Meet IYS, short for Incredible Young Star. If you haven’t heard the name yet, he’s the fresh sound currently taking over your airwaves and, quite literally, the new wave in your earbuds. Driven by a childhood belief that he could be the main character in his own story, IYS blends a deep-seated love for music history with a modern, gaming-fueled creative process. From early weekend mornings shaped by legendary hits to finding inspiration while playing video games, he is an artist entirely locked into the cruise of creation. 

In this exclusive interview, IYS opens up about his influences, the reality of the independent grind, and what it truly means to channel willpower into real-time results.

Before anything else, who is IYS, and how would you introduce yourself to someone who has never heard your name? 

Hi, my name is IYS (Incredible Young Star), and I’m the new wave in your earbuds.

What is your earliest memory of music meaning something to you? 

Growing up, my sister would play music on speakers every Saturday and Sunday morning, music by legends like Tuface, Dbanj, Ashanti, Toni Braxton, DMX, JaRule, and Westlife.

When did you first realize you could actually do this? 

Just like every other kid, I have always loved seeing artists perform in music videos, you know, having that belief that you can also be the main character in that type of setting. And I mean, I kept that mindset, and as I grow, it keeps manifesting in my reality.

Walk me through what your creative process looks like on a completely ordinary day. 

I play video games a lot, and when I play and listen to beats, I just get inspiration.

Who are the three artists, alive or dead, that you feel influenced you the most? Literally, I would say several of them, it is hard to pinpoint.

What is a sound or genre you secretly love that would surprise people? 

German hip-hop and fusion.

If you had to describe your sound as a food, what would you say?

Porridge.

What has been the hardest thing about pursuing music that nobody warned you about?

Creating and promoting at the same time is not as easy as it sounds.

What does success actually look like for you, the real version of it that you think about at 2 a.m.? 

Being able to channel your willpower to productivity and seeing results compound in real time.

If you could only keep one song from everything you have made so far, which one survives and why?

 All and none, to be honest. You know, after every drop, I kind of detach and start looking forward to the next.

What’s something that the whole world needs to know about IYS?

 I love the Splinter Cell franchise.

What’s your favourite thing about making music? 

You get lost in the cruise, and you don’t even know when you have completed a full song.

Five years from now, what do you want your name to mean, and what does a headline moment look like for you? 

To be an inspiration to the youth that you can achieve anything you set your mind to. I want to serve humanity with my music.