By: Staff
Alla Igityan has released "Gay Crush", a beautiful, lighthearted anthem that captures the thrill and charm of an unrequited crush.
Enchanting acoustic melodies and vibrant harmonies set the stage for this unexpected tale, celebrating the joy, humor, and warmth of admiration without expectations.
In this spirited story, a straight woman finds herself captivated by a gay man, delighting in the safe and carefree experience of infatuation that’s sweetly unreciprocated. The narrative embraces the fun of attraction without expectations, inviting listeners to appreciate love’s playful, unexpected side.
Alla Igityan is a storyteller at heart, weaving rich, soul-stirring narratives through her music that encourage introspection and emotional connection. With each song, she taps into a well of raw emotions and vivid storytelling, creating an immersive experience that feels genuine, heartfelt, and profoundly relatable.
“Gay Crush” is a song that shines with lightness, humor, and authenticity, bringing warmth and joy to the familiar yet unexpected feelings of admiration. Let Alla’s music carry you through this delightful journey of love and self-discovery.
Stream “Gay Crush” by Alla Igityan on all major platforms and let yourself be swept away by the magic of her storytelling!
We had the chance to catch up with Alla Igityan for an exclusive interview in "The Cage" Music Blog.
Here’s how it went:
Begin Interview
Hello Alla Igityan, we’re thrilled to have you for this interview! We’ve had a blast diving into your music and exploring your work, and now we’re even more excited to learn more about you, both as an artist, and as a person.
Is your stage name your given name and what led you to choose this method of connecting your artistry with fans?
Alla Igityan is my full name, and I’ve always liked it, though I realize it can be challenging to pronounce or remember, especially my last name. When I was initially setting up my social media accounts to release music, I spent a lot of time thinking about a potential artist name. However, I could never find anything that felt true to me, and I didn’t want to force a change just to make it simpler. So, I started out as Alla Igityan, and that’s still my artist name today.
Besides your tremendous work life balance, what other main challenges do you face as a solo artist, and how do the benefits of working independently compare?
I think this isn’t unique to music - being solo often means you have less support from others, but you also have the freedom to do things exactly the way you want. While I enjoy writing and performing solo, I sometimes feel like I’m missing out on the broader perspectives, richer sound, and the fun that comes with having different musicians on stage. Collaborating with more musicians is definitely on my to-do list!
We learned you are based in Berlin but originally from Armenia. We’ve never been to either of those countries so we’re very excited to learn about your journey. What prompted you to make the move from Armenia to Berlin and how has this journey impacted your career as a musician?
Technically, I moved to Berlin because I received a job offer, but music was a huge part of my decision. I was born and raised in Yerevan, Armenia, where I spent most of my life. In 2019, I had just started performing in bars and pubs, but I didn’t feel challenged since there wasn’t a thriving music scene or many opportunities. My goal became finding a city where I could continue working as an engineer while having better opportunities as an artist. I started interviewing in a few cities, got my first offer from Berlin, and immediately accepted it.
The move has had a wonderful impact on me as a musician. I keep meeting amazing artists who live and create here; there’s an open mic somewhere in the city almost every night. I started busking on the streets, sharing my music with strangers; and I especially love how much Berliners appreciate independent artists and their work.
We learned that you work a 9-to-5 software job during the day and chase your true passion for music in the evenings. What has been the hardest thing you've had to sacrifice in order to fully pursue your dream?
I often say I’m building two careers simultaneously, which can, of course, be exhausting. My job can be demanding; it requires a lot of mental effort, which doesn’t leave me with much creative energy, and it often involves travel, which limits my time. On the other hand, my profession provides me with a broad skill set and knowledge that sometimes come in handy when navigating other aspects of life, including the music industry. It also allows me to afford professional support when bringing my music to life. The hardest part, I think, is that there simply aren’t enough hours in the day to accomplish everything. Some days, I’ll skip a social event to catch up on music; other days, I’ll skip music practice entirely because work is so busy. And sometimes, I go for weeks without a quiet night of binging TV shows and just doing nothing. But honestly, getting to say I have two careers is pretty cool.
We read about and listened to this song and it’s definitely an adorable message about being straight and having a crush on a gay man. We heard: “I don’t care what people say cause I know this is real”.
How would you describe the overall message of your project? Is the emotion behind it inspired by a specific person, or does it come from a personal experience or situation you’ve been through?
I wrote “Gay Crush” a few years ago, and for the longest time, I couldn’t decide whether to release it since it feels a bit unserious compared to my usually quite sad songs. It was inspired by a real person (who has no clue), and it was one of those songs that just writes itself as soon as you pick up your instrument and start humming a melody.
What emotion do you feel inspires your desire to start a project, ie sadness, worry, happiness etc.?
Looking at my repertoire, I have to say that sadness or worry are more likely to inspire me to write a song than happiness. I would love to write more happy, fun songs, but honestly, they’re much harder to create.
After you are inspired by a theme, what is your songwriting process, including where you most prefer to be when you write and create the foundation musical arrangements?
Sometimes I get ideas or inspiration for a song in the most random places and situations. I have a folder in my Notes app where I keep title ideas, interesting phrases, and lines that might work in a song. The actual writing usually happens at home in the quiet, where I can grab my guitar and focus on what I want to say. Sometimes, you sit down to write, and the song is finished in half an hour - most songwriters would probably agree that these are often the best songs. Other times, you might jot down some lyrics and spend years searching for the right melody, or vice versa. So I would say that the song usually dictates the songwriting process, rather than the other way around.
What part of the music-making process is the most stressful, ie the creation, the actual release date, etc?
I always find the most stressful stage of music-making to be the arrangement and post-production. This is when I typically collaborate with producers and audio engineers, and I need to make decisions and provide feedback. It's a stage where I tend to overthink things a lot. Sometimes, it’s challenging to set aside self-criticism about my own song and performance and maintain a clear perspective on the piece.
When you reach the stage where you have the admiration and respect of other world-known artists, what band or artist would you love to call and say, “Let’s go on tour together”?
There are so many artists I would be over the moon to tour with. The first person that crossed my mind is Noah Kahan. He came to Berlin a couple of months ago with his “Stick Season” tour, and the energy at the show was just amazing.
What is the most inspirational thing a fan, or anyone, has told or shown you about your music?
Sometimes, people approach me after my performances to share that they found themselves in one of my songs or that it made them cry. Even though I’m someone who can be deeply moved by music, I’m still getting used to the fact that my songs can have the same effect on others.
So, what’s next? Can you share the full details on your future projects and what fans should be excited about? We’re hearing about more releases, and we’d love to be the first to announce it!
With the release of “Gay Crush”, I’ve also announced my first merch, which is a really exciting milestone. You can expect more merch with my upcoming releases as well. I’m already working on new music, and the plan is to release my first EP in 2025.
Alla Igityan, thank you so much, we appreciate you taking the time to talk to us!
End Interview
We’re happy to have shared Alla Igityan’s exciting journey with you and uncovered such inspiring insights about their creative process.
Now, click the links below to experience their incredible work firsthand!
Check out this latest release and listen to more of Alla Igityan on Spotify & YouTube.
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