Ilana Jeavons turned down the opportunity at 13 to enter the prestigious London College of Music, choosing instead to follow a more traditional academic institution. She followed this up with a successful career in healthcare, but always craved an outlet for her creativity.
After an extended visit to the US in 2008, Ilana had a seachange, and decided songwriting and recording was the way she wanted to go. She commenced guitar and piano training, and started writing – finding that the lyrics just poured out of her.
Influenced by the likes of Sting, Coldplay and Keane, and now recording as Ilana J, her musical style has had a natural evolution, and her passion has brought her into the circle of people like Mark Alexander, ex-keys for Meatloaf. Mark is now her producer.
Ilana J’s debut EP, ‘Free Falling From The Ground Up’ is inspired by how she feels now that music is back in her life:
“I am letting the music and the lyrics ‘free fall’ out of me and am growing everyday from the ‘ground up’ which is intensely fulfilling on a whole new level”.
‘Paper Planes’ is based on her teenage trauma about when her younger brother tragically died – the pain of which has thankfully now receded –  it’s dedicated to his memory with a message of hope and peace. It will be released on 14 September, preceded by a video filmed in New York City, released the first week of September.
You can find Ilana J online on her website, SoundCloud, Twitter, Facebook, Youtube and Instagram. ‘Free Falling From The Ground Up’ is available now on iTunes.
Check out the video for ‘England’, also from ‘Free Falling From The Ground Up’:
