Jaenique Swartz
Passion and drive are typically the most compelling attributes any creative needs to possess and that is no different for award-winning R&B singer, producer, and songwriter, Ian Lovly.
The ‘Tatted Up’ creator sat down with VIBEZ! to discuss his new EP and the essence that makes him Ian Lovly, “I am R&B, I am a love virus. I am a son. I am a brother, and I am a friend but all in all, I am blessed,” he said.
Lovly does not simply keep himself occupied in the studio, highlighting he is currently pursuing his bachelor’s degree in marketing at the University of Science and Technology and co-owner to an events company alongside his two business partners.
The muso remains grateful as he shares his journey with Ogopa Butterfly, the record label he signed with in 2013. “They introduced me to the industry and were behind me as I won my first award for Best Newcomer at the 2016 Namibian Annual Music Awards (NAMAs).”
He parted ways with the label in 2018 where he released his first independent project that got him the award for Best R&B in the 2019 NAMAs .
“I took a break from the industry in 2020 to rebrand and re-strategise. I changed my name to Ian Lovly and returned in 2021 diving even deeper into the sound of R&B and I have remained active since.”
Lovly took to socials to share his newest EP is done and waiting to be released. “We can expect a shift with this EP because it is the total opposite in terms of mainstream audio that we are used to in our country.”
The EP titled ‘I Would Date Me’ will have features from Yeezir and Jovanko, but does not have a fixed release date yet. He remains eager to have his fans hear it. “Love propels me, it is the foundation for me in everything because, on top of that, I feel like I am always able to do anything.”
Songwriting comes very easy for him as he notes the only time he struggles is when he needs to structure the way he wants a specific story to come across, but overall, Lovly just simply finds himself in front of the mic with experiences and stories he feels compelled to tell.
The Namibian music industry is ever-changing and can thus make it hard for artists to leave their mark sometimes, however, Lovly notes one should steer away from those limiting beliefs. “Make and release what you want to, by doing it consistently, we override the hit or miss aspect, but we introduce the good music is just good music aspect and if showcased consistently, it will eventually have its own space.”
His advice to fellow creatives is to never stop creating. “Create but do not hold onto your heart, you can only judge it as far as you want to perfect it but it has to live a life of its own so that you can grow,” he concluded.
- jaeniqueswartz@icloud.com