Following on from his much-loved 'Chief EP' last year, Detroit's Ilajide is back to his best once again with the infectious new single 'SLIDE'.
Set to feature on his forthcoming new album 'Pocket Jams 2', which is due out on the 20th April, 'SLIDE' makes for an incredibly fun and lively listen. Blending a heady mix of hip-hop, soul, and funk influences at every turn, he returns to the fold with one of his more enjoyable efforts to date here.
So with the new single available now, we sat down with him to find out more about his origins and what has been inspiring him most lately.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
The first instrument I fell in love with were the drums. It’s something about that beat and what James brown says “The One” that just really makes the rest of the groove hit that much harder.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
The same music I'm into now, Funk and Hip Hop. I have fond memories of The Isley Brothers, Funkadelic, Tupac, Tribe, etc
What was the first album you remember owning?
The first album I remember owning was a MaKivelli by Tupac. I think it was given to me at like age 7. It was a tape cassette, and I was dubbing over it by the next year.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
There’s so many songs that I could think of but my number 1 pick would be Electric Relaxation- A Tribe Called Quest. Or Mary Jane by Rick James.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
Freestyling is the biggest element to my ritual of writing a song. If I love the beat and it gives me something to say, that's when I know I’m about to make fire.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
ME. I am my favorite artist. It may sound ridiculous or delusional but not many artists' music is good enough for them to bang it all day, and I take pride in being able to do that.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Kendrick Lamar or Tyler the Creator.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
The most rewarding part is being able to give myself something new to listen to everyday, or whenever I want to hear something new.
And what is the most frustrating part?
The most frustrating part about the process and not being compensated for my hard work. But still I rise. Stay Woke! It’s gonna pay off fasho.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
The best advice I got during this journey as a musician is to “Record my own music.” learning to be my own engineer has been the key to a high output and really developing yourself as a recording artist. Then you have unlimited studio time.
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Ilajide's new single 'SLIDE' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.