Photograph by Tom Wilkinson @tomwilkinson__
Deep in ILUKA’s music, you can hear the sound of a wild heart given the space to roam free. A new friend to the Cools Collective, ILUKA embodies a lot of characteristics we admire. Her music, built from the foundational elements of classic rock and beloved, worn-in soul, tells tales of hope and love, struggle and sacrifice, with a modern lens; comforting and galvanising in equal measure, it is the kind of music that comes only as a result of a life lived, of a mind challenged and expanded by the farthest reaches of the world.
ILUKA’s music touches on emotive poetics and features mind-expanding qualities of psychedelic rock. It is pop music with a soul and a purpose, in her music there is truth, power, and, at its centre, that wild heart.
We digitally sat down with ILUKA to get to know her a little better and learn what she's currently working on. Keep scrolling for the mini interview and listen here to her curated playlist. Watch this space for more ILUKA x Cools features!
Photograph by Daniel Knott @dan_knott
What's your star sign?
So… I’m a ‘cuspy’ meaning I’m officially a Virgo but on the cusp of Leo and I have a LOT of Leo elsewhere in my chart if you couldn’t already tell hehe
Photograph by Tom Wilkinson @tomwilkinson__
Who is your favourite artist?
Yayoi Kusama.
YAYOI KUSAMA, HORSE PLAY, WOODSTOCK, 1967. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF KUSAMA ENTERPRISE
What is your secret talent?
I can play the ukulele while hula hooping.
We may need video proof of this!?
Photograph by Tom Wilkinson @tomwilkinson__
What's your favourite film of all time?
Paris, Texas & Holy Mountain (sorry I couldn’t pick one!)
Photograph courtesy of @ilukamusic
What are you currently working on?
My first album.
Peep ILUKA's latest track below, the uplifting pop anthem “Get Free”. The single comes off the back of ILUKA’s biggest hit to date, the single ‘Mess’ which features duo Lime Cordiale and has accumulated over half a million streams to date!
Can you recommend one of your favourite books?
The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
Photograph courtesy of @ilukamusic
Who is your style icon?
Prince
Photograph by Daniel Knott @dan_knott
What's your fave Cools Club style?
Knitted jumpers all the way!
Photograph by Tom Wilkinson @tomwilkinson__
Listen live to ILUKA's Cools Radio Playlist here.
Stream ILUKA's “Get Free” here.
Stream ILUKA's Complete Collection here.
