EARMILK EARMILK
  • NEW MUSIC
    • DANCE
    • ELECTRONIC
    • EXPERIMENTAL
    • HIP-HOP
    • INDIE
    • POP
    • ROCK
  • INDUSTRY NEWS
    • DOCUMENTARIES
    • EVENTS
    • FASHION
    • LIFESTYLE
    • MUSIC GEAR
    • MUSIC INDUSTRY
    • TECHNOLOGY
  • OPINION
  • ALBUM REVIEWS
  • GEAR REVIEWS
  • INTERVIEWS
  • FEATURES
    • FESTIVALS
    • EXCLUSIVES
    • LISTS
    • CONTESTS
    • Photo Journals
  • SERIES
    • Artist to Watch
    • Under The Crust
    • Flashback Friday
    • Suicide Sundaes
    • Daily 2%
    • The Club
    • Weekend Selector
    • Mashup Mondays
    • Artist Remixed
    • Wobble Wednesday
    • Night Rumours
    • Indie Sabbath
    • Straight No Chase
    • Straight From the Teet
  • Jobs
  • About EARMILK
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Submit Music
EARMILK EARMILK
EARMILK EARMILK
  • NEW MUSIC
    • DANCE
    • ELECTRONIC
    • EXPERIMENTAL
    • HIP-HOP
    • INDIE
    • POP
    • ROCK
  • INDUSTRY NEWS
    • DOCUMENTARIES
    • EVENTS
    • FASHION
    • LIFESTYLE
    • MUSIC GEAR
    • MUSIC INDUSTRY
    • TECHNOLOGY
  • OPINION
  • ALBUM REVIEWS
  • GEAR REVIEWS
  • INTERVIEWS
  • FEATURES
    • FESTIVALS
    • EXCLUSIVES
    • LISTS
    • CONTESTS
    • Photo Journals
  • SERIES
    • Artist to Watch
    • Under The Crust
    • Flashback Friday
    • Suicide Sundaes
    • Daily 2%
    • The Club
    • Weekend Selector
    • Mashup Mondays
    • Artist Remixed
    • Wobble Wednesday
    • Night Rumours
    • Indie Sabbath
    • Straight No Chase
    • Straight From the Teet
  • Electronic
  • Indie Pop

ilo ilo is your anonymous confessional on 'wish i said this to u sooner'

  • June 19, 2019
  • Katey Ceccarelli
Total
0
Shares
0
0

The enigmatic project known as ilo ilo has been in my orbit for some time now, and I finally took the plunge on the Los Angeles artist's debut, wish i said this to u sooner. Arriving via Big Beat, the slim five-track EP is a potent indie pop mood, crafted from a narrative of tracks stylized in ilo ilo's signature lower case. There's a certain Tumblr-esque youthful appeal to the brand, from the confessional style lyrics to the anonymous figure gracing the album artwork, and even the meaning of "ilo ilo" – Chinese slang for “parents aren’t home." 

"u don't" shows ilo ilo's penchant for punchy synths, while introducing frank, intimate lyrics seemingly pulled from our anonymous hero's diary – "u don't have to make me want u." There's a richly visual element present when our vocalist croons, "flowers on the side of the road, feelin something i don't know." I think there's a sense of beautiful irony in an artist keeping their identity hidden while releasing such seemingly personal, descriptive music. It adds to the vibe that ilo ilo exudes of being your internet best friend, offering true empathy while hiding just on the other side of the screen. "come thru" is a nod to ilo ilo's cheeky adolescent energy, its coy lyrics cut with an arresting low end. "current" brings steady tidal waves of energy, propelling the listener into mother nature's wrath – "it's powerful, the push and pull. i'm caught in your current." with a slightly jovial energy, "transparent" cuts a gentle groove and the closing track "what u need" rounds out the moment with a hit of genuine tenderness.

Prior to this, my exposure to ilo ilo has been due in large part to the project's successful street marketing campaigns, which in the past have involved a city-wide scavenger hunt in New York City and most recently saw eight foot tall statues of the ilo ilo symbol mysteriously installed at high traffic areas around Los Angeles including Venice Beach and Echo Park. You can even call the number (808) 202-2690 for more info (which I highly recommend doing). It's a beautiful addition to the artful, multimedia nature of the project. "The dream feels real."

