Rising star Asha Imuno gave the audience a show to remember with his final performance on BLK ODDYSY’s Fantasy Tour at LA’s El Rey Theatre.

Stream: “eXCiTING :)” – Asha Imuno

Hot off the heels of the success of his debut album PINS & NEEDLES, Asha Imuno storms the stage of one of LA’s most historical theaters, El Rey Theatre, accompanying genre bending powerhouse BLK ODYSSY on The Fantasy Tour.

From beginning to make music in the confines of his bedroom closet in Moreno Valley, California to playing El Rey Theatre, Asha Imuno couldn’t have been more at home on stage on Oct. 1, playing this hometown show. At just 23, Imuno has crafted a unique sound that weaves together jazz, electronic, R&B, and trap stylings, drawing on many rich musical influences that shaped him. The triple threat, rapper, singer, producer, not only has a keen ear for creating memorable and groovy tracks but also the charisma and confidence of someone made for the stage.

Asha Imuno Embraces the ‘PINS & NEEDLES’ of Life in His Debut Album

:: INTERVIEW ::

Bringing the energy on a Tuesday night Imuno came bounding onto the stage alongside collaborator and long time friend Noah Bentley, both dripping with swagger.

Clad in a white, blue and red jersey, robotic gloves, sunglasses and a durag, the rapper hollered “LA, how are y’all feelin’ tonight!” met with cheers from the audience. The artist stands behind a stand in the middle of the stage where he begans taping around, creating a beat that people immediately start moving to, asking again, “No, no, how are y’all feelin’ tonight.”

I felt some ignite in the crowd as Imuno began to take us on a unique sonic journey.

Imuno introduces himself to the crowd, sharing, “I’m a producer first and foremost, do y’all mind if I mix up here real quick.” Armed with his own mixing station, Imuno weaved in stems from his songs alongside beats he was creating on the spot, creating a unique sonic blend before jumping into his set. Hitting the crowd with the opening track from his LP, “AM i GETTING THE WHOLE MESSAGE,” Imuno bounded into action, running across the stage, directing the crowd to dance with him and genuinely having fun, making him impossible to turn away from.

Bentley and Imuno delivered unique blends of fan favorite tracks like “ROAD RAGE,” “BULLSEYE,” “ZIG ZAGGIN,” “PHONICS,” and “DID I CALL AT A BAD TIME.” Watching the two friends transition, blend and bounce off of one another to create a unique live performance was captivating, even more so when you account for Imuno moving between singing, rapping, mixing and performing.

Each song that was performed features intricate and challenging musicality but Imuno rose to the task, executing each song with the ease and confidence of a seasoned performer. Whether that was singing the highest notes in “HONEY,” or rapping every bar of “BULLSEYE,” or teasing the crowd with two entirely new tracks, Imuno makes it look easy to command a crowd.

Ever the proud Moreno Valley-ian, Imuno has always beamed with pride over the progression of his work over the years and how interconnected it is to his community and family.

This was particularly evident in the crowd on Tuesday where friends and family of Imuno were in attendance. During “HONEY” the artist called out “where’s yasi!” as he searched for his nephew in the crowd, who turned out was perched upon a family member’s shoulders. Singing directly to his nephew, who was featured on the closing track of his album, Imuno reminds us who he’s doing it for.

Giving a stand-out performance opening for BLK ODDYSY, Imuno genuinely engages and connects with his audience encouraging them to let loose and feel the music, performs challenging tracks with ease and brings a verve and passion that is palpable from the pit. Armed with his ability to hand craft an immersive soundscape on the spot, natural groove and charisma, Asha Imuno is an artist to have on your radar.

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