Exposed Vocals Interviews Iyla

Iyla is self-taught musician, started out playing drums on a video game called ‘Drummania’ at a local Arcade, then to playing a full kit for about 10 years, playing alone for fun and as well as live music in various bands of different genres. Such as ThrashMetal, Indie-Blues Rock, Country, and Hard-rock. He played in multiple venues around Saskatchewan, Canada over the years. From there, decided to learn guitar, writing music for himself.

Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?

 

iyla: I grew up in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. as a child I would watch Much Music on T.V. watching various artist featured on there, once in a while I’d see people on there playing Live in concert, I’ve always thought it was cool to see al the performers playing music in front of a huge crowd. Years after, I moved to a town called Raymore in Saskatchewan, and one summer they had a band there for a festival I don’t remember what they were called , but it was loud, you can feel the kick drum in your chest. I thought it would be cool to one day do that for a living. I moved back to Saskatoon for school and began playing a video game at an arcade called Drum-mania, it trained me in drums and I got pretty good at it. A year or so later, I was invited into a thrash metal band, without playing a real instrument prior to being in a band, I began playing Live shows. A couple years ago I picked up an acoustic guitar and started writing my own music from there.

 

Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?

 

iyla: My family is originally from up north, a place called Ile-a-lacrosse, I’d go up there a couple times a year growing up, I love it up there, so I figured calling myself iyla.

Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?

 

iyla: I have given music out for free in the past, and I probably will still, until I formally release a song or album in the future. But as of online sharing and giving away music for free online, I feel its alright for now, if it means that your song is on someone’s iPod or any other listening device, i think its cool, someone liked it enough to download it.

Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?

iyla: I’m just starting out as iyla, but I’ve been in bands in the past. Go to local bars, pay attention to ones playing live music and see which ones have open mic. It’s a start.

mingle with other bands, people, promoters, remember that as a band or solo artist, you are an entrepreneur.

 

Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?

 

iyla: I usually start with guitar, I pick up my guitar until something fits and write other instruments on top. lyrically i hum along and write lyrics. I use personal experience and family as a big inspiration.

 

Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?

 

iyla: I’m currently just starting on sites, but I’m using Facebook, Soundcloud, twitter, and Youtube to share my music.

‘IYLA_music’ is a good thing to search for on those platforms.

Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?

 

iyla: I’d start by buying new instruments, write more material then build a band to back me up. I’d also record professionally and spend extra cash on promotion on the internet.

Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?

 iyla: As of right now I’m just starting on the little things to get the ball rolling, Twitter, Facebook, Soundcloud. Basically trial and error right now.

Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?

 

iyla: I’m working on music, most new, some i’ve written a while back and I’m trying to get them on Soundcloud and YouTube.

Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?

 

iyla: If I completely took music out go my life a long time ago, I’d see myself doing graphic arts, as I’ve always had an interest in it.

Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?

 

iyla: I find ways to keep music in my life, I work around it, when I have down time, I pick up a guitar, if I’m awake when people are sleeping I throw on headphones and work in a program to write.

Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?

 

iyla: I’m working on music daily, so I’d say expect me to release regularly on social media (Soundcloud and Youtube)!