NYC-based alternative pop/R&B artist ilham has announced her long-awaited independent EP, uhm…ok? releasing on September 19. The 10-track collection marks a new era for the Moroccan artist, reminding listeners the importance of protecting your peace, letting things slide without letting them shake you, and realizing your strength isn’t about how much you endure, but in how easily you let go.
uhm…ok? is a mindset turned project – a reflection of what happens when you’ve had enough. It’s for those who are done overthinking, done justifying their pain, and done trying to decode the nonsense.
Raised in New York City’s infamous Queensbridge Housing Projects – home to legendary artists like Nas and Mobb Deep – ilham overcame the turbulent conditions that defined much of her youth. Despite these challenges, the daughter of Moroccan immigrants saw far beyond the crumbling neighborhood around her. Her formative years were spent studying icons like Aaliyah, Ashanti, and Michael Jackson on YouTube, learning music theory at the esteemed LaGuardia High School of Music & Art, and graduating early from the prestigious Ivy League institution Cornell University. These experiences laid the foundation for ilham’s evolution as an emerging singer and songwriter.
“It’s called ‘uhm…ok?‘ because it’s a mindset and basically killing off the idea/trying to make sense of things that just don’t make sense. That’s the ‘uhm…ok?‘ mentality. It’s a movement; a collective of people who have just been through some shit. Instead of being pressed or hard on yourself, control what you can, and let go of the things you thought you couldn’t.”
– ilham
Alongside the announcement, ilham also shares her new single and visual “for me” featuring Fridayy, where the duo seamlessly blends pop, R&B, and house elements as they speak on going to the ends of the earth for the one you love while expecting the same from them in return.
“‘for me’ is about turning the tables in love. I’m usually the one giving, catering, and pouring into the people around me, but this time, I wanted to ask the question: What are you willing to do for me? How far would you go? Would you even kill for me? Because when it comes to love, I know I would. Having Fridayy on the track made the record and was the perfect finishing touch. He wrote his verse as a direct response to mine, so yo uget both the male and female perspectives in conversation. He’s not only one of the main producers on my project, but also one of my best friends, which made the back-and-forth in the studio effortless and mad fun.”
-ilham
Last summer, ilham emerged from her 2-year release hiatus to announce that she was finally an independent artist, and shared VHS footage of her and friends singing and celebrating in the studio to a snippet now known as “uhm…ok?.” After teasing her first independent single, the viral sexy drill track premiered on Zane Lowe’s Apple Music 1 Show, and her On The Radar Live Performance slowly took over the internet. ilham followed up with a confidence booster, “games,” offering hazy piano riffs over a trap beat that was praised by The New York Times.
For more information on ilham, click here.
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