Asha Imuno is Drinking the Florida Water
The California-born musician explores his vulnerable side and wants you to get comfortable with the uncomfortable.
Asha Imuno by Nani Garcia
“Music was a part of raising me,” says California-born musician Asha Imuno. “It’s very much in my DNA. Music is a reflection of all of the different ways that all art around me impacted my lens. It’s an ever-evolving take on all of my favorite things about this life.”
Imuno’s latest release, FLORIDA WATER, follows singles “DID I CALL IT A BAD TIME?” with Rizz Capolatti and “PUSHING BUTTONS.” In each song, he looks inward to recollect nostalgic stories while leaving his relatable experiences open to interpretation for listeners. He says he wants FLORIDA WATER, in addition to his entire discography, to become better as time progresses. These singles follow his 2022 single “PERFECT PACE” and lead up to his highly-anticipated album PINS & NEEDLES next year.
FLORIDA WATER’s tracks and music video portray the complexities, nostalgia, and self-identity as Imuno’s experiences of a Black man growing up in a California suburb. He enters his vulnerable side through intricate visuals influenced by Moonlight and Atlanta. Imuno credits his frequent collaborators like Angel Orozco, who directed the music video, and album co-producers Zach Ezzy and Jack Dine.
“It’s very close to home,” Imuno says about FLORIDA WATER’s lyrics and music video. “It’s a way of checking in. I wanted it to reflect the feeling around the time it came out. A lot of people are either anxious or excited to see their family and rekindle connections with people back home. It’s a really big feeling that I think is usually implied to one of those forms, but it’s all of them at the same time.”
In September, Imuno earned Pigeons and Planes’ title Best New Artist thanks to his West Coast-inspired single “DID I CALL IT A BAD TIME?” He also recently performed at the BET Awards’ A Toast to Black Hollywood, leading to co-signs from the likes of Jordan Ward and Hit-Boy. In addition, the multifaceted musician is a member of the POC-led community KOGO with CONNIE, Alé Araya, Curtis Waters, KOAD, and more.
Whether individual or collective, Imuno approaches the bewildering aspects of familial relationships by honoring all the feelings that come with it. The intention of a palate cleanser inspired FLORIDA WATER’s title before fully diving into an album. Florida Water is the American version of Cologne Water or Eau de Cologne. It is meant to balance out flavors in drinks — the same way Imuno wants to evoke a sense of balance in his music.
“I lean into the parts that are uncomfortable,” he says. “That’s the first place that my mind goes. When digging into what’s real, sometimes it’s hard, but other times it’s so beautiful. I think that’s the feeling we’re all trying to tap into when we create. I emphasize that the most. Sometimes, to a fault, I’m very intentional about it.”
Imuno’s creative journey is gradual — until he gets a creative burst. He takes his time but can write three songs in two days if lyrics come to mind. He says he can write ten songs intermittently over two weeks. Regarding collaboration and instrumentation, they come last like the cherry on top.
If Imuno could talk to his child self, he would say to get comfortable with the uncomfortable. “It wasn’t until I entered rooms with music surrounded by the most gifted pianists, writers, and producers,” he says. “I understood where the ceiling really is, and I started tapping into what I felt was the most special in me. I feel like a lot of kids feel the same way.”
He notes how children are often bound to core skills but can’t acquire creative liberation until they are much older — something Imuno wishes for his child self and all children. Now that he’s grown, he aims to be as liberated as he was inclined during his childhood. Whether it’s familial complexities, relationships, or a minute life experience, expect the West Coast artist not to hold his tongue in PINS & NEEDLES and beyond.
