London-born indie-trap artist Jon Sadiku aka ION has released his new song, Xeno. We asked him the BIG questions . . .
Speaking about the track, he says, "I use the word Xeno in this song as a metaphorical expression for our individual quirks. We each have our own 'out of this world' ways of perceiving, behaving, and living.
"And whilst people may question (as I sometimes do) whether the way they are is normal or not, I believe that everyone should be proud of their peculiarities because they are YOUR ways of doing!
"They make YOU who YOU are and there is no right or wrong in that! 'Xeno' thus elaborates on this sentiment, where I talk about my own gradual acceptance with my ways." - ION comments on the track.
Tell us three things about yourself...
Me and my family come from a small country called Kosovo, it is where my ancestry is deeply rooted, and I am very proud to have inherited the sacred culture that we have! Despite not being born there (I was born in London). I still spent a large amount of my upbringing in a mountainous region of Kosovo known as Brezovica, with most of my childhood memories depicting a curious me navigating the bold terrain of the Sharr mountains. I believe it is this environment that has nurtured my pure way of thinking and has shaped my approach to sound creation. It has also likely been a heavy influence on the interests I have outside the realm of music, which include rock climbing and trekking when I'm not working on new sounds!
How would you describe your music?
I would describe the music I make as being conceptual, seeking to explore creative themes that from the early stages of conception I build to be sonically cohesive. I decided that music would become my method of communication due to its great potential in being able to involve other types of stimulation. Whether it’s through sonic textures, linguistic eloquence, or colour palettes found in visuals, all these facets merge together in the making of music in this deeply expressive and beautiful manner to help create the bigger picture.
Who are your musical inspirations?
An artist I have found a lot of intrigue in recently is JPEGMAFIA. One of my beliefs is that those who are able to create art in their most genuine/authentic way (and not be influenced by what is making the most money) are thus providing an honest insight into the way that they think/are, and that is what art is about! To express yourself truly! It's clear to me that JPEGMAFIA is doing this. And in the context of his music, I can’t help but wonder what goes on in the mind of someone who is able to create such chaotic beauty.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
My first gig was a Mick Jenkins concert that my uncle took me to when I was 16, how fun it was being exposed to such an intense new listening environment for the first time!
What was the first record you ever bought?
Whilst my parents always kept many records in the house, I only really started getting into them in the last few years. The first record which I myself had was a 1985 Sade record called Promise that my parents gifted to me as a start to my own collection.
What's your favourite song right now?
Sugar Coating by Salami Rose Joe Louis. I enjoy the serene approach to this song as everything sounds so gentle especially Louis’ vocal delivery. It makes for a very soothing listen.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I don’t like answering these types of questions directly as humans (and all things that live for that matter) are not beings of fixation, it is a moral of nature for things to keep moving. Fixation is also but a hindrance to the creative mind! And so, because of this I prefer to answer by explaining hypothetically what kind of song this would have to be. It would have to be one with enough conceptual depth so as to keep finding new layers of meaning every time I listen to it. This way the song would remain fresh as I keep unlocking new perspectives to experience it from.
Where can people find your music/more information?
As I mentioned earlier, I like to think that people can get an insight into the way I am/think through my creative output. So along with my music (which can be found on all streaming platforms) there is a lot more to be exposed to in the shape of visuals on my YouTube and Instagram (io.jon). YouTube being the home to my music videos (which I direct myself) and Instagram serving as more of a visual appendix. All of these ultimately help to depict in differing ways the concepts that I seek to explore.
