We’re excited to be speaking today with acclaimed pop artist Ilona; greetings and salutations, Ilona! Before we meander down the proverbial Q&A musical pathway, how goes your 2023 thus far?

I’m SO excited to be speaking with you too, Vents Magazine! 2023 has been off to a great start! I was in the studio in the early part of this year and have been dancing a lot recently and thinking about video content for my new music. But my very first release is coming soon, and I can’t wait to share it! It is such an exciting process. This song was also one of the first hooks I wrote when I moved to LA last year, so it is very reminiscent of my early days here! 

Congratulations on the release of your new single “Catch My Vibe!” How did this remarkable gem come about? Is there a VH1-Behind the Music story you could share with us on the song’s creation?

Thank you!! When I moved to LA, in the beginning of 2022, I spent a lot of time exploring the city and coming back to my Airbnb to write. My mind was set on a new chapter in my life, and one day I was touring the Griffith Observatory, and as I was overlooking the city at night, I just felt like there is so much possibility and opportunity. I was also in a dreamy headspace and thinking about making a romantic connection as well. But I heard a cool chord progression one night, just watching a movie and I wrote the entire hook for ‘Catch My Vibe.’ But it was inspired by being in a new place, having a ton of excitement, and feeling like there is a chance for new beginnings and romance!  My VH1 Behind The Music would probably be me sitting at the keyboard for hours on end, trying out different melodies, and different chord progressions, haha. Nothing too exciting! The writing process looks boring from the outside but is so fulfilling once you find that earworm! 

Who was your producer on “Catch My Vibe” and what did the collaboration between artist and producer look like in the studio?

In your humble opinion, what differentiates “Catch My Vibe” from the distinguished competition on the 2023 music scene?

“Catch My Vibe” is so fun and sexy! It immediately gives me good vibes, and positive energy. It is danceable, and relatable. Post pandemic, we are all craving more human connection, and wanting to interact again! I think for me personally, I also love a song that feels uplifting, and I could repeat it over and over again!

Can you introduce our ever-inquisitive readers to some of the other musicians that lent their musical alchemy into making “Catch My Vibe” into a reality?

It was just the three of us, me, Moritz, and Joey. I wrote the lyrics, melody, and chord progression, and then in the studio it evolved musically with the harmonies, vocal stacks, the beat, the bass line that Moritz wrote. Moritz is a great producer, so I felt really comfortable in the booth recording vocals. And then when Joey came in, we had given him the vibe and template, and he added his acoustic guitar spin on it with a Latin flare!  I remember when Joey came out of the booth, after recording his guitar part, he said, “I’m going to have this stuck in my head for the rest of the week.” Haha that’s my favorite, I love writing earworms.

Your roots extend back to the beautiful state of Minnesota. How do those origins inform you and the sound of your music?

Minnesota has such an appreciation for art. We spend a lot of the winter indoors because it is so cold! I was very fortunate to have a dance studio that my mom built in our basement. It was such an incredible space where I could dance, write music, light candles. It became a stage where I would visualize and create a lot. I also consumed a lot of music in my basement and spent a lot of time listening! But in LA, it is such a creative hub here. There’s also such a collaborative spirit! You can find other artists to co-write with, and even going out, you can meet a producer, a screenwriter, a videographer so easily. That kind of access is something I never had in my home state. 

On the heels of the release of “Catch My Vibe,” can fans look forward to either an EP or LP release from you before the end of 2023?

Yes! I hope so! There will for sure be more back to back singles!

Who inspires you musically?

I love artists that have very strong beats that you can repeat over and over again, like Rihanna, Beyonce, Rosalia, and Shakira, especially because I am a dancer too. So, their sounds always resonated with me because I can process their music through my body.

But I also love story tellers, like Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, Lewis Capaldi, especially when I’m writing. Having a sharp pen is so important to me, it makes your music that much more relatable.

With the release of “Catch My Vibe,” will you be very much front-and-center on the touring/performing circuit in the coming weeks and months?

YES. I can’t wait to start performing again. It is something I am very much looking forward to! Connecting with an audience is one of the single greatest feelings in the world.

When working on a new song, what does your creative process tend to look like? Is there a particular methodology, or does it vary from time and place?

Sometimes it starts with the emotion, and I don’t have the lyrics yet, but I try to convey the message through the melody. And it often feels like it comes from somewhere else, and I’m the vessel capturing it. And then at other times, it will start with a chord progression! I LOVE writing melodies over chords. I also always have access to my voice memos because I record everything, you never know when a simple idea can become great. I try to record it right away, even if I never use it. But I sometimes come back to it, and am like ‘wow, there is something there!’

At the end of the day, what do you hope listeners walk away with after giving “Catch My Vibe” copious spins on their hi-fi systems?

Copious Spins!! I love that! I hope my listeners walk away with the feeling of new beginnings and possibilities! I hope they feel positive vibes and want to come back to it over and over again. And I truly just hope they enjoy the record, and dance with me!!

LISTEN: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/ilona7/catch-my-vibe