy people we need. We need the stable managers out there to help guide us.
iLana Armida: Yeah, absolutely.
Rae Leigh: I am, I'm married. My, my manager.
iLana Armida: Look at that. So now he's, now you guys just are partners in
Rae Leigh: Yeah. pretty much. It is perfect. He's a project manager and he manages and does business suffer a lot of people, but he's my like
iLana Armida: That's so
Rae Leigh: emotional guide, you know? And I know that he's just as invested in me as I am. And, it's a really good partnership.
iLana Armida: Oh, that's so awesome. That's so special to have like, and rare, I think, you know, to actually trust and love the person that you're also, you know, in business
Rae Leigh: Yeah, we met because I put on Facebook a post saying, I need someone to build me a website. And our friend,
iLana Armida: that's so romantic.
Rae Leigh: so like the first things we did together was like all business-related and we worked so well together. And then, yeah, just, you know, the sparks flew was we were working on things together.
iLana Armida: Yeah.
Rae Leigh: Okay.
iLana Armida: That's incredible.
Rae Leigh: If you could go back in time and you could talk to yourself, and give yourself one piece of advice what would, you say to yourself? Knowing what you know now?
iLana Armida: I would, so I, like I said, I always wanted to perform. So in high school I was really into performing. I was doing musical theater and I kind of like hit it from my friends. Cause it wasn't like the cool thing to do and just bullying in high school and middle school, just awful. Like kids are awful and you know, so I didn't want to be too different, but you know, and then I wanted to do music, but I had people even like, The woman who ran the music program at my high school was not nice to me or thought, you know, told me I wasn't good enough.
And I had a boyfriend at the time saying I wasn't good enough. And, and about, you know, people just being like, wait, what you like? Do you do music? You do musical theater. Like, that's not cool. So I would, it's just so silly because it took me so long from that point where I knew what I wanted to actually.
Follow my heart and be myself. I would tell you no, 16, 17 year old me that I am good enough. Like Andy, that you have to trust, you know, your path and, and who you are and just, it is okay to be different and to be yourself. I don't know why it's so hard for other people to like to understand that like, when people are different, it's not bad.
Like it's good. That's you being unique is what creates the best artists and the best creatives and whatever it is. Not even in the music industry, whatever it is. Like that's, people should be different. We should celebrate each other's differences and, and, you know, yeah,
Rae Leigh: That's.
iLana Armida: absolutely.
Rae Leigh: So encouraging. I'm so encouraged right now. I hope everyone listening is encouraged by that because that's, that's beautifully said it's exactly right. You know, it took me a really long time to know my worth as well. I think it
does. It does take you life experience and like just aging to gain that.
But we just need people to tell us as well, like we all need
someone to tell us that we're good enough and we're okay. And we can relax, you know? Cause I feel like, I feel
iLana Armida: Yeah. Like you're all right. You're where, you're where you need to be.
You're fine.
You know, chest your.
Rae Leigh: Don't stress, you know, there's so much pressure on young people today to work out who they are so quickly and yet at the same time at the very, very same time of you must be perfect. Everything that were being advertised on TV and on socials and everywhere, the sponsored ads, everything is telling us that we are not good enough because we need a product.
And like, that's how they market to us. They're like, you're not good enough without this numerous
SCARA that is better than sex, you know,
iLana Armida: Yep.
Rae Leigh: it's just
iLana Armida: And it's not forever, you know,
Rae Leigh: They're messing us
iLana Armida: what we're marketed or yeah, absolutely. And.
Yeah. There's, there's a lot of pressure. And now it's, I think there's even more, like, I feel bad for the kids now with social media, like thank goodness. There was not social media when I was in middle school because, you know, I don't, I'm not even the same person I was yesterday.
Like I've grown and like, you know who I was in middle school. Like, I, I wouldn't even recognize her. So I just, you know, Nice. People put stuff on the internet and it's there forever and they're judged on it. And it's just a
Rae Leigh: I mean, imagine being a teenager, this is what it's like right now. You're a teenager. You're exploring, you're questioning everything about yourself because hormones. Hello. And then on top of that, you're being watched and filmed 24 7, or you have to assume that you are because the reality is everyone has a phone.
Anyone could be filming you at any point 24, 7 hours a day. And you can't do anything without the fear of being shamed or being caught out or, you know, like, oh, like I
could not. And then, and then
yes. I mean, I I've definitely seen,
iLana Armida: And then girls don't go through their awkward, like, I was such a gangly, awkward, weird looking kid. There's like, none of that, you go from like being a cute baby to being like a model at 12. And I'm like, what
Rae Leigh: Here's a phone.
iLana Armida: earth? Yeah, I hear the phone. I'm like, what the hell?
it's strange times, but yeah. And that's why, again, I guess I'll use this as a transition, like circling back to why I'm making the music I'm making is to show that like, you don't have to be perfect.
Like you can be silly and you can be sexy, but then you can also be, you know, heartfelt, like you don't have to be one way. And I, and I want people to, to judge if people, if there aren't people who hate my music, there's probably not gonna be people who, who love it either because like true, art's supposed to be polarizing, right?
