ASSOCIATE EDITOROfficially launching her music career in the US, fresh faced international beauty and emerging artist Ivy Layne will be making a splash in the industry with her debut single “One You Love” and shortly after with the release of her EP titled “In Time”.
Interview C. Nieves | Photo Geoff Barrenger
You recently dropped your debut EP “In Time.” Is there a story behind the title? What was It like working on the EP?
Time is precious and forever and I feel the same about my first EP. It’s the first time the world has seen me as an artist, and people will always come back to the EP to see how I evolved. It’s the start of everything. It’s very valuable and I will never forget about it. Working on the album was great. I sat down with the production and writing teams to let them know how I feel and what has inspired me. It took 2 weeks of non-stop working on the EP and when we finished, we had come up with this European funk reggae fusion sound with a catchy melody. I am so proud of what we’ve created and the feedback has been great.
What song on your EP means the most to you and why?
All the songs mean a lot to me. At the end of the day, if a mother gives birth to quintuplets, it’s impossible to choose which child means the most. All the songs mean a lot to me! This is my first EP ever and I will cherish and be grateful for this moment for the rest of my life.
For our readers who have never heard your music, describe your sound in 5 words.
Infectious, fusion, fun, energetic, rhythmic.
Who are some of your musical inspirations and how have they influenced your music?
Prince, Michael Jackson and Gwen Stefani. It’s hard to find a musician born in the ’90s that wasn’t influenced by Michael Jackson; he’s the “King of Pop” for a reason. I own all of his albums. The way I feel listening to his music and watching him perform is surreal. Just thinking about him gave me goosebumps. If you had to write an “Artist for Dummies” book, all you need to do is take a look at the way Prince and Michael Jackson lived. I love the curiosity and fashion sense that Prince always portrayed. I’ve always loved how Gwen Stefani started her career with No Doubt and was able to transition and build this huge solo career in a completely different genre. I also love how she was able to make music with hip-hop and reggae artists which made a lane for herself when she started.
If you could collaborate with any artist past or present who would it be an why?
It has to be Prince. Prince is the ultimate artist. Once you see him or listen to his music, he embodies what an artist is supposed to be. He doesn’t care about your opinion, he follows his heart and creativity. He plays so many different instruments and the guy is an icon in the fashion and music industry. If I could have spent one minute around Prince to observe and learn about him, it would have been the best gift ever.
Any upcoming projects we should be on the lookout for?
I just shot the music video for “One You Love Part 2” feat. Popcaan in Jamaica. I had such an amazing time and the video truly captures how beautiful the people in Jamaica are. The country is so beautiful and you can feel all the energy that flows around you. I’ve always loved how the dancehall music videos looked in the late 90s and early 00s, so we tried to recreate the fun and intoxicating ambiance that they used to have back then. To top it off, the song features Popcaan who is the hottest reggae artist out right now. As an artist, I couldn’t ask for more.