Over the past decade we’ve seen a rise of singer-songwriters who are equally inspired by the likes of mainstream artists such as Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran for their brutally honest lyrics and intricate songwriting, (well, the latter more being their first two records depending on who you ask), and the more open conversations that we’ve learnt to have about our feelings and mental wellbeing. I’ve always found it so beautiful for someone to be vulnerable and open about the harder times in their lives; I find it incredibly brave.
Irina Imme is one of these musicians; I had the pleasure of talking to her whilst writing for IAMUR and since then she’s gone on to release two singles that, much like the rest of her discography, are honest, vulnerable and are all too relatable for many of us. The first of which is Globe released back in January.
As the song opens, we are greeted by slow, gentle acoustic guitar and melancholic drumbeats that creates an atmosphere that on the one hand is moody and sombre, and on the other a feeling of uncertainty. As Irina starts to sing, she references back to the period where we all had to remain in isolation where dark thoughts can’t help but fester and build in intensity. From fears in how people in her life really view, all the way to despair and worries about the new lifestyle we were forced into with a consensus of ‘what’s the point?’
And then we get to the chorus, whereupon the mood becomes much darker, and we shift into a more alternative, slightly psychedelic, rock sound. In this moment, the feelings are so intense and harsh that they are hard to ignore and, according to Imme, “the world could burn” and she simply wouldn’t care anymore. In short, she has successfully captured the essence of despair that some faced in isolation in such a hypnotic and stunning way.
In her own words, “Globe was inspired by feelings of depression and hopelessness as a result of being trapped indoors during the pandemic while coping with some challenges in my personal life.”
As noted, the track has an alternative rock shift, reflecting a lot on her influences. Along with mainstream artists like Taylor Swift and The Beatles, Irina is also heavily inspired by emo/rock and, in our previous interview, mentioned how artists such as Twenty One Pilots, My Chemical Romance and Radiohead had a huge impact on her. In fact, when listening to Globe, I can personally hear some aspects of both Radiohead and My Chemical Romance (namely, The Foundations Of Decay).
You can listen to Globe here.
An ongoing theme in Irina’s songs are references towards mental health and bullying, some of which are unfortunately inspired by personal incidents in her life. It’s an understatement to say that singing about such topics can be challenging, but in previous chats she hoped that her songs can help others; “I always say that if there is even one person out there that comes across one of my songs and feels less misunderstood, then I have achieved my goal as a musician and even as a human being.”
This is further reflected in her most recent release Stupid, which begins with a spoken word segment where she starts a conversation with someone to ask for confirmation on a few things before she starts to go through a list of negative names and statements. Alongside a twinkly acoustic guitar that gradually speeds to display the intensity of everything swirling around in her head, Irina’s song is simple, but effective in accurately displaying intrusive thoughts that like to creep in on days where we’re at our lowest.
Irina Imme might be in the early days of her career, but I believe that she’ll become a staple in the alternative music scene in years to come, and I’m excited to hear more from her. You should too.
Listen to Stupid here.