Like artists are like, I don't think I love every Justin Bieber song, but I can guarantee you there's a couple that I really jammed to, like at you don't have to be perfect for everybody all of the time.
Rae Leigh: you can't be.
iLana Armida: to remind us of
Rae Leigh: Yeah, you can't be, but it's, it's just about enjoying, enjoying the journey, I think as well, I'm learning to take responsibility for your decisions and being okay with that as well, gives you a sense of confidence. Like it's okay to make a choice and make a mistake and say, oops, I made a mistake. Like it's a very humbling thing to do, but we all have to do it. And the less,
iLana Armida: And it's so refreshing when other people do that publicly, when they're like, yeah, I stabbed this thing or I, you know, did this thing. And like, that's not who I am. I've learned from it. And I've made a mistake and, you know, moving forward, I know better I'll so I'll do better. And
Rae Leigh: And that's, all you can
iLana Armida: nice to see that happen, but there's not a lot of it
Rae Leigh: No, I especially like, cause if you, if you admit fault, then you're responsible and you know, like, you might have to pay for that depending on what it is. Like you have a, he like, if you have a car accident, don't apologize. Even if it is your fault, because it's like admitting to fault.
iLana Armida: then
Rae Leigh: And then, you know
iLana Armida: agency will come after
Rae Leigh: exactly. It's just like, but that's, that's an even a note that even that. Is annoying and has changed what life is like and how we treat each other compared to 50 years ago, you know, so whole new worlds, we just got to adapt don't mean have more compassion and grace for ourselves and for each other. All right. This is the big question I like to end the podcast on. If you could co-write with anyone in the world, who would it be and why dead or alive?
iLana Armida: Oh, my goodness. Oh, so like the voice voices, I should say that made me fall in love with music. This is, I'm going to try to say one person, but I'm probably gonna end up saying like three, um, Aretha Franklin was like my, like, I, she was the reason I wanted to sing and like why I fell in love with music.
And that's just like some, you know, other worldly talent that she possessed and being able to like move people just with her voice. So I think just like, I, I would be so terrified. Like if, if you know, Obviously you said dead or alive, but if, you know, I was in her presence like to collaborate, but I she's like, you know, my number one.
But recently I was, this came into my head and I'm like, oh my God, I would love to collaborate with Missy Elliott. Like I am obsessed with her. I think everything she's ever put out has felt so good. And it's been purely for like people to dance and like. Let go. And she's so unique and weird, and she embraces like all different kinds of people.
And she like changed the game for like what it meant to be beautiful and be like a woman in the industry, be a black woman in the industry. And she's just like so dope. I would love, yeah. I would love to work with her.
Rae Leigh: Yeah. Cool.
iLana Armida: But also I know that I just said like two people, but we want more, I just want more, Bruno Mars, like he, especially with this new sound I'm going. for, it's very like funk and like R and B inspired and, you know, there's some disco and like stuff like that. I, I, he's just so talented, both on stage and in the studio. And I would love to just pick his brain and, and collaborate with him.
Rae Leigh: Yeah. I love Bruno MAs. I think he's got a really cool sound and just like fun. Like when you watch him, he just feels
iLana Armida: she's so much
Rae Leigh: and it's contagious. Isn't it? It's
iLana Armida: Yeah. And that's kind of like yeah, a big part of why I do this is like the entertainment factor of like really getting people to smile and dance and like, feel good when they're at your show. And I think he's figured that out perfectly. And, he's also just, he plays every instrument and he just, his melodies are crazy.
I would love to just get some of that energy, know?
Rae Leigh: Absolutely. Cool. Well, they're sort of all my official questions. Do you have anything else that you want to, I mean, we're going to put all of your socials and links to your music on the description of the podcast, and there'll also be a blog on somewhere to tourists.com with all of your details and the transcript from the podcast. But is there anything else you would like to say before we finish up?
iLana Armida: Sure. October 8th, I have a song coming out. It's got hung up. Just continuing this. I don't know when this podcast will air, but, yeah, just continuing the single release party of this year. I think this will be the last one I put out this year and then I have more for next year, but yeah,
Rae Leigh: Well, October 8th is an amazing day. I'll be partying because my husband's having a birthday party, but,
iLana Armida: Oh, fun. Happy birthday.
Rae Leigh: Yes, happy birthday hubby. That sounds really exciting. And I'm looking forward to just following your journey and, hopefully if you're ever in Australia or if I get to come to LA, I'll make sure I say hello and have coffee with you before we before I sign any of those dodgy contracts.
iLana Armida: do it.
Rae Leigh: But, yeah. Thank you so much for spending the time chatting with me and yeah, I look forward to just staying in touch and seeing all the amazing things that come from you. And I, I really do wish you all the. And I hope one day, you won't be able to go to the shops, you know, because you're so successful in making people happy that they can't help it recognize you at your grocery
iLana Armida: I hope so. Thank you so much. I appreciate
