Dominique Ilie
Dominique Ilie is a 14 year old singer-songwriter, pianist and guitarist based in Laguna Beach, California. He started his performing career as an actor at the age of 8 and has dedicated himself to his art, developing his passion for pop music with neo-soul undertones.
Releasing original music and videos independently since January 2021, his latest release “Sunflowers" dropped in February this year. A passionate clothing line designer, he is anti-fur and exotic leathers, influenced by everything from martial arts to gaming. He is a home-chef, vinyl collector, surfer and volleyball player, and was inspired to follow a career in music by his family's rich, musical heritage. Dominique can be found rehearsing with his band for their upcoming shows and writing songs with a variety of collaborators.
A prolific songwriter, his biggest dream would be to collaborate with great artists like Tyler the Creator, Kendrick Lamar and Billie Eilish. His goal has always been to create notable music with the potential for longevity that touches people and makes an impression in their lives. Of course hitting the Billboard #1 would be great too! If this happened he could hit his goal of performing to a sold out audience at the Staple Center by the time he is 18! Dreams might just come true for Dominique Ilie and they can come true for you too!
For fans who have never heard your music, can you pick three words to describe it?! If three words just aren't enough then tell us more!!
Chill, Romantic, Viby. My music is a reflection of who I am, so right now I like to write chill music and stories that are a reflection of my own world.
What is your favorite part about being an artist? Is it songwriting, performing, recording, something else?) Tell us why.
I love being on stage and performing live in front of large audiences. I feed on a crowd’s energy, so performing fills my soul with so much happiness. I also enjoy my quiet moments when I write music on my own in my room. I feel super lucky to do what I do, I love the music industry and I can’t see myself doing anything else.
Can you tell us what being in the recording studio is like for you?
I have been recording since I was 9 years old. I feel like my experience in the studio has changed through the years. It used to be stressful because recording is so different from performing a song. It would take me a while to get in the mood and to start feeling the song. Recording different parts over and over kinda kills the vibe. I have learned so much in the past 2 years, being in the studio more and working with supportive people gave me the skill and confidence I needed. The studio is my second home now, I love the energy and being around producers and fellow musicians. We have so much fun together, it's pretty cool.
Okay, this a fun question. When you are not doing music, what else do you enjoy doing?
Hmm, I do spend a lot of time listening to music . One of my favorite things in the world is traveling. My family and I love to travel, explore new places and try new things. This year we went to Peru, we hiked 10 miles to Machu Picchu and explored the Amazonian Jungle. It was one of the coolest trips so far. But of course, I live in sunny California, so there are lots of fun things to do around home as well. I love to surf and the beach in general.
Who do you admire most in the music scene today and why?
I love the diversity in the industry and how the genres are all fused together. I feel like we have so much freedom to move through styles and be creative without feeling constrained by a single genre.
Can you tell us what song you've written that is the most emotional and describe the meaning behind it?
All my songs are created through emotions, I couldn’t do it otherwise. However, I feel like my latest single, Sunflower, is the most relatable to me and the audience at this moment in time. As my fans and I are growing up, I feel like my music will develop even more and have a bigger emotional charge.
Are you working on any new material right now or what's in the works for the upcoming year?
Yes, I have a lot of songs in the works. My next single will be released in May, I am super excited for the world to hear it. I am planning on releasing more singles this year and working on an album for 2023. My goal is to release only the songs I truly believe in, quality over quantity. I am working hard to make this happen, but most importantly I am fortunate to have a great team around me. This is not a one man show, I couldn’t do it without the help of my parents, my teachers and all the musicians and producers that help me turn my songs into records.
Tell us where fans can access your music.
Yes, my music can be found on all streaming platforms under my name Dominique Ilie. My latest single, Sunflower has actually made it on TV. It is airing on different channels from MTVU, Boomer TV, VH1.
My Website