Ilykimchi’s Experimental Sounds

1202 MAGAZINE discussed her recent album, collaborations, and the story of her joining the Working On Dying collective.

agony, cover

You may have heard Ilykimchi’s beats featured on songs for notable hip-hop artists such as Ken Carson, Ski Mask the Slump God, TiaCorine, Teezo Touchdown, and DC The Don. But not too long ago, she explored the sound of electronic and dance music by making her own songs. In September, she unveiled her first album, agony, which is filled with ambient and upbeat sounds. She cultivates her creative passions through her house-like music, making clothes, and collaborating with other skillful producers and artists. 

You just released your album agony last month. So, when did you first start making your own music, and what sparked your interest in making music?

Well, technically, I made my first song like years ago, in 2019, because I started engineering for people, so I had to learn Pro Tools, so I was just like messing around and made a song as a joke. And then I didn't make any songs for like two years because I was just focusing on producing, and then probably in like 2022, I just made this beat randomly like, and I just decided to make a song on it, and that ended up being the second song I dropped called “leave me alone.” So I just made that like one night, and then my boyfriend's brother came over, and he was like, oh my gosh, this is fire. You need to keep making songs. I was like, okay, bet. 

When creating agony, did you get any inspiration from other producers or artists?

Yeah, most of the songs on there are produced by Niles. And actually, the way that I found Niles, he made a remix of one of my other songs called “I Can't,” and I really liked the remix. I was like, let's work together more, and then he sent me hella beats. Then, two of the songs on there I made on my beats, but then I gave it to him, and we switched it to his beats. 

So, making beats and working alongside big artists like Ken Carson, TiaCorine, Ski Mask The Slump God, and Teezo Touchdown, did those collaborations influence your vision when making your own music?

Yeah, I feel like I definitely take influences from everyone I work with, especially if I see how they're working in the studio with their writing process. I always take notes on that and just try to become a better artist. For example, when I first started making songs, I would just make the song line by line without trying to write it first or thinking of a concept. But then I’d be in the studio with other artists, and they would write the song, then record it. So I was like, okay, maybe I'll do that.

Tell me the story of how you joined Working On Dying and working alongside the rest of the collective.

Basically, in 2020, I just DM'd Oogie, and I was like, “Hey, I have loops for you,” and then we ended up linking up in the studio and made hella beats together. Then, after I was working with him for like months, Ness, the manager of Working On Dying, was just like, “Do you want to be in Working On Dying?” And everyone's so chill. It's like a family.

What's your favorite released beat that you've made?

Probably “Kick Back,” the Lil Keed song. But it's not really my favorite beat that I've made. I just really like that song a lot. 

Would you say “gang” (a song from Ken Carson’s Lost Files 3, featuring Destroy Lonely and Lil Tecca) is one of your favorites?

Yeah, I love that beat. I made it at this Working On Dying camp. It's crazy because the camp was at Paramount Recording Studios, and then when the song was actually recorded as “gang,” it was also at Paramount in the same room. 

And Ken, Lone, and Tecca just hopped on it? 

Yeah, I just played it, and then they all got on it. First, Ken got on it, and they were all in the studio going back and forth. Then they played the whole song, and I was like, “Wait, this is crazy.”

Do you like making type beats, or do you prefer experimenting with different genres and sounds?

Well, honestly, I was grinding and making beats for rappers for at least a couple of years, and then I kind of got burnt out from making only trap beats, so now I’m trying to make different sounds. But I still make type beats all the time.

What genre would you want to experiment with more in regards to making your own music? 

I really like making indie and house kind of. 

Which other artists and producers would you like to collaborate with in the future in regards to making your own music and producing?

I'd love to collaborate with Grimes for my music and producing-wise. I also want to work with WondaGurl just cause I look up to her. 

And in regards to making your clothes, what would you say your creative process is like?

For the first shirt, I just had a design in mind, and then I hit up this girl, and she made the design. Then Jarek, who does all the merch for Working On Dying, added stuff to it and helped me get suppliers for the shirt, and then we dropped it. And then, for the other shirts, there's one that was inspired by Bjork’s tour poster. It's the one with a bunch of like, repeating faces on it. 

Do you have any projects you’re currently working on or plan on doing in the future?

Oh yeah. The year's about to end, so I've been working with a couple of artists on finishing their albums. And then I'm probably going to do a show soon DJing, but usually when I've been booked to DJ, it’s for underground shows, so I play a lot of rap music. But this show is going to be more house and electronic. And I'm probably going to start streaming, too.