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1.) We’re thrilled to have some time today with one of the more exciting voices on the music scene today, The Ian Moore; greetings and salutations, Ian! Before we begin kicking the proverbial tin can down the dusty road, how has your 2022 been treating you?
Hello there! Thank you so much for the kind words! 2022 has been really good so far. Not much to complain about really. Kicked off the year opening up for Futuristic one night, I finished the album, released GODLIKE. So it’s been a really good year so far!
2.) We’d like to congratulate you on a brilliant new album Infinity Forever which is set to premiere across the globe on May 27! Infinity Forever closes a chapter on what has been a very personal trilogy of releases for you as an artist. How does it feel for you to have reached this important milestone?
It feels extremely cathartic and exciting. I’ve been making this trilogy or saga since I started making music and it feels extremely therapeutic for me to go through all the stages I did and be able to express myself in this form of creativity. It feels like an end to an era and the start of something new
3.) For those that might just now be discovering you and your beautiful music, can you talk a little about what the genesis of Infinity Forever was?
So when I first started making music, the title of my first project was called “Twisted Instincts”. I designed the cover art in my highschool art class and thought the name sounded cool. Everybody pretty much thought it was a joke, and at the time so did I, because I really didn’t record anything for it. I never made music before. I had no idea what I was doing, but I decided to give it a shot and record it. Except the issue was, I didn’t have any equipment and didn’t have any money to buy it. So. I literally recorded the entire album by finding beats on YouTube, playing them over the tv and recording the album with my phone over voice notes standing right next to the tv speakers. I even put in skits just like I did for Infinity Forever. Those skits started the narrative that concludes within Infinity Forever. So fast forward a little bit. I finally announced that I actually “recorded” the Twisted Instincts album and I was going to release an “actual” album titled “Infinity #12” on my birthday. So I bought a mic. Used a free DAW. I just wasn’t sure what I wanted the album to be yet. I knew that “Infinity #12” was an expression and metaphor. When I grew up the number 12, which is my soccer number, stuck to me like glue. Everyone knew that was my number and I shared it with my brother. So, if Infinity means forever, and #12 means me. That means I will “live on forever”. Or my legacy. I didn’t really know what that meant. Then my Grandfather passed away. My Grandpa was my best friend and he was a part of me. It was really hard to deal with at the time, but it felt therapeutic to almost dedicate that entire project to him. Which is what I ended up doing. The album did very well, at least in my eyes. So I continued with music. Released the “MALIBU” ep, which was just a fun little project to try and learn and practice. Upgraded my gear and wanted to make another album but on larger streaming platforms. I thought it would be cool to make this album a continuation to the story I started with “Twisted Instincts”, so I called it “Twisted Syndicate”. Syndicate meaning a group of individuals, which was the antagonist of the story from the first one, so this made sense to me. I also planned on taking the story into more albums, so, I started making the project, then the unthinkable happened. My older brother, Ryan, passed away shortly after I started creating the album. I decided to use that album to pay tribute to him, but the album was still very narrative based. The final track of “Twisted Syndicate” is the main tribute to my brother, as I wrote the song from his perspective writing a letter to my parents and I, saying goodbye. So then I finished and released the project. It did well. So I decided to continue with the original plan of concluding the narrative I started, while also almost saying a final goodbye to my Brother and Grandfather and tying into everything. Making it all connect. The conclusion of everything. Which is “Infinity Forever”. Fun fact was that this was supposed to extend to one more project titled “Twisted Infinity”. But it feels like a more natural end here.
4.) How is Infinity Forever similar to the two prior albums in this trilogy? How is it different?
Sonically, this is by far my most ambitious project and most creative. There’s times where I can’t even say this is real hip-hop. It’s a combination of so many things from alternative, to R&B, to rock but everything having a hip-hop base to it. I wanted to try and sound unique. Infinity #12 sounding more commercial rap. Twisted Syndicate was more boom bap type rap. This is very alternative rap. But there’s elements there for everyone to enjoy, even if you were a fan of my later projects.
5.) Who are some of the talented musicians who contributed their special touches of magic to Infinity Forever?
Obviously, Futuristic is gonna be the name that pops out the most and rightfully so. My brother was actually a fan of his music, so it felt very natural to try and include him here. My cousin, Brett, or “B Pags” is also a feature on the album. I think our chemistry goes a long way and when I am doing country wide tours one day he will always be there. There are also loads of extremely talented engineers and producers who managed to make my vision come to life that I am unbelievably grateful for.
6.) You worked with well-known rapper Futuristic for this project. What was it like working together on this album?
Well I was nervous for most of it. Pretty star struck. Afraid he wouldn’t agree or wouldn’t want to work on the track. Then I got the opportunity to meet him and open up at one of his shows. He’s a super down to Earth and good guy and talking to him just felt natural. I’d be super excited to work with him on more music in the future.
7.) We’re all quite taken with the final track on Infinity Forever which is entitled See You in Heaven. What can you tell us about how this track came into being?
I wanted it to feel cinematic and I wanted to feel like the ultimate conclusion to everything. If you listen to my albums you will realize I like them to be one big experience, that are meant to be listened to from front to back. Or at least that’s what I attempt to go far. The intro always sets the mood and theme of the album. While the outro is like the final act that we have been building towards. See You In Heaven was that, but for the entire saga. Its meant to represent acceptance
8.) What has this trilogy of albums meant to you not only as an artist, but as a person going through the stages of loss for your loved ones? Has it been a cathartic experience crafting these lovely albums?
The albums would have been created regardless but they probably wouldn’t have sounded the same or meant the same. The process has been unbelievably therapeutic to me and cathartic. It’s kept me connected to my brother. It’s kept me connected to my Grandfather. It’s posed as an outlet to express those emotions. That’s something I’m unbelievably grateful for and couldn’t imagine going through that grief without that outlet. Especially with those passings so close together
9.) Infinity Forever rounds out its package with a total of fourteen well-honed and finely tuned tracks. Was there anything that didn’t make the cut and that might have been discarded at the last moment, or was fourteen tunes always the game plan for the new album?
Sure there were a few songs that didn’t make the cut but most of them ended up just kinda being reworks that fit what I needed. I always try to keep my albums at about 45 minutes. I feel like that’s the ultimate sweet spot. I always planned on going in between 10 tracks to 18. I knew I wanted skits so I felt like 10 was too little since that would only leave 6 songs. I think in the end it just kinda worked out this way. I always visualize how I want the album to be before and then I try and figure out how to get there. This project was something I definitely didn’t want to rush but I still got there in the end. By the time I start recording, I pretty much already know if that song is gonna make the cut just because if the beat fits what I’m trying to do, I’ll get the vocals there somehow. And I just would work on that track until it fit what I needed.
10.) Who was your producer on Infinity Forever and what did that collaboration look like?
I had a few producers work with me on Infinity Forever. I can say there were 3 who were in constant rotation. H3 Music, Paul Vilas, and Kurt Zed. H3 is a pretty recognized name in hip hop production, I’m sure you’ve seen his beats on YouTube in some capacity. He’s a great guy and really helped me especially in the beginning of this album’s creation. Paul and Kurt helped me create that unique sound that nobody else could do. The mix of Quadeca, Joji, Billie Eilish, and Frank Ocean is something I wear on my sleeve constantly throughout this record and they helped me get to the point. I’m extremely grateful and hopeful to work with them in the future.
11.) What do you hope fans walk away feeling after listening to Infinity Forever?
For people who just love music I hope they are extremely satisfied with the project. But, for people who have experienced loss, (which most of us have) I hope it’s therapeutic for them. It helps them find acceptance in some way the same way I have. I hope that people are excited for more. I hope the world enjoys
12.) On the heels of the release of Infinity Forever can fans look forward to seeing you on tour in the coming weeks and months?
With my schedule the way it is at the moment doing my own tour may be tricky but doing a show here and there is definitely in the cards. You’ll see. However, when it comes to touring that’s something I’ve always wanted to do. I really would love to do something like that in the future. I just think I need to find the right team to help me set it up and finding the schedule to do so. Touring is a dream of mine and I would be ecstatic to do it one day. Whether I’m the main act or just on the card in general, getting out there and living that lifestyle is something I really want to do and hope to be able to do soon. Just waiting for that golden opportunity! So if any artist out there wants me on your tour hit my line! Lol. Anyways. You can absolutely expect to see me on stage in some capacity really soon regardless. I think a performance in St. Louis has been a long time coming.
13.) You’re based out of St. Louis. How have those roots informed you and your music?
I’ve talked about this before but I think the way I grew up impacted my music abilities far more than the place I grew up in. I grew up very fortunate. My parents worked unbelievably hard so I never had to go to bed hungry or cold. However, I still have experienced the hardships like those losses. Which, by the way, is far more than just my Grandfather and Brother. I’ve lost friends and other family members far and wide in the last 4 or 5 years. I think those things really impacted my music far more than the city did. Which I love the city. But I think if I lived in New York, for example, and the same things still happened I think my music would be the same. I would just have a New York accent haha. But yeah I love my city. I truly dont think ill ever leave it completely.
14.) Final – SILLY! – Question: Favorite movie about the music business – This Is Spinal Tap or Almost Famous?
There’s so many great ones. 8 Mile, Straight Outta Compton, Bohemian Rhapsody. However, I think my favorite is probably “A Star is Born”. That’s probably a better movie overall than it is as an accurate representation about the business but I really love the soundtrack of that movie and the performance of Bradley Cooper. A cover of “Shallow” is on my first project “Infinity #12” because that’s the song I sang to my Grandfather. But I think that new Elvis movie thats coming out is going to be something really special
