Imani-J ‘In The Dark’

“Imani-J is unquestionably a star in the making. A highly skilled songwriter and performer, she displays maturity well beyond her years. In the studio, she stands out as one of the most cooperative and delightful artists to work with, and being part of her artistic journey has been a genuine pleasure.” 

- Christian Tjandrawinata - Producer, 2024

Listen to ‘In The Dark’ https://promo.theorchard.com/XI7UvVuTa15DlRn8Yqgd

16-year-old singer-songwriter Imani-J, from Nelson/Whakatū, releases her new single ‘In The Dark’ on Friday 13th December in collaboration with Producer Christian Tjandrawinata. In Alyana’s words, ‘I wrote In The Dark after I had a falling out with a close friend, so this song is about losing contact with someone very close in your life and feeling lost now that they are not around. Friendships and connections with others is how we survive and thrive socially as humans, so it's completely normal to feel very low after losing a friendship. I want the people who listen to my song to feel comforted and remember that everyone feels the same at some point in their life.’

Imani-J is known for her captivating blend of indie pop, R&B and soul music that is characterised by introspective lyrics and beautiful emotive melodies. Drawing inspiration from Jorja Smith, Arlo Parks, Kehlani and Tems, Imani-J infuses a unique style into her soulful heartfelt compositions. 

Performing since age 12 and singing in English, Te Reo Māori and French, Imani-J has been a repeat national finalist for Play It Strange, Smokefree Rockquest, Bandquest and Tangata Beats. Imani-J has played a number of shows this year and has a string of summer dates on both her solo project and also as a pop-electronic duo JOLA BURNS. 

As an emerging solo artist Imani-J is currently recording her debut EP set for release in 2025. With her talent and dedication she is poised to make a significant impact on the NZ and global music scene