IMANI on Finding Peace in Music & Betting On Herself
She comes from Planet X to bring a different sound that will change the game, and her name is IMANI. The genre bending artist blends experimental R&B, Lo-Fi, Jazz, and Electronic with a sad edge that has gained her quite a following.
IMANI also possesses a love for Southern Hip Hop, which has been a great influence in her various releases, and her pen game makes her a standout on the music scene. When it comes to content creation, she is not the average artist, and it shows through her music videos and short films. If you aren't familiar with IMANI, this interview will make you a fan.
We chopped it up with IMANI recently to talk about using music as a refuge, finding inspiration in personal experiences to make unique creations, standing out with the topics in her music, being a fan of Southern Hip Hop and P-Funk, betting on yourself, and a lot more. Tap in!
Thanks for coming thru! You’re fresh off the release of your short film, “Maybe”, which plays like a piece of art. What was the inspiration behind it?
"Maybe" was based on my personal experience. I lost both my grandmothers and aunt in a 9 month time period the song and video were inspired by those events.
Actually, all of your visuals are on point. Describe the creative process of taking your ideas to the screen.
When I’m making music I start to see a movie in my head for the song. (That’s how I know which song to make a music video for). From there I create a mood board with the kind of shots, coloring, and moods I’d like to incorporate. I’ll also study movies I like, and while watching ask myself what I like about this movie and incorporate those ideas into my mood board. Next is finding a team that can help me execute that vision.
The single touches on deep topics, mainly God and religion. Can you break down the meaning of “Maybe”, and let us know where you were at in your life when you made it.
I was not in a good place when I wrote this song. I was crying by the end of it. My high school best friend told me she had lupus the night I wrote the song and it scared me especially coming off the loss of my grandmothers and aunt. I didn’t want to lose anyone else. I felt like I was cursed because bad things kept happening. I sat down and started playing those chords on piano and begin to freestyle and the majority of the lyrics came to me during the freestyle and I filled in the blanks afterwards.
What has it been like putting together a team of creatives to help you realize your vision?
I’m always looking for talent well before I actually need them which usually makes my job easier when it’s time to build a team. I found Min Soo Park my co - director for “Maybe” a year prior to me actually reaching out to him. I found his work on IG first and I was absolutely blown away by his ability to capture the beauty of his subject without taking away from the rawness and essence of the moment. The same goes for the musicians that played on “Maybe” I met them at a jam session months before recording the song.
Take us back to the time when you knew you wanted to be an artist?
I saw my aunt singing live on stage and it was like those moments in the movies where the light shines down from heaven and the angels are singing (lol), and that’s when I knew. I think I was about 5 or 6 years old. I also use to watch my cousin, David “D-mun” Munford rehearse and record in my grandmother's dining room and I thought it was so cool. Years later he’s playing organ on my single “Maybe”
At what point did you go all in, placing all bets on yourself?
When me and my ex-fiancé broke up and I was in NYC alone. My closest family member was 7 hours away and I had to believe in self because I didn’t have a safety net it was just me. I was like I literally gotta go hard or go home and I damn sure wasn’t going home, so I went hard.
How has your deep love for Southern Hip Hop shaped the way you approach making music?
I was a rapper in another life, lol. I grew up in Louisiana but we have a very heavy Texas influence. Texas was all about booming bass and freestyling. Southern Hip Hop shapes everything I do. It shapes how I ride the beat, it shapes my mixes, I always tell my engineer I need it to have that knock. I need your trunk rattling when my song comes on even though it’s R&B/Soul. It's also the reason I know how to freestyle which is how I write all my songs. We use to make beat CDs and freestyle in the car or on the bus because we wanted to be like the freestyle kings out of Texas.
Aside from Hip Hop, what other genres are you into? And which would people close to you find the most surprising?
I adore 60s Soul music, like the Delfonics. Because of my Uncle Mike I love P-funk it’s just magical genre. It heals!
I think people close to me would be shocked I like Jazz the way I do. I love Jazz. I studied Jazz artists like Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday to develop my singing style. You can hear it in my music if you listen closely. Ex: I do a scat in my song “Rollin”
Your music often takes on a sad edge. How has music been a refuge for you over the years?
It’s been my refuge since I was kid. I use to sit in my room and cry to songs when I had no one to talk to. Now when I just don’t have the words I just sit down in front of a piano and let my subconscious speak.
Fast forward 5 years from now. What message do you have for your future self?
I use to pray about being where you are today…be grateful.
Anything else we should know?
My new single “Before You Let Go” drops 1/11/22.
