Despite going quiet for the last three years since the release of her highly-praised single 'Money', Essex-based singer and songwriter Imoni recently returned in stellar form with her long-awaited comeback 'Energy'.
With its bold and sweeping RnB tones reminiscent of Nao and IBEYI, 'Energy' makes for a wonderfully broad and atmospheric new offering. Filled with pulsing basslines, brooding sensibilities, and her own ethereal vocals, her return has certainly been worth the wait.
So with her new single now out and about, we sat down with her to find out more about her origins and what has inspired her most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
Acoustic guitar. I started learning to play when I was 9.
What has been the most prominent inspiration behind your music so far?
This year has been a huge inspiration for me. I think it’s because being in lockdown I’ve had so much time to myself, it’s made me realise what I really care about and what my purpose is. Now I’ve had a feel of what it’s like to be able to do music every day, it’s made me more driven towards a life where that’s possible.
What kind of music did you love as a teenager?
From playing the guitar I got into more indie bands in my early teens. Arctic Monkeys were my favourite! Then I got into house music more when I started going to events and Ibiza. I definitely had an appreciation for all different genres of music growing up!
Can you remember the first song that made you want to pursue a life in music?
Jamelia - Superstar. I used to sing this so much on Singstar when I was about 9 and I think it’s what taught me how to sing. I always wanted to be like the 2000s RnB singers which is what made me get into singing, dancing and performing from an early age.
When you wake up in the morning, what kind of music do you like to listen to?
I actually rarely listen to music in the mornings, just because I think it’s the best time to listen to my thoughts and reflect on my dreams. A lot of my inspiration for songs comes to me in the mornings, even more so when I had a lot of time to tune into this during lockdown.
How many of your songs have you written about people in your life?
I think all my songs are about people in my life, past and present. I can draw off emotions from past relationships, things I’ve been through or my friends have been through, but I write about it in ways that aren't obvious. I don’t think the people that my songs are about would even know!
What has been the most memorable moment in your career so far?
I think releasing my new single, spending the day/night out with all my friends, then waking up in the morning to over 1000 streams! It might seem small to some people but to go from not showing my music to anyone for so long, to it being heard 1000 times was such a mad feeling!
Outside of music, what is your biggest passion?
Food. Not even the cooking part really, I just love eating haha!
If you weren’t a musician, what other path do you think you might have taken?
Acting, as that’s something I was always into. I wanna do some acting in my music videos, I’m always thinking of ideas for things like that.
And what advice would you give to other musicians looking to start a career in music?
Don’t compare yourself to others because everyone is on a different journey. Take time to understand the reasons why you’re doing music and what drives you towards it and channel that into everything. Having a better understanding of yourself is really important before you try and express it.
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Imoni's new single 'Energy' is available to stream and download now. Have a listen to it in the player below.