The Many Colors of Ine’a J: Getting To Know the Pen Fairy
From city that raised so many R&B/Soul greats, there’s a new class of singer-songwriters from Chicago on the rise. One artist in particular in certainly here to stay and that’s The Pen Fairy, Ine’a J. As part of the 100% Off series, the iconic Schubas hosted a free local showcase of Chicago’s newest R&B talent including Ine’a J, Face and Kiraly Payne with guests Cassius Tae and Kayo also joining the stage at various moments.
Known as the “The Pen Fairy,” Ine’a J has been a writer of essays, songs, and more from young. Releasing her first single 4EVA in 2021, Ine’a grew up a classical pianist. She first learned to write songs on the piano and flourished into the multi-faceted creative she is today. She’s a truly soulful vocalist, with a sultry low register. While she takes inspiration from artists like Jhené and Kehlani, she’s ready to bring something classically fresh to the R&B scene. She released her EP The Colors in October 2023; a collection of letters to lovers painted blues, pinks, and reds. I got to sit down with her after her first solo show at Schubas in late March:
Have you performed at Schubas before?
Ine’a J: This is my first time with my own set at Schubas. My really good friend Sydney August let me perform one of my songs before it came out. It was like an unreleased thing, so that was really cool to, you know, let me come on stage here and do one of my songs. And now I ended up with my own show here.
Where did you get the name, The Pen Fairy from?
IJ: Okay, so it’s a long story… but to shorten it — My aunt passed away in 2018 from cancer and we were really, really close. She used to have a fairy tattooed on her foot. I’ve also been really, really good at writing from young. Writing essays, all different kind of stuff — but I’d really be writing songs all the time. So maybe around 2013 I think, I kind of put both of those things together. It’s kind of like putting both things, writing music and my aunt who I love so much, together to create something special.
That’s beautiful. You also said you’re both interested in songwriting for other people and continuing to release solo music?
IJ: Definitely both — when you write songs, you love them so much you want to keep them for yourself. And not to be conceited, but like I love my voice and I like making my own songs. But I also have the goal where it’s like I want to be the person that gets to post on their page like, “Oh I wrote track number 8 on SZA’s project.”
IJ: I’ve played piano since I was five, but I was really trying to get started with the whole recording process in 2018. I definitely had other first singles before my actual first single in 2021. I was in the process of getting things where I needed to get them; musically, sonically, and just getting my resources together.
I know you also self-produce as well; do you start with the songwriting or are you making the music as you’re writing?
IJ: I used to do all acoustic stuff, like writing songs to piano. That’s really all I did because that was all I knew. Then I realized that maybe I should try writing to some beats, which I did. Then I started writing in general and then applying it to music later.
Coming from a classical piano background, are there any non-R&B/soul musicians that you’ve always loved musically?
IJ: I definitely had a lot of R&B influence for sure, but also maybe some pop. A little bit of rock too like I really really like Nirvana, Weezer, stuff like that. Growing up like I was definitely one of those Disney girls, so I was listening to all that stuff on the radio.
How long did it take to fully write and finish Colors?
IJ: That was a process of a year; really two and a half because in the beginning I took some time to see what I wanted to put together; what sound I wanted to create. One of the tracks on there was the first song that I put out with my engineer, and maybe a year before that we were working on stuff. So yeah I would say like two years.
You know how people talk about synesthesia; like you see color you can associate it with something intangible? For Colors, did you like see blue and associate it with a feeling or words? Or was it more writing about a certain feeling and attaching a color to it? What was that creative process?
IJ: I feel like I wanted to convey a feeling to the crowd, or to the listener. But from my writer perspective, it was like the first thing you said — when I look at this color, what do I associate it with? How do colors have a positive or a negative effect? I would just think about how I wanted to portray it. So pink, for example, could be interpreted as girly or lovable, but it could also be materialistic and a little sassy. With green, you would think it would sound more earthy or something like that. But I went for a poison vibe. That song, “instead | green,” was about this girl and the guy going back and forth between their two different perspectives being in a toxic relationship.
What song from The Colors have you been listening to the most, or you’re really excited to perform?
IJ: So at first it was “lover” because that was my favorite song I made. I’m big on bumping music in the car, and that one hits really hard for me. But then I learned after playing these songs live, I absolutely love “letter 2 u.” I loved it beforehand, but I really, really loved it with the live band. Because every time I perform it, I just kind of get a whole different feeling. And that’s the one where I… hmm not lose myself in the song, that’s so cliché. But I do like that’s so real! You just start singing and then the crowd sings along and it’s just such a good time.
Okay so letter 2 u — If you had to put that on a playlist of 3–4 other songs with the same vibe, or songs you may have listened to while you were creating the song, what would you include?
IJ: I used to think about this a lot because it kept giving me “living room flow” Jhené Aiko vibes. I loved that song. I would also think about Justin Timberlake, “Blue Ocean Floor.” I really like the violin. Yeah, that feeling. That’s what it captures when you listen to it. And one more… “Melt” by Kehlani. Or maybe even “Water,” because it’s also blue feeling, but just a little more upbeat. But still “Melt” though, more so because of what Kehlani is lyrically talking about. Similar feelings for sure.
Oooh yes I love that. That’s beautiful.
Keep up with Ine’a J online: @ ineajoffical on IG, @ inea.j on tik tok & Flow.page/IneaJ
