What’s your stage name and where are you from?
My stage name is Mr. Ilango.
What’s the story behind your stage name?
When I was a little kid, my parents would buy me and my older brother comics on road trips. One of them was a series called Shogun Warriors. It had giant robots fighting monsters. The black pilot went by the name Ilango Savage; the name just stuck out. I’ve been rocking with that moniker for years now.
Describe your musical journey in three sentences.
I’ve always been into records and movies. I started making beats off and on since high school and got more serious about 10 years ago. Around the same time, I began working in digital marketing and freelancing for other artists. I started releasing music digitally in the last four years, and my daughter’s interest in drum machines has been a huge inspiration.
Share an interesting experience you had while creating your latest track.
My latest song is Watch What You Say. When I make beat tapes and collab projects, I usually attach them to a theme. For this particular song, the sample and chops were aggressive, reminding me of American muscle cars and street racing. I continued with that theme, making more beats inspired by car movies, and eventually dropped my first physical album, All Systems Go.
What message do you want to convey through your music?
Never give up on your dreams. It’s okay to push the boundaries, and life doesn’t start until you leave your comfort zone.
Tell us about a challenge you faced during production and how you overcame it.
Exposure. There’s a lot of music being put out every day, and I work in a very niche genre. I would love to get more ears and eyes on my work.
If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be and why?
Heavy D (RIP) or Special Ed. Both never shied away from repping Jamaica.
Where do you see your music taking you in the next year?
More shows and beat sets, more collaborative projects, music syncing, and growing my brand. I’d also love to create a short film.
What’s the next big step for you as an artist?
Increasing my reach on web, social, and streaming platforms, and landing one big placement.
Where can we hear/watch your most recent work?
www.ilango.ca
What is the best way to contact you if fans want to give feedback or if other artists/producers want to collaborate?
www.instagram.com/ilango or www.ilango.ca
