Ilham – uhm…ok?
Today, alternative pop/R&B songstress ilham announces her long-awaited independent EP uhm…ok? will be releasing September 19th. The 10-track collection marks a new era for the Moroccan artist, reminding listeners the importance of protecting your peace, letting things slide without letting them shake you, and realizing your strength isn’t about how much you endure, but in how easily you let go. uhm…ok? is a mindset turned project — a reflection of what happens when you’ve had enough. It’s for those who are done overthinking, done justifying their pain, and done trying to decode the nonsense. Sometimes, you just gotta hit someone with an “uhm…ok?” and keep it pushing.
“‘uhm…ok?’ is about trying to make sense of things that just don’t make sense,” explains ilham on the forthcoming EP. “That’s the ‘uhm…ok?’ mentality. It’s a movement; a collective of people who have been through some shit. Instead of being pressed or hard on yourself, control what you can and let go of the things you thought you couldn’t.”
Alongside the announcement, ilham also shares her new single and visual “for me” featuring Fridayy, where the duo seamlessly blend pop, R&B, and house elements as they speak on going to the ends of the earth for the one you love while expecting the same from them in return.
“‘for me’ is about turning the tables in love,” shares ilham about the track. “I’m usually the one giving, catering, and pouring into the people around me, but this time, I wanted to ask the question: what are you willing to do for me? How far would you go? Would you even kill for me? Because when it comes to love, I know I would.” On the collaboration she says, “Having Fridayy on the track made the record was the perfect finishing touch. He wrote his verse as a direct response to mine, so you get both the male and female perspectives in conversation. He’s not only one of the main producers on my project, but also one of my best friends, which made the back-and-forth in the studio effortless and mad fun.
Last summer, ilham emerged from her 2 year release hiatus to announce that she was finally an independent artist, and shared VHS footage of her and friends singing and celebrating in the studio to a snippet now known as “uhm…ok?.”
After teasing her first independent single, the viral sexy drill track premiered on Zane Lowe’s Apple Music 1 Show and her On The Radar performance slowly took over the internet. Ilham followed up with confidence booster “games,” offering hazy piano riffs over a trap beat that was praised by The New York Times and The FADER.
She later released the empowering anthem “roster” which she sang for 4 Shooters Only From The Block series and captivated media outlets like OkayAfrica, NYLON, Khamsa, and more.
Ilham spoke to Hypebeast Arabia about North African representation, maintaining authenticity, and paving the way to Moroccan stardom. House-infused “make the room look twice” was named “the perfect hype song for when you’re getting ready with friends as we head into Hot Girl Summer” by Glasse Factory and earned media attention from Cairo Scene, Scene Noise, EnVi Media, Bounce, and DopeCauseWeSaid among others.
Earlier this year, ilham made her runway debut at MEFeater Magazine’s Galentine’s New York Fashion Week show where the songstress captivated viewers in a rich purple ensemble by RMA Apparel. “ilham was the perfect choice to open the show because she embodies the spirit of RMA — breaking barriers while staying true to her identity,” shares Reema Idris, the mastermind behind the clothing label. “I saw a connection between ilham’s journey and my own, both of us stepping into industries that haven’t always made space for us. Collaborating with her was a natural fit; she brought such power and elegance to the runway. She set the tone for the show!”
ilham’s seductive new-age music and dreamy visuals are influenced by R&B legends and her Moroccan heritage, offering a new take on the ever-evolving genre. Raised in New York City’s infamous Queensbridge Housing Projects, ilham’s formative years were spent studying music theory at LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts and graduating early from Cornell University, setting the stage for her evolution as an emerging singer and songwriter.
In 2018, ilham made waves with her debut EP 41-10, home to collaborations with Guapdad 4000, Dave East, and Arin Ray, earning early support from Billboard, VIBE, The FADER, and Earmilk. The project also received nods from Issa Rae and Raphael Saadiq who featured “none of your friends business” in the season 2 finale of HBO’s Insecure. ilham’s self-released 2019 follow-up EP with time soared to #1 on iTunes Top R&B Albums Chart and attracted the attention of industry tastemakers like Joe Budden and Travis Mills. Since then, the trailblazing Arab-American/North African artist has collaborated with prominent record producers including TBHits and The Fisticuffs in addition to making her festival debut at Day N Vegas and Sol Blume Festival. Her discography has earned over 40 million streams across platforms.
The songstress is ready to share the uhm..ok? mentality with the world, so stay tuned!
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