To coincide with the release of the stunning and empowering new genre-fusing single UNSEEN, we caught an interview with French rapper and artist willine, to find out more about the music, the inspiration for the song, the ambitions that drive things, and plenty more. Here’s how it went.
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Hi willine – it’s a pleasure to connect with you. You bring a refreshing air of expressive freedom to modern music, blending genres with fearless creativity and conceptual depth.
Who or what first inspired you to make music, and of all the disciplines – rap, poetry, songwriting, production – which was the first to draw your passion?
I first found my voice in poetry. Writing was my way of surviving silence, of putting light on feelings I couldn’t express out loud. From there, rhythm came naturally – rap gave me the strength, melody gave me the tenderness. Music became a bridge between those two worlds, and I realized it was the most complete language I could speak.
Tell me about the creative process for ‘Unseen’. What inspired the story, and how did you build these layers?
Unseen came from a deep place of feeling misunderstood. I wanted to capture the weight of silence, the way emotions hide behind masks. The song starts very intimate – just voice and piano – and then rises with layers, percussion, and atmosphere, like a storm breaking into light. It mirrors my journey from fragility to resilience.
What advice could you give to those who are feeling similarly misunderstood – how can they maintain hope and move forwards believing in themselves?
I’d say: don’t let others define your worth. The fact that you feel different means you carry something unique. Turn that into your strength.
“Even in the darkest places, hope is not loud – it’s a whisper. Listen to it, and move one step at a time.”
How much of your sound is organic, and what would a live show look like?
A lot of my sound comes from organic roots – piano, strings, and my raw voice. In a live show, I imagine something intimate yet cinematic. Lights, shadows, a suspended mic, minimal stage design – so people can focus on the emotion and the storytelling.
Can fans catch you on stage soon?
Yes, I’m preparing to step onto the stage more often. Nothing feels stronger than sharing that energy face to face. Dates will be announced soon – and I want those shows to feel like both a confession and a celebration.
What made you choose an English title for a French song?
Because emotions have no borders. Sometimes a single word in another language carries the weight of everything I want to say. “Unseen” felt universal – a word that resonates whether you speak French or not.
Given the versatility of your style and subject matter, how do you sit down to begin a new track, and how do you know which direction to take things creatively?
I always start with an emotion. Sometimes it’s a sentence in my notebook, sometimes a melody in my head. I let it guide me, without forcing. The direction comes naturally – the music decides if it wants to be soft, sharp, or stormy.
What are your go-to tools in the studio, and is music for film and media part of your ambition?
My essentials are my voice, a piano, and Ableton. I also love playing with atmospheric reverbs, filters, and textures to create cinematic depth. And yes – I dream of seeing my songs in films and series. My music is very visual, and I want it to live beyond streaming.
You’ve amassed almost 10,000 followers on Instagram, over 26K on TikTok – What do you think it is about your music and artistic presentation that connects with so many people?
Because I’m not trying to be perfect. I share my rawness, my doubts, my real journey. People can see themselves in that honesty. My music is not made to impress, but to express – and I think that’s why it resonates.
How will you maintain your authenticity and heart as your audience continues to grow and ultimately expects a certain style from you?
By remembering why I started. I didn’t make music to please algorithms or trends. I made it to survive, to feel less alone. As long as I stay true to that, I know authenticity will remain.
What’s the story behind Whispers, and was the making of such an emotional and hypnotic song therapeutic for you as an artist?
Whispers is one of my most vulnerable songs. It’s about speaking to the night, confessing to silence, and hoping someone hears you. Writing it was painful but healing. Every line felt like releasing a weight I had carried for too long.
Does your creativity manifest itself in any other ways, and will you release visuals soon?
Yes, I’m also a graphic designer and model. Visuals are as important to me as sound. I’m working on live performance videos and story-driven clips – I want each one to feel like entering another dimension of my world.
Is there a longer project on the way?
Yes, I’m building towards a bigger project – a collection of songs that together tell a story of fragility, storms, and rebirth. I want it to feel like a journey more than just an album.
What’s something about you that might surprise fans?
Maybe that I didn’t grow up surrounded by music. I found it late, as a form of survival. But once I did, it became everything.
Is there anything else we should know?
Just that I’m not here to fit in, but to connect. My dream is simple: to turn silence into music, and music into a place where people feel less alone.
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Find willine on Instagram, TikTok, SoundCloud.
