Up-and-coming R&B star ilselena is mixing her soul-packed music with a promising modelling career and we are here for it all

With liquid-gold vocals lighting up R&B tunes, we have been fans of ilselena Johnston since we first heard one of her tracks back in early 2020.

Some two years on and the Sevenoaks (by way of Denmark) star has racked up almost 17,000 monthly listeners on Spotify alone and 340,000 plays of her track Seventeen.

As if one burgeoning career wasn’t enough, ilselena (@ilselena) is also picking up campaigns as a model for Select.

With tunes that have soul for days - check out For A Minute on her 2022 EP if this is the future - ilselena brings all the sexy beats and jazzy pianos you could need. Suited to a relaxing glass-of-wine-on-the-sofa listen but also funky enough to imagine it played out in front of exposed brickwork at a trendy basement cafe, ilselena is making her mark. We got in touch to find out a little more.

From Spotify it says you have been releasing music since 2020… was that the real beginning or have you always been making tunes?

I have grown up making up songs with my sister, but I realistically started taking it seriously in 2019/2020 when I started visiting my brother’s studio. He asked me to sing on one of his tracks and this is when I started falling in love with recording in the studio and creating music with my brother (Youngr).

Was music always the way you were going to go, or has it been an opportunity that arose?

My father is a musician and my mother is an ex-dancer who ran a dance school in Kent, so both are very musical. It’s in the blood! Music and dance have always been a big part of my life. I started dance lessons at the age of five and went to a Kent dance school when I moved there from Denmark. I then went to a theatre school in London. I’m now doing a degree in music. I knew early on I wanted to do music in one way or another for a career.

And can you remember the moment you knew you wanted to be a recording artist?

The moment I realised I wanted to be a recording artist was when I saw how much love and support I received when I released my first single Seventeen in the first lockdown of 2020.

What is the state of play at the minute - are you signed and working towards albums?

I am working independently alongside my brother in the studio. This is the process I have stuck with for each and every track I have out on music platforms. We work so well together, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Your music has some R&B and soul and a bit of pop to it… how would you describe it to people?

I would describe my music as fitting both genres of pop and R&B. I am leaning towards the R&B sound as that is what I love listening to.

Is that the music you grew up listening to?

Yes. I grew up listening to R&B artists. Alicia Keys played a huge part in my childhood. I also loved listening to Bruno Mars, The Beatles and Sade. Growing up, I would jam out to my dad’s music, too - Kid Creole and the Coconuts. I am very fortunate to have been introduced to all styles and decades of music from a very young age.

We see you’re a model with Select, too. How do you juggle the two?

Yes, I have been modelling for a couple years now. I always manage to juggle my modelling and music. My agents and I work closely together on the modelling jobs that work well alongside my career.

Is there one you focus on more? Is there anything we would have seen you on? Billboards?

I have done a selection of sick campaigns. I did a Burberry campaign with my sister Ilanaluna when I was 18, which is a highlight of mine. I also did an Asos x Nike collab, which was a fun one. My biggest solo job was definitely my Urban Outfitters lingerie x yoga campaign.

What is the career moment that most had your head in a spin?

The career moment that most had my head spinning was my recent EP launch, which took place in London’s very own Notting Hill Arts Club. I sold out the venue and couldn’t be happier with how the night ended.

How do you get from 10,000 views to 300,000 views and play in 136 countries? What’s your one tip or secret?

My top tip with streams and views on the social media platforms is sticking to a consistent upload on socials and never giving up when it comes to releasing music. I am so thankful to have the support that helps push my music in all the right directions.