ISINA Applicant Spotlight: Rilan
Here at ISINA, we love to highlight the talented applicants that submit their songs to the site. Today, we’re showcasing Rilan, the 25-year old pop singer from New Orleans, Louisiana.
This independent and talented artist worked with Grammy-nominated producer/engineer began working with Damien Lewis (worked with Rihanna, Katy Perry, Beyoncé) in 2015 and the two created the twisted love song “Chemical.” This song would become Rilan’s debut single and would go on to receive 2.25m views on YouTube.
The young and charismatic artist says that he is a former theater kid who describes himself as a “freak” and a “weirdo.” Even though he is warm and charismatic, the artist says he has a limited social circle.
“I don’t connect with people easily,” he says, “I like to sit back and observe, and report on how I’m feeling through my music.”
Rilan says that his songs are a lesson in openness and not judging anyone by their appearances.
“It drives me crazy,” he says, “It’s probably why I got bullied in high school. I would get in fights with people who made fun of kids for wearing what they wanted. I don’t want to be normal. Normal is boring and pointless. I find beauty in mystery and obscurity.”
This divergent artist says that he gravitated towards gender-bending artists like Boy George, Prince, Freddie Mercury, Adam Ant, and David Bowie. Rilan also added that he fell in love with rule-breaking and powerful female artists like Madonna and Lady Gaga who inspired him as a child.
“There isn’t this kind of androgynous male artist who's doing something weird and strange but still making tangible pop music,” he says. “I want to do that. And I want it to be very visual. I’m not just going to sit on a stool and strum a guitar. I want to make pop music that is freakshow-esque but done in a tasteful way.”
The singer has one word for how he hopes his music makes people feel.
“Understood,” he says, “I want to be a voice for people who feel like there’s no one to talk to. I want them to feel lifted up by my music. I want them to know that it’s okay to be weird. I'm gonna wear crazy things and I want everyone to feel comfortable wearing crazy things and expressing themselves in any way that they can.”
We look forward to the great things to come for Rilan and will be here to witness the journey! Visit his profile here to hear his music.
