With the release of her tenth single, “Ain’t Linear,” Americana, country, and blues artist Iyla Elise continues a steady rise fueled by emotional honesty, soulful vocals, and deeply relatable storytelling. Hailing from a small town on Virginia’s eastern coast, Iyla has built a growing reputation as one of Americana’s most compelling emerging voices, blending roots-driven warmth with lyrical vulnerability that resonates far beyond her own experiences.
Produced by Nashville multi-instrumentalist Simon Reid, “Ain’t Linear” captures the beautifully messy reality of love—equal parts feel-good groove and emotional depth. As Iyla leans into the blues- and soul-forward side of her sound, the song reflects her signature approach: music that’s intimate, multi-dimensional, and grounded in authenticity. We caught up with Iyla to talk about the story behind the new single, her evolving artistry, and what’s next as her journey continues to unfold.
“Ain’t Linear” marks your tenth single—how does it feel to reach that milestone?
It’s humbling, and I’m thankful. From my EP release in 2023 to the last ten singles, I’m grateful to everyone who’s listened to the music.
You’re from a small town in Virginia—how has that background influenced your storytelling?
My roots have definitely impacted me as a person so no doubt my storytelling too. I’m grateful for where I’m from, a small community full of good people and great stories. It’s a town full of hard-working, honest, and humble people who are proud of their roots. I can think of countless individuals who I learned from along the way through their larger-than-life personalities and their stories grappling with love and sometimes loss.
Your music often feels intimate yet universal—how do you strike that balance?
When I sit down to write, I try to start from a place of emotional authenticity. I try to be thoughtful of how listeners might connect the song’s impact and emotion in their own lives. Music, and the emotion that flows from it, is meant to be shared and felt by others. As a songwriter, your job is to guide the listener on an emotional journey, to connect the song to their own experiences, even if they may not know it yet when they first start listening.
Many outlets have praised your authenticity—what does authenticity mean to you as an artist?
It’s about honesty and courage. It’s consciously deciding to show up emotionally when you’re writing a song. It’s knowing who you are and finding a way to share that with others in a way that connects to their story too.
How has your relationship with songwriting evolved as your audience has grown?
I try to focus on writing in more universal ways. Being able to write multi-dimensionally means having more opportunity for listeners to connect the song to their lived experiences. I hope you can see that in my latest singles “Ain’t Linear” and “Better Days”.
What have you learned about yourself through the process of releasing music independently?
I’ve gained a lot of respect for the many roles in the music industry. As an independent artist, I feel like I’ve gotten a crash course in how the process and many intricate pieces of the puzzle all fit together. As anyone that’s familiar with this business knows, there’s a lot that goes into it so you have to love the music.
How do you navigate the space between personal expression and listener interpretation?
I focus on authenticity and what I feel that the song really needs and then let the listener’s interpretation flow naturally from there. As an artist, you let the chips fall where they may because often as the songwriter, your intentionality or meaning of the work on a personal level is very different from a listener’s interpretation. That’s what makes it art, and that’s what makes it exciting. Some of the best songs of all time have quite a delta between the artist’s personal intention and the listener’s interpretation, and honestly, that’s what makes the music so powerful.
Are there themes you find yourself returning to again and again in your work?
I find myself focusing on nuanced themes of life, love, loss— emotions with many layers. Melancholy is a good word. I think you can find beauty and tragedy in the same places, including in a song.
What role does emotional honesty play in your creative process?
It plays a huge role. Even if a song isn’t an exact interpretation of my own life experience, the intentionality behind the song flows from honest emotion channeled from real past experiences.
Looking ahead, how do you see your sound and storytelling continuing to evolve?
The funny thing about evolution is that it often has a mind of its own, but I know I’ll be staying true to authenticity and honest songwriting no matter where the journey takes me.
PR: Decent Music PR
