Memphis Music Feature: Raneem Imam
Discover new music and get to know the amazing people making that music with these I Love Memphis Music Features. Check out all the music features here.
Discover new music and get to know the amazing people making that music with these I Love Memphis Music Features. Check out all the music features here.
This month's feature is a local musician who is always stylish and always staying busy. If you've been to a recent event in the city, Raneem Imam was probably performing at it. If you haven't seen her yet, you can catch her performing live the last Friday of every month at Slider Inn Downtown.

Our interview with Raneem Imam
Our interview with Raneem Imam
How would you describe your style of music?
I would say my style is a mix of R&B and Pop, but as an artist, I don't like to box myself into one sound. I tend to bend genres a lot! I don't really sit down and tell myself, "I'm going to write an R&B song today." I just creatively lean into whatever naturally comes to me, kind of similar to carving a slab of stone. I'm just chiseling away at it until the art begins to show itself, and my job is simply to help it come to life to the best of my ability.
Is there a song of yours that is especially special to you and why?
From released music, I would say "Flame" is my baby. I wrote and produced it alone in my room during the pandemic, and I would send the files back and forth with my co-producer Calvin Lauber. It was such a blast to create this track, and I just remember dancing around my room to it by myself, pretending like I was in a music video. It helped me through a dark time, and to this day, it never fails to reignite the flame within me.
What about Memphis inspires you creatively?
There's so much room for artists to execute their creative ideas. I always like to say I treat the city like my own personal playground, like a blank canvas I can keep filling with as much or as little as I want. The amount of talent I see around the 901 floors me. From original music to unique fashion to incredible events, I feel so inspired to get out there, create my own space, and do my own thing because you see so many people doing it too!

What do you love about the current Memphis music scene?
The artists in this city are so supportive of each other. Whether you're just starting out or have established yourself, everyone plays for the same team. We all want to see each other win. We're working around the clock to show the world that Memphis music is incredibly diverse and our artists are extremely innovative.
There is a lot of great music being made in this city because there's so much love and passion being poured into the writing, the production, and the mixes. From R&B to Dance to Americana to Hip-hop to Pop, no matter what artistic style you're listening to, the music sounds and feels incredible.
Which place gives you that Memphis vibe?
Ever since moving Downtown, I just feel so much more connected to the city. South Main has become my favorite place to be in Memphis. I also love the Memphis riverfront and watching the sunsets on the river so much. To me, Tom Lee Park is the best new place in Memphis to visit and get a real vibe for what the city has going for it.

Do you have a story that changed you as an artist, a moment in time that moved the needle for you?
There's a moment during my shows where the audience locks in with me, and I can see from the stage that they're really listening to the music, to the words, to the arrangements, and they're actually enjoying themselves at this local artist's performance. Every time it happens, my eyes sting just a little, and I get a bit choked up. It's such a beautiful gift to do something you love to do, but to have other people—strangers!—also love what you're doing, and they feel moved to keep supporting you through your journey.
That's why I love performing. There's nothing like that human connection. It's a check-in with your community to let them know you've been grinding and you're not playing around. When they can see the blood, sweat, and tears for themselves, it gets easier to tell yourself, "Maybe I am good at this. I'm on to something here, and I just have to keep going."
What is the most unexpected music interest you have?
I feel like some people don't expect a singer to have a hand in producing her own music. I really love being involved in the execution of a song from start to finish. I can't help myself, when I have an idea, I wanna see it through. Whether it's a subtle touch or a whole melodic shift, I use music-making as an opportunity to try something different and to create a cool listening experience for the listener.
You can hear a bit of that in my last EP where if you really listen to all those layers... that's me! I tucked those in there for you to appreciate, whether it be passively or actively.

Where can we hear you?
If you want to hear me sing live in 2023, I perform a live show at Slider Inn Downtown every last Friday of the month from 7-10pm!
You can listen to me on all streaming platforms under "Raneem Imam"!
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5EfYGJwZ6qNowfbgDuEPyb?si=bLQ-8ZHQRb6XUkNXQncbqw
Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/raneem-imam/1397271142
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIb0TgF1-tX7w1vZLdFp_PQ?app=desktop
What are you working on currently or any recent projects?
Working on some new songs that you may or may not hear sneak peeks of at my shows... See you in 2024!

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