INTERVIEW: ILIA

Fresh off the release of his powerful new single Gasoline, ILIA sat down with FLEX to talk about the roots of his musical journey, the influences that shaped his sound, and the intuition that drives his songwriting. From a childhood immersed in everything from metal to classical piano, music has always been a constant force in his life. In this candid conversation, he opens up about creativity, authenticity, and the deep emotional connection he hopes listeners find in his work.

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Thank you for sitting down and talking to FLEX, can you tell us a bit about how you got into music? 

One of my earliest memories was seeing someone play guitar. In addition to that, both my parents were musicians. They both met at a musical conservatory in Bulgaria. My dad was constantly blasting everything ranging from Metallica/Pantera to Pink Floyd/Queen/Scorpions to Bach/Vivaldi when I was growing up. Mom would be playing Chopin on the piano.

Who would you say are your biggest musical influences? 

Too many to name, and I'm terrible at answering this question. To name a few, Queen, Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Placebo, Deftones,and  Sunny Day Real Estate. Jimmy Eat World, INXS, Radiohead, Randy Rhoads era Ozzy, Jason Becker, Nine Inch Nails, Converge.

Congratulations on your brand-new single ‘Gasoline’. What inspired this particular release?

Thank you, well, Halsey did. It's a Halsey cover. It's a song I always admired and knew I wanted to cover at some point.

How do you channel personal experiences into your songwriting, and what do you hope listeners gain from connecting with your music? 

There's no finite or concrete way I subscribe to when writing songs. I take a more intuitive approach. I allow whatever it is to flow through me initially, and then I refine. As for the listeners, my hope is that it inspires, moves, or catalyses something within them. Whatever that may be, as long as it's something.

Each aspect of music, writing, recording, practicing, and playing live, offers something different. Can you share a particularly meaningful moment from each? 

Writing is the most magical because you're literally experiencing creation. It never gets old. It's incredibly rewarding when it feels right. Recording amplifies that experience by incorporating all the dynamics and sonic layers. Rehearsals are paramount for locking everything in for live performances and the live shows are an unrivalled symbiotic experience. Getting to share energy with a crowd is everything. It makes it all worthwhile.

Is there a song in your repertoire that holds a particularly deep personal meaning for you? Can you share the story or inspiration behind it? 

The Great Deep. That's one of the more personal songs I've written in recent years. The song is about feeling bound to something for reasons beyond your capable and tangible evaluation, and, or understanding. Something you can, in theory, easily unshackle yourself from, but for whatever reason, remain tethered to its grip.

What are your goals for the future with your music? 

To continue to evolve, grow, expand, remain prolific and inspired.

What message or feeling do you hope listeners take away from your music?

Anything but indifference or apathy.

To wrap things up, is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

There's no such thing as loss when you choose authenticity. Live your truth, speak your truth, and lead by example.

Watch the official music video here: