Exclusive Interview with DESTINY IMANI

Destiny Imani, who was born in Los Angeles, California, discovered her passion for music in church. She was able to listen to and learn Gospel music due to her upbringing in the church. Soon after beginning her musical adventure, she began honing her composition abilities. Destiny’s first love in music has always been songwriting, but she wanted to test the waters as an artist and tell her tale via song. Destiny Imani is not just a songwriter and performer, but also a role model for those who wish to pursue their passions.
After releasing four singles in 2022, Destiny Imani begins 2023 with a new single that is certain to steal the hearts of her fans. “Only One,” which will be released on January 13, tells the tale of two souls who have found their match. With its heartfelt lyrics and tranquil string arrangement, “Only One” reflects and expresses the deep emotions of the heart. “Only One” follows “Chosen” and continues to demonstrate Destiny Imani’s ambition to write and sing about her own personal experiences. Destiny Imani continues to deliver music that is sincere, transparent, and lyrically captivating as she prepares to release her upcoming EP.

The song “Only One” is about inescapable love and lust. It chronicles the story of two lovers whose only desire is to love one another completely. Check out the song and the exclusive interview below:

1. Can you tell us a bit about where you come from and how it all got started?

DESTINY IMANI: I am from Los Angeles California, and I gained my love for music through the church. Growing up seeing so many talented artists, singers, and musicians in the church really sparked my interest in songwriting. I began writing songs very young, and recently ventured into artistry in 2022.

2. Did you have any formal training or are you self-taught?

DESTINY IMANI: I have been around music my entire life, but I never received formal training. My mom who is a singer and a songwriter as well really invested in me, and she has helped me to grow into who I am today.

3. Who were your first and strongest musical influences and why the name ‘DESTINY IMANI’?

DESTINY IMANI: My mother was my first musical influence. Seeing her sing and perform in churches worldwide was really inspiring for me at a young age. She has really taught me a lot of what I know and she continues to pass her wisdom down to me. The name Destiny Imani is my first and middle name. It was given to me by my mother, and I have always loved my name. Choosing it as my artist name was easy because it was authentic to who I am and allows me to create my own path as a songwriter and artist.

4. What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?

DESTINY IMANI: I like to evoke emotion in my music. I want the listener to feel something when they listen to my music whether it be recalling something based on the lyrics in the song or feeling something because of the melody and instrumentation.

I would describe my sound as colorful and intentional. In my most recent releases I have been adding meaningful elements into my music that combine to form a beautiful painting that tells a story that is honest, vulnerable, and intriguing.

5. For most artists, originality is first preceded by a phase of learning and, often, emulating others. What was this like for you? How would you describe your own development as an artist and music maker, and the transition towards your own style, which is known as R&B?

DESTINY IMANI: I have had the pleasure of learning from so many incredible people thus far, and I am still learning. I had to learn who I was and who I wanted to be before I ventured into artistry, and to be honest I am still learning today. My style is very fluid and I take pride in that as I continue to learn who I am as both an artist and songwriter.

6. What’s your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles – and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative, and entertainment?

DESTINY IMANI: I try to create music that is an expression and reflection of me, but also is culturally relevant. Certain themes are very important to me and I try to emphasize the importance of love in every single song that I write and share.

7. Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it or are you expecting something more, or different in the future?

DESTINY IMANI: Music for me is therapeutic. It provides me an outlet to share my thoughts, experiences, and honestly tell my truth. Long term I would like to see a bigger return on investment in more ways than one, but I am a firm believer that that will come in time.

8. Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song? Do you usually start with a tune, a beat, or a narrative in your head? And do you collaborate with others in this process?

DESTINY IMANI: My creative process differs from song to song, but typically I start with the lyrics. As a songwriter this has always been the easy and most effective way for me to create, but as an artist not so much because there is no instrumentation when you create a song from nothing. However, I have a team of great producers who really try to fulfill my vision for the song by adding different instrumentation.

9. What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?

DESTINY IMANI: The most difficult thing that I had to endure in my music career thus far would have to be how my first single, Again, was received by a few people. Seeing that I grew up in the church, most people expected me to create Gospel and CCM music solely, so when I came out with a Pop/EDM record as my first single it was difficult for a few people.

10. On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?

DESTINY IMANI: Honestly I would say the release of my first single, Again. Even though I listed it as a difficult thing, I was so proud of myself for starting and putting this record out. Starting is typically one of the hardest things to do, and I did it!

11. Do you think is it important for fans of your music to understand the real story and message driving each of your songs, or do you think everyone should be free to interpret your songs in their own personal way?

DESTINY IMANI: I think it is important to have a mix of both. I would imagine that real fans would want to know and understand the real story, meaning, and message behind each of my songs, but I would also desire for my songs to be relatable for the every day listener so that they can enjoy my music as well and interpret it in their own way.