Date: Thursday, 24 April 2025
"I just have a lot... it's a mix melting pot of all these different flavors," RIMON told EBONY, pinpointing the many musical genres that fuel her work. From her early immersion in the R&B legends like Destiny's Child and Alicia Keys to discovering the alt-leaning sounds of Santi Gold and the gritty influence of hip-hop icons like Kendrick Lamar and Schoolboy Q, RIMON’s artistic palette is both vast and bold.
On her debut album, Children of the Night, RIMON pushes the boundaries of traditional genres, inspired by artists like Kendrick Lamar, Tyler, and Kanye West. "They would have a genre, like hip-hop, and push it further," she said. "I kind of felt like doing that for my album. All those alternative influences... collided in one thing but still made it R&B." This forward-thinking approach is what is likely to make her stand out in a highly saturated music ecosystem while retaining the essence of the sound that first inspired her.
Growing up in a small town outside of Amsterdam, RIMON felt the pull of larger creative communities, eventually gravitating toward Amsterdam’s vibrant music scene. “I knew I had to go to the city,” she recalled. “That’s where I started meeting a lot of people."
Despite her local surroundings, RIMON’s determination to break boundaries led her to pursue a career in English music, eventually becoming a trailblazer in a scene that previously had few examples of artists breaking out globally. “I’m proud of what we’ve done,” she reflected, "because at the time, it was rare in Amsterdam." Her resilience and forward-thinking approach continue to define her journey as she continues to shape and shift the global music landscape.
EBONY: How would you describe your music?
RIMON: I think I just have a lot. I grew up on Destiny's Child, Alicia Keys, Beyoncé. The R&B bag was there from an early age. As I got older, I started immersing myself more in different subcultures and people. I was very much into alternative music - Santi Gold. When I saw her, a Black alt girl, that was my whole wave. I was like, ‘Oh my God, I love that. I want to be her.’ That influenced me to listen to different stuff.
When recording Children of the Night, how did you navigate which sounds to lean into?
I felt inspired by how certain rappers, like Kendrick, Tyler or even Kanye, would take a genre, like hip-hop, and push it further. I wanted to do the same thing with my album. I combined influences like alternative music, indie and even Afrobeats, but still kept it R&B.
Yeah. I was raised by my mom, so it’s just been women around me. My mom had to hustle, manage having kids, and being a single mom. She was the boss of the house. That resilience, no matter what, was instilled in me. That energy was passed on to me.
Sometimes older Africans have a hard time seeing music as a viable career path. Was your family supportive of you?
No. My mom had a vision for me. I was good in school, and she thought I would be a doctor or a lawyer. When I dropped out of school at 17, she was devastated [laughs]. When I told her I was going to do music, she was very disappointed and scared I wouldn’t have stability. But once things started rolling, she got it.
There's a recurring narrative among many African families about wanting the best for their children while also placing limits on what they think is possible.
Yeah, they didn’t have the luxury to think outside the box.
What was it like growing up and living in the Netherlands, especially with its underground music scene in Amsterdam?
I didn’t grow up in Amsterdam, but I went there often. My town had only 16,000 people, so there wasn’t much diversity. I started sneaking out to Amsterdam when I was 14 or 15, and that's when I met a lot of like-minded people. The New York Tumblr era, where kids were outside taking pictures with different-colored hair—that kind of inspired what happened in Amsterdam.
How does it feel to be recognized by your heroes, like Giveon, Denzel Curry, EarthGang, Pharrell, and Jorja Smith?
The fashion world has embraced you. That's usually key for a pop star. Where does your love of fashion come from?
I didn’t care about fashion until I was 13 or 14. Then I started researching blogs, and fashion became a tool to tell a story, just like my music. I appreciate that fashion brands work with me because they see how detailed I am in my visuals.
If someone's just discovering you, what do you hope they receive from your music?
I want people to feel they can make bold decisions for their lives and stand firm. Fear is not the best way to live. The idea of trying is more comforting than the regret of not trying.
