Driving with an undoubtedly unique story and a lifelong passion for Hip Hop, Orlando’s Ivan ATS gears up to launch his debut EP in the Summer 2021 – the intense and energising, revealing and intricate ‘Stuck In My Ways’.
An artist dedicated to authenticity, Ivan promises a bold and unbreakable connection with his audience. The new album covers his story through surgery, along with controversial relationships with women, family troubles, and all that has left him ‘Stuck In His Ways’.
Vulnerability, confidence, openness and passion unite with absolute professionalism, for a crisp yet gritty – often upbeat, always genuine – captivating new project. 1InMusic meets the music artist.
1 In Music: What is unique about you and your music?
Ivan ATS [IA]: I feel like what makes me unique as an artist is how long I have been working in this industry. Since the age of 14, I have been in the Orlando music scene. And I feel like that gives me an advantage because I learned a lot about the business side of the music industry at such an early age. I feel like what makes my music so unique is that I am very transparent with the stories I tell. I never hold back in the creative process. I never really cared what people thought of me and that reflects big time in how open I am in my records.
1 In Music: What or who shaped your music and who supports you?
IA: Growing up, a few artists who really shaped my music career and had a big influence on me would have to be Kanye West, Drake, Big Krit, Big Sean, J Cole and the late great Mac Miller. Starting my music career at a young age I always had a great support system and people who really believed in me and my music. For starters, “Mean” Jean Fremont discovered me at only 14 years old and invested a lot of time and money into my career and was the best mentor I could ask for. That along with support from my parents, family and my peers really drove me and kept that burning passion inside of me to follow my dreams.
1 In Music: When did you realise you were going to make music professionally?
IA: The first time I realized I was going to make music professionally was when I was in the 7th grade. Growing up, I was always a good writer and even won a school wide speech contest in elementary school. So, the creativity was always there. In the 7th grade I started writing music because I always had a passion for Hip Hop. I was constantly watching MTV and BET and just knew that was what I wanted. I remember recording with a USB Rock Band Mic using the Audacity program on my laptop at my boys crib and releasing songs on YouTube in only the 7th grade.
1 In Music: What type of music do you listen to?
IA: Surprisingly I listen to a wide variety of Genre’s, my Apple music library is very diverse. I can go from listening to 50 Cent and the next song on shuffle is Brent Faiyaz to the next song being Whitney Houston. I am very big into R&B music and have always used current and old school R&B as influence in my music. Aside from Hip Hop and R&B I occasionally listen to Spanish trap such as Annuel and Bad Bunny. And something people don’t know about me is that, from time to time, I throw some country music in the mix. I like Kenny Chesney’s music a lot and as a musician I feel as if I can gain inspiration across all genres.
1 In Music: How do you prepare for your performances?
IA: With preparing for each performance, rehearsal is key. I don’t go up there and try to sound like I’m reading off a script when telling my story. This is because when on stage, it has to come natural so you can paint the picture perfectly for your audience. Rehearsing your songs, thinking of different ways I can connect with my audience and how can I leave an imprint on them that they won’t forget.
1 In Music: What do you do when you don’t do music (creative or otherwise) and that you are passionate about?
IA: During this process I was passionate about school as well, I completed my Bachelor’s degree at the University of Central Florida in the year 2018 and I feel like going to school really helped influence my music and helped me gained knowledge that I use in my music today,.
1 In Music: Success to you is…?
IA:
“Success in the music industry to me is just doing what you love and being able to make a living out of it.
Outside of music I make great money but I am not doing what I love. I feel that once I am able to only make money off of my music alone and can continue to be creative and let the world hear my creation then I will consider myself successful in the music industry. I never get complacent and will always stay hungry.
1 In Music: What do you wish you were told when you started out and that you think would help anyone who starts out?
IA: I wish I could go back in time just to tell the younger version of my self to not get distracted from the main goal. I feel when I started out in the music industry at a young age I was too worried about partying and getting caught up in regular high school kid stuff when I knew I wasn’t regular nor wanted to be regular. Knowing what I know now, I would tell any upcoming young artist to
“stay focused, grind and keep a solid group of people around you because you are a product of your environment.
1 In Music: Any upcoming projects?
IA: I am actually getting ready to launch my debut EP “Stuck in My Ways” early this August. The project is really versatile and appeals to many different types of listeners. The new EP covers my story through brain surgery, along with controversial relationships I’ve had with women, some family troubles, and all that has left me ‘Stuck In His Ways’. The EP is really a good time, I got some party records on there, some records for the ladies and some songs that really tap into my personal life and show you who Ivan “ATS” really is.
1 In Music: Where do we find you music / music project?
IA: You can always find my music on my website IvanATSmusic.com and on all my social media platform @IvanATSmusic – Facebook, Tik tok, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube.
Thank you.
Upcoming EP – “Stuck In My Ways” August 2021