IB Kamara on branching out into music

As if having former Dazed editor-in-chief and Off White creative director under his belt wasn’t enough, IB Kamara has just made his musical debut with lo-fi pop EP, Pop Romance, released today (8 October).

The EP shares its name with Off White’s SS26 collection unveiled in New York earlier last month which initially provided the inspiration for the music. Where the runway show aimed to celebrate how Black artists have influenced popular culture over the years – replete with oversized hip-hop flair, freshly commissioned graffiti murals, and disco-era glam and sequins – Pop Romance’s early hip-hop, electro-style percussion and funky, disco basslines act as a sonic love letter to this relationship. “The music and the collection are so aligned for me,” Kamara tells Dazed. “They’re fun, they’re colourful – the name Pop Romance says all you need to know.”

And, while this might be Kamara’s official musical debut, the prolific creator admits that he has also been privately making music for as long as he can remember. “I’ve been singing in church and in gospel bands in Sierra Leone and the Gambia since I was four, I’ve always been a very musical person,” Kamara explains. “I’ve made music with my friends many times over the years [but] I did keep it low-key outside of my circle, especially my singing.” 

For Kamara, that circle includes Nigeria-born, London-based electronic soul artist Azekel, and Erik Bodin and Yukimi Nagano from Swedish electronic outfit Little Dragon, who formed key collaborators on the EP. The project was built out of a creative collaboration between the four of them, with each contributing to the production, and Kamara leading the vocals. His clothes might be Off White, but his vocals are certainly on-key. 

Below, Ib Kamara speaks to Dazed about the inspirations behind the EP, what he describes as ‘the cost of love’, and who’s bum is on the cover (spoilers: it’s his).

Hey Ib! Congrats on your musical debut. How long have you been hiding this secret musical talent from us? 

Ib Kamara: I’ve been singing in church and in gospel bands in Sierra Leone and the Gambia since I was four – I’ve always been a very musical person. I’ve also made music with my friends many times over the years, so that aspect of things didn’t feel new making this project. So I guess my friends wouldn’t have thought my musicality was hidden!

I did keep it low-key outside of my circles though – especially my singing – and it does feel vulnerable to be releasing this into the world. I’ve had to learn to embrace that vulnerability because I have a need to share my music too. It feels very important to me and I’m so proud of Pop Romance, it felt like we needed to put it in the universe.

What inspired you to initially create original music for the Off White SS26 show? Was there a particular connection between the sound and the designs?

Ib Kamara: The designs came first. I then tasked myself with making the show music, and knew I wanted to collaborate with Azekel, and Yukimi and Erik from Little Dragon. Azekel and I travelled to Sweden to work with them, where we just jammed in their studio for days until these songs started to take shape. The music and the collection are so aligned for me. They’re fun, they’re colourful – the name Pop Romance says all you need to know I think.

You mentioned this took you back to moving to London at age 16. What can you tell us about this time?

Ib Kamara: I was going out – discovering the queer nightlife scene especially around south London. There was disco, RnB, techno, all sorts of music. I was so happy to be finding a crowd I felt I could be myself in, and I’m still friends with many people I met during those years.

How did you settle on Azekel, Erik snd Yukimi as collaborators?

Ib Kamara: I’d worked with them on music before although we didn’t release that. I’ve made so much music already to be honest – just because this is the first project I’m releasing it doesn’t mean they’re my only songs!

Tell us a bit more about the EP cover. Is that your bum?

Ib Kamara: Haha yes it’s me! I shot it myself at home. I like how it’s not obvious who it is though, it’s seductive and slightly mysterious.

Finally, in your own words, what is the cost of love?

Ib Kamara: Wow, that’s a hard question! I guess, just like how it feels releasing this music, the cost of love is vulnerability. You have to really let someone get to know you, the good bits and the bad. But of course it’s worth it – the music and the love.

Pop Romance is out now.