Jessie Arlen, aka iDA HAWK, is a talented vocalist we’ve become fans of over the years due to her incredible collaborations with artists like GRiZ and Big Wild. Now iDA HAWK has shared her first solo single “Out Of Focus” with a music video off her debut solo EP that's coming soon.
"I have always been obsessed with music from the 1960s & 70s. My dad is a jazz saxophonist, and exposed my ears to “The Greats” of the golden era from a very early age. As a kid, I would lock myself in my room for hours and listen to the likes of Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Joni Mitchell… memorizing every melody line, mimicking each vocal run, absorbing the sounds like a sponge.
As I begin introducing my solo material, I’ve decided to showcase my "golden era" roots with a contemporary twist… I want to establish a soulful sonic foundation, built around the influences that were most instrumental in shaping my voice and my love for music. From here, I plan on experimenting and moving into realms that may be surprising. As a song-writer, the freedom to explore is key. I want to live outside of the box and allow myself to make music from a completely intuitive place. No matter where I travel sonically, listeners will always be guaranteed iDA songs straight from the soul... and a whole lot of groove." - iDA HAWK
We had the pleasure of speaking with Jessie about the inspirations behind her iDA HAWK project that’s placing a modern touch on on classic influences. This first single off her upcoming project builds on the success of her past collaborations as she further proves herself as an artist. HAWK’s alluring vocals carry a mystical quality about them that grab you from the first note. The captivating track brings a big horn-based instrumental with slick guitar riffs and crisp drums setting the foundation for the vocals to shine. Along with the track comes a classy video capturing the colorful and dreamy vibe of the track while iDA HAWK is seen in retro attire. Keep an eye out for more music coming and enjoy!