Connect with ilo ilo: Facebook | Instagram | Soundcloud

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Share 0
Share 0
Related Topics
  • ilo ilo
Katey Ceccarelli

Previous Article
  • Electronic

Manu Dia arrives with effervescent "Stranger" on Young Art Records

  • June 18, 2019
  • Katey Ceccarelli
View Article
Next Article
  • Dance
  • Exclusive
  • Indie Dance
  • Premiere
  • Synth Pop

"Say Oh La La" to Ld Donovan's new track on Kitsuné [Premiere]

  • June 19, 2019
  • Lauren Jefferson
View Article
You May Also Like
View Article
  • Indie Pop
  • New Music
  • Shoegaze

The What Four bring ’90s nostalgia to life with "Sunday Morning (Ain’t So Easy)

  • September 5, 2025
View Article
  • Folk
  • Indie
  • Indie Pop

Gal Musette follows her intuition in gorgeous single "Broken Clock"

  • September 5, 2025
CASTLEBEAT
View Article
  • Feature
  • Folk Rock
  • Indie
  • Indie Pop
  • Indie Rock
  • Mainstage
  • Pop
  • Singer/songwriter

CASTLEBEAT’s “Revival” breathes new life into lo-fi indie dreamscapes with a sixteen-track [Album]

  • September 5, 2025
View Article
  • Indie Pop
  • New Music

LB Beistad rides the wave with feel-good indie pop single "Tsunami”

  • September 4, 2025
Lauren Presley
View Article
  • Indie
  • Indie Pop
  • Indie Rock
  • Mainstage
  • New Music
  • Pop

Lauren Presley breaks into new territory with radiant pop-rock anthem “Trade Secrets”

  • September 3, 2025
Luan Luan
View Article
  • Feature
  • Indie
  • Indie Pop
  • Indie Rock
  • Mainstage
  • Pop

Luan Luan breaks free with optimistic new single “Would Be Better”

  • September 1, 2025
Rebecca Sugar
View Article
  • Acoustic
  • Alt-Pop
  • Alternative
  • Atmospheric
  • Easy Listening
  • Electro Pop
  • Electronic
  • Electronic
  • Indie
  • Indie Pop
  • New Music
  • Reviews
  • Singer/songwriter
  • Soft Rock
  • Synth Pop

Rebecca Sugar spellbinds with “Lonely Magic” EP

  • August 30, 2025
View Article
  • Experimental
  • Future Beat
  • Hip-Hop
  • Indie Pop
  • New Music

Øyunn finds "New Life" in latest single [Music Video]

  • August 29, 2025
Popular Music
  • “Dragonfly” by Michael Suddes brings gentle folk and heartfelt soul
    • September 5, 2025
  • The What Four bring ’90s nostalgia to life with "Sunday Morning (Ain’t So Easy)
    • September 5, 2025
  • Jäde’s "Dsl" Hooks You with Groove and Glow
    • September 5, 2025
  • FME 2025: 5 Standout Acts That Made This Year Unforgettable
    • September 5, 2025
  • Penelope & The Promise new single "The Line that Divides"
    • September 5, 2025
Recent Scoops
  • Jay Tone is carving out his space with "Puzzles"
    • July 7, 2025
  • Matt Oakley is redefining country music with heart, soul and modernity
    • May 5, 2025
  • Texas’ Blacktop Mojo does rock music the way it should be done
    • April 29, 2025
  • Tha Rapper Haiti blends authentic style with musical passion
    • April 28, 2025
Community Voices
  • From Machismo To Mujeres: Women As The Face Of Reggaeton
    • July 14, 2022
  • Tyler the creator
    4 things I learned on the 'Call Me If You Get Lost' tour
    • March 31, 2022
  • 4 things every artist needs to think about in 2022
    • January 27, 2022
  • The TikTok Takeover of Hip-Hop
    • January 11, 2022

EARMILK EARMILK
  • Jobs
  • About EARMILK
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Submit Music
All Milk. No Duds.

Input your search keywords and press Enter.