Inji (singer) explained

Inji
Birth Name:İnci Gürün
Birth Date:2001 1, mf=yes
Birth Place:Istanbul, Turkey
Occupation:Singer-songwriter
Years Active:2022–present
Genre:Pop

Inci Gürün (born January 2, 2001),[1] [2] better known by her stage name Inji (stylized in all caps), is a Turkish singer-songwriter currently based in Philadelphia. She rose to prominence with her singles "Gaslight" and "Madeline", both of which went viral on TikTok in 2022. Her debut EP LFG was released on July 21, 2023.

Early life

Inci was born on January 2, 2001, in Istanbul, Turkey.[3] Her paternal grandfather, Orhan, founded the tugboat shipyard Sanmar Denizcilik, which is currently chaired by Inci's father, Ali. Both men are guitarists, with Orhan working alongside Seyyal Taner.[4] Having loved music from a very young age she enrolled in the Istanbul University State Conservatory in 2008 and studied music theory and classical piano.[5] Throughout the next ten years she would compete in several piano competitions across Europe, and after moving to London to attend high school, she started singing in jazz groups and choirs. This continued into her time at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where she formed a jazz group and performed on the campus.[6] [7]

Career

2022: First singles and TikTok success

Gürün's first single, "Gaslight", was produced alongside fellow Penn student Alex Graf, who had previously been a guitarist in her jazz project. The song was made "basically [...] in a week" using only resources available at the Penn campus. A demo of the song posted to TikTok went viral and propelled Gürün's popularity to reach some of the most popular creators on the website, including Charli D'Amelio and Bella Poarch.[8] The song reached over 300,000 streams on Spotify in under two weeks.[9]

The follow-up single, "Madeline", received similar success, which was further pushed by—among several—Gürün's appearance on Tidal's Rising Artist and airplay on BBC's Radio 1.[10] Notably, the singer also appeared on Samsung's miniseries Make It With Nile Rodgers, hosted by Nile Rodgers.[11]

2023: "The One" and debut EP

Gürün's first release of the year, "The One", continued the singer's viral stardom. The song, described by Inji as "the new single girl anthem", was later remixed by Marc Kinchen and Lee Foss.[12] "The One" is featured in EFootball '24.

LFG, Inji's first EP, was released via Astralwerks on July 21, 2023.[13] [14]

Influences

Gürün mentions jazz and blues musicians as a major factor in her style of songwriting, pointing to them being "so creative in the span of such a small space". The singer refers to Amy Winehouse as "her favorite artist in terms of storytelling".[15] She is very open to experimentation in her music, saying "I'm not gonna say no to anything—you know, hyperpop, bring it on!" as a reply to her audience anticipating a hyperpop song.[16]

Discography

EPs

Title! scope="col"
Details
LFG

Singles

Title! scope="col"
Details
"Gaslight"
  • Released: April 14, 2022
  • Label: Self-released
"Madeline"
  • Released: September 9, 2022
  • Label: Polydor
"The One"
  • Released: January 19, 2023
  • Label: Polydor
"Bored"
  • Released: May 11, 2023
  • Label: Polydor
"Untz Untz"
  • Released: June 29, 2023
  • Label: Polydor
"Bellydancing"
  • Released: November 2, 2023
  • Label: Polydor
"Hate Your Guts"
  • Released: March 15, 2024
  • Label: Polydor
"BIG UP"
  • Released: April 26, 2024
  • Label: Self-released
"NICE TO MEET YA"
  • Released: July 12, 2024
  • Label: AWAL
  • Featuring: Flyana Boss
"GIRLZ"
  • Released: August 16, 2024
  • Label: AWAL

Notes and References

  1. injiverse . C1mXyqENYeK . 2 January 2024 . I was born on jan 2 coz my mom thought the doctors would be hungover on jan 1. True story. . 21 February 2024 . live . https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/injiverse/3271406815542609802_3271397971181482957 . 21 February 2024.
  2. injiverse . Cm7onsYNd6k . turned 22 today and i gottem FEELS guys . 3 January 2023 . 21 February 2024.
  3. Web site: Inji-nious. Fizzy Mag. 27 July 2023. Brent. Callwood.
  4. Web site: Derya misali uçsuz bucaksız bir gönül adamı Orhan Gürün. Marinedealnews. 30 August 2010. Yeşim Yeliz. Egeli.
  5. Web site: Artist You Need To Know: INJI. The New Nine. 1 June 2022. Emily. Treadgold.
  6. Web site: Singer, Songwriter, and Penn Student: @injimusic. 34th Street. 4 October 2022. Sophie. Barkan.
  7. Web site: From Penn student to record deal: How a 15-second TikTok video changed my life. The Inquirer. 6 January 2023. Inci. Gürün.
  8. Web site: INJI talks her debut single, "Gaslight". Twenty Minutes Later. 20 May 2022. Annie. Levin.
  9. Web site: INJI – Gaslight. A1234. 6 May 2022. Jordyn. Day.
  10. Web site: Turkish born musician INJI unveils brand new single 'MADELINE'. Sport Playlists. 30 September 2022.
  11. Web site: INJI (Polydor/Range). Hits Daily Double. 12 April 2023.
  12. Web site: INJI with new single 'The One' External Inbox. With Guitars. 19 January 2023. Jo. Peters.
  13. Web site: INJI Releases New Track, "UNTZ UNTZ". Prelude Press. 29 June 2023. Dom. Vigil.
  14. Web site: INJI Drops Debut EP "LFG": A Wild Ride of Catchy Electronic-Pop Bliss . Fizzy Mag. 21 July 2023. Fizzy. Staff.
  15. Web site: INJI Inspires Joy On Debut EP LFG. Bricks. 21 July 2023. Madeline. Reid.
  16. Web site: INJI talks about new single 'Bored' and rising to fame on social media. Variance. 15 May 2023. Agnius. Kazlauskas.