IKEVALD Unleashes “Lick the Sun” and Connects With Us on Artistic Growth, Bold Moves, and Burning Bright
- STAFF
- Jun 26
- 6 min read
By: Staff
“Lick the Sun” is a fearless, genre-bending triumph—radiant, soul-stirring, and utterly unforgettable.
Ikevald Unleashes “Lick the Sun” and Steps Into the Fire!
Something is shifting. Estonian-born artist Ikevald just dropped “Lick the Sun”, and it’s not just a debut, it’s a signal flare. This is music that doesn’t ask for your attention, it commands it. There’s a pulse behind every beat, a story in every note, and a fearless kind of heat that lingers long after the track ends.
But who exactly is Ikevald, and what drives a song like this into existence? There’s a sense that he’s chasing something deeper. A new chapter. A reckoning. A kind of freedom that doesn’t wait for permission.
We sat down with Ikevald to get into the real story: the leap of faith behind the move, the people behind the sound, and what it truly means to "lick the sun." The result is one of our most personal and honest interviews to date.
Keep reading, and meet the voice behind the fire.
Begin Interview:
Hello Ikevald, we’re thrilled to have you here for this interview! We've had an amazing time exploring your music and diving into your creative journey. Now, we’re even more intrigued to get a deeper look into both your brand and your personal and professional inspirations.
Q. For the fans meeting you for the first time, is Ikevald your given name or a stage name? What inspired you to choose that for your artist persona?
A. Ikevald is my real name. It's an ancient Estonian name and for now I seem to be the only one carrying that name in the world!
It sounds like a Viking who went on a soul-searching trip through Latin America—and that’s… pretty accurate. I kept it because I didn’t want to hide behind anything. My music is about showing up exactly as I am—awkward, passionate, poetic, and maybe a little loco.
Q. As a teaser description, what would you tell someone about this song to intrigue them about its meaning and get them interested in listening to it?
A. “Lick the Sun” is that reckless voice in your head that says, “Screw it, let’s do something wild and beautiful today.” It’s about leaving the safe zone, dancing with your doubts, and choosing joy even if your GPS is glitching. If you’ve ever chased a feeling you couldn’t explain—that’s this song.
Q. You’ve described “Lick the Sun” as a leap into the unknown. What made you trust the instinct to trade Northern Europe for Southern Spain, and how did that leap shape the song’s emotional core?
A. I needed more sunlight—literally and metaphorically. Northern Europe taught me discipline and melancholy ballads. Spain taught me how to live, how to let go, and how to take siestas without guilt. That contrast became the emotional engine of the song: letting go of overthinking and trusting the rhythm of your own heart. Even if it’s in flamenco tempo.
Q. You’ve said this track is about choosing your own story, even if you’re still writing it. What part of your story are you embracing most boldly right now?
A. The messy middle! The part where you don’t know if the plot twist is a breakdown or a breakthrough. I’m embracing the freedom in uncertainty—creating, loving, failing forward, and letting life be more of a poem than a plan.
Q. We loved the whole track and the supporting music arrangement’s energy is undeniably magnetic. But honestly, it’s your vocals that absolutely captivate. What is the process of forging the sound and delivery of your voice, and who do you work with to shape that final amazing sound—or is it more of a solo experience?
A. Thank you! My voice is like a moody roommate—it only behaves when I treat it with respect, sunshine, and lemon-ginger tea. I’ve spent years singing in concert halls, smoky clubs, … and showers, laundry rooms, forests and meadows. I have my vocal coach Zoja Hertz to thank who has guided me in this and my mother, who is opera singer herself.
Q. How does making music make you feel? Does it release or allow healing of the feelings that created it, or does it make them resurface?
A. Music makes me feels more alive than anything else. It’s a bit like emotional alchemy. Some songs are a release, like exhaling after holding your breath for years. But they are also the perfect mirror to examine yourself, like a dance of frequencies that opens portals to old and new world. It's like a place where my chaos gets a groove.
Q. There’s a real fusion of styles in this track: pop, soul, and a touch of reggaeton. Was that genre-blending a conscious choice, or did it come naturally as your environment changed?
A. I love creating fusions of styles. Growing up literally under a piano, as my father composed musical pieces, everything was a big dance of melody. So if I'm really honest, it's just really natural for me to explore and discover, where could I take this song. I've never before written a reggeton section, so I guess it was just exciting new territory and of course, a piece of the culture I've breathed in recently.
Q. Your sound merges British songwriting with Latin textures, but you’re originally Estonian. With so many cultures in play, how do your collaborators help you translate your global perspective into something musically cohesive?
A. I think of music like a passport—it speaks more with emotion than words. My collaborators help me land the plane. Pete and Sarah are incredible at taking my wild, emotional voice notes and shaping them into melodies that still feel universal. It’s less about translation and more about feeling the vibe underneath the accent.
Q. “Lick the Sun” was co-written and produced with Pete Barringer and Sarah Rose Campbell, with Simon Davis on guitar. What did each of them bring to the track that you feel couldn’t have existed without them?
A. Pete brought structure to my storm. Sarah added sparkle and emotional precision—like lyrical acupuncture. And Simon’s guitar? That man plays sunshine. It’s like his strumming is flirting with your soul. Without them I would've never had the courage to dive deep into my weird and really let it play out.
Q. You’ve worked closely with the DWB Music team. What’s the dynamic like when you’re in a room with collaborators who really get your vision? Is it more about refining your ideas or challenging them? What did that quiet, rural setting of the DWB Studios in Surrey unlock in your creativity that perhaps a big city couldn’t?
A. With DWB, it’s like walking into a kitchen full of master chefs who actually want you to experiment. They push me—kindly but firmly—to say more with less and to trust the magic of simplicity. And being in that quiet countryside? It stripped away the noise—literal and mental. It gave the songs space to breathe, like they were recorded in slow motion. Greig Watts has just been a great support, guide and friend in all of this from the DWB side.
Q. How did co-writing this single compare to writing alone? Did working with Pete and Sarah push you into any unexpected lyrical or musical directions?
A. Writing alone is therapy. Co-writing with Pete and Sarah is therapy… with better snacks and surprise yoga breaks. They challenged me to be clearer, braver, and sometimes sillier. “Lick the Sun” wouldn’t be half as fun or fearless without that dynamic.
Q. Do you have a favorite song from your early years—one you’d love to cover in the studio because it still feels deeply connected to who you are today?
A. Yes—“Kiss from a Rose” by Seal. That song is drama, mystery, romance, and a weird melody all wrapped into one. It’s like a Gothic soap opera for your soul. I used to sing it at full volume in my bedroom in Estonia, surrounded by snow and dreams.
Q. We can’t thank you enough for sharing these intimate details! So, what’s next? Can you give us the inside scoop on your upcoming projects and what fans should be excited about? We’d love to be the first to share the news!
A. You’re so welcome—and YES. This is just the first taste. The full album is coming later this year and it’s a wild road trip through sound, soul, and sunshine. Expect more genre-blending, heart-healing tracks—and probably some unexpected cameos. Also, I’m hitting the stage with a full live show that’ll make you dance, cry, and question your life choices (in a good way). Buckle up. This journey’s just getting started.
Ikevald, thank you so much, we appreciate you taking the time to talk to us!
End Interview
