Q). How are things with you?

Things are good! I’m currently home in Sweden and I’ve really just been prioritising my peace and mental health — trying to find joy in the present. Nature plays a big role in that.

 

Q). Where did the whole “I.M the artist” journey begin?

I’ve been making music for as long as I can remember but I think the journey of really finding an identity within my own sound began whilst I was writing for my debut EP ‘Self-Made.’ That was the first project that I invested time and money into professional studio sessions for — until then my compositions really just existed within my own four walls. The name itself is actually a play on my initials and “the artist” for me just serves as this symbol of multi-potentiality and a freedom to express myself however I choose.

 

Q). Your single ‘Sleepwalking’ is available now. How has the response for that been?

It’s funny because my relationship with ‘Sleepwalking’ has changed so much over the past year. I feel like sometimes the distance between yourself and the music you’ve made (depending on how long the release process takes) can grow too wide and there’s this risk of feeling disconnected from your own work. I think I’d just lost the ability to listen to the song without overthinking it. I played it for a bestie though and she really loved it and encouraged me to share it and I’m really glad I did. It’s always such a great feeling when your art is well-received and I’m grateful that my listeners are showing it so much love.

 

Q). What’s it like being in the studio with I.M the artist?

My producer, Alex Dopierala, can probably speak to this better than I can but I’d say it’s pretty chilled. We’re both big cinema nerds so we always end up getting distracted talking about a favourite film or series. I’m pretty specific about the way I write so I mostly show up with lyrics and narratives in the bag and an idea of what I want, which we then build on. It’s always a good time when you’re vibing with the people you’re in the studio with!

 

Q). How would you describe your sound?

I mean, I would say I sit somewhere under the ‘alternative’ umbrella. If you really listen to the production you’ll hear so many different influences and they’re so project dependent. We’re often playing with old school hiphop drums and samples, and lyrically, so much of my writing is born from poetry/spoken word. My love of film is big here too because I’m always consciously creating with a visual essence in mind and a want for the listener to feel submerged into an atmosphere that's reflective of the story and emotion.

 

Q). Is there anybody who you would love to do a track with?

This list is really long but I’ve been listening to a lot of 070 Shake lately, especially her new album, so that would be a sick artist to collaborate with one day.

 

Q). Who is your biggest influence?

Damn, this list is even longer... musically, Frank Ocean and Kendrick Lamar are probably at the top. Their artistry inspires me so deep that listening to their work feels borderline spritiual. I’ve seen them both perform live at a music festival in my home city too - that was unreal.

 

Q). Why did you choose to get into the music industry?

Honestly I don’t really feel like I’m “in the industry” or that it was something that I chose. I’ve always just been fuelled by my passion and nothing else fulfils me like this does... so here I am, making music and hoping people connect to it. My dreams are big but I’ve also been watching long enough to know that I don’t ever wanna lose myself in the process.

 

Q). What would you say is your biggest achievement in music so far?

Shooting the ‘Tokyo’ music video was a special moment for me, as it was my first self- directed project. Being an independent artist takes a lot of self-investment and working on a small budget, so you often find yourself juggling multiple roles in hopes of cutting the costs but for me, that’s part of the fun. I love filmmaking so to be able to fully bring my vision to life from both ends of the camera was really rewarding.

 

Q). What can we expect from you for the rest of the year?

I’ve spent a lot of this year working on a new project - it’s probably my favourite work to date, so I’m excited to share it when the time is right. I’m trying not to feel pressured into releasing just for the sake of releasing though. I know so much of the game is about relevance and popularity but I truly belive that you gotta take care of your soul first and foremost. My focus right now is on performing too, so hopefully there’ll be some upcoming shows and audiences can hear my music live soon!

 

Q). Do you have any social media for new fans to follow you?

I swear I’m on every platform at this point, so hit me up!
Instagram: @i.mtheartist
Twitter: @imtheartistt
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/i.mtheartistofficial Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/IMtheartist/
And you can listen to my latest single ‘Sleepwalking’ here: https://ampl.ink/XAq8Q