We had the good fortune of connecting with Ismail Khan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Of course! So my name’s Iismaill (pronounced is-mile), and I’m a 27 year old Indian-American first-generation artist from the Inland Empire, CA, specifically from a city known as “Fontana”. Coming from a traditional Hyderabadi background, I’m the first in my family to pursue music. I started writing poetry at the ages of 13-14, which eventually evolved into me writing full-fledged songs. I was on “SoundCloud” for about 2 1/2 years before making my jump to music streaming services such as “Spotify”, “Apple Music”, “Google Play”, etc.

I released my first official project titled “Marzi” in January 2019, and since then I’ve released many singles as well.

My second and most recent project titled “Hydboii” was released on February 21, 2022, and it’s based off my TikTok persona with the same name. I also have a new single titled “Humara Zamana” which is set to release on May 26th, 2023, so be on the lookout for that! Ultimately, my goal is to break ground within the U.S. and internationally as both an artist and a content creator. I want to represent and be the first Hyderabadi artist to go mainstream globally, whether it be with music, comedy/acting, or both!

Some challenges that I’ve come across my journey include the learning curve for the business side of music/content creation/entertainment, setbacks relating to being taken seriously as an artist/content creator, writer’s block on multiple occasions, and just doing life altogether in conjunction with the art. I would definitely say that this industry can be harsh, especially to newcomers, so my best advice would be to try and develop a thick skin early on. But then again, thick skin can help anybody out with life in general, so it’s a win-win in my book.

It’s never easy overcoming challenges, but that’s why they’re called “challenges” right? With that said, what I’ve learned is that resolve is extremely important when it comes to anything in life, especially when it comes to dealing with obstacles/challenges. A person’s ability to bounce back after a setback is really what sets them apart from everybody else. Truly.

I’ve learned over time that it’s better to go for something, fail at it, and come back wiser/stronger than to never go for something at all and later regret it. My biggest fear of all time is regret, in any aspect, which is why I’m working so hard to get to where I want to be. I want the world to know my story, and that if you can envision yourself, and I mean really envision yourself being at a certain place, the universe will guide you in the right direction to get there.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
To be completely honest, SoCal (where I reside) is so colorful when it comes to diversity. What I mean by that is that there’s a flavor for everything, including stuff to do, landscapes, people, food places to eat, among other things. I’m a huge fan of nature, so I’d take my friend into the mountains for a hike, the beaches to view a beautiful sunset, and even the desert if possible. There’s just too many places to name, but I know that if a friend were to come visit, I could def show them a great time.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First and foremost, a huge shoutout goes out to God for allowing me to get as far as I have. Second, shoutout to my family for bumping me through life and giving me tidbits 0f wisdom whenever I needed it. Thirdly, shoutout to my friends and the people that I truly love from the heart, because success doesn’t mean anything if you don’t have genuine folks around you to share it with.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iilltivity/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/iilltivity

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realiismaill

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@iilltivity

Other: TikTok @hydboii

Image Credits
@visceralvisualshots @yourasianpapi @singhejking @iamharnamsingh

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