Like other emerging female voices on the French-speaking scene, Iliana stands out for her ability to connect with her audience’s emotional and social realities, far from the polished clichés of idealized romance. Her writing, infused with honesty and vulnerability, explores the complexity of love, choices, and self-reflection.
Iliana sings for her “Mec de quartier”!
The instrumental production is the work of the duo NotAlwaysProud and Ultradieu. The latter, a producer from Alsace, has worked with underground French rap talents such as 8ruki and Thahomey. As for NotAlwaysProud, this marks a rare but noteworthy contribution — the only credit currently listed under his name on Genius. Together, they deliver a delicate blend of afrobeat rhythms and smooth R’n’B textures, representing a new sonic step for the singer.
“I heard you got locked up (Ouh-ouh-ouh)
Ten years they gave you (Oh-oh-oh)
It really shook me (It really shook me)
How am I supposed to go on (How am I supposed to go on)”
The lyrics, both touching and restrained, express the pain of love and the strength it takes to endure separation. With a tender yet powerful performance, Iliana showcases her ability to balance emotional fragility and vocal strength with striking authenticity.
The music video, directed by DJD Production, perfectly extends the song’s cinematic and melancholic tone. Through a minimalist yet refined mise en scène, the director tells a heartfelt story where each shot reflects solitude, hope, and resilience. Visually, the clip stays true to Iliana’s universe — a world of raw emotion and poetic realism, where love, loss, and longing intertwine beautifully.
