Years in the making, ‘Forgiv’e sees Inámo, Wild Dark, Ariaano, and Starving Yet Full come together for a collaboration built on creative trust rather than convenience. Out now via trueColors, the EP explores the space where emotive songwriting meets dancefloor-focused production, pairing the stirring title track with the deeper, more cinematic ‘Scenic Route.’ We spoke with the artists about the collaboration’s evolution, the challenges of balancing multiple creative voices, and the philosophy behind making music that stands the test of time.
WWD: The ‘Forgive’ EP brings five artists with distinct musical identities together. How did this collaboration first come about and what did each of you naturally contribute to the record?
Inámo: It’s been a long-awaited collaboration for me with the guys. It’s no secret that I go way back with Corey from Wild Dark. They’ve delivered some of the strongest releases on trueColors over the years, so we’ve built a lot of trust creatively.
When I was moving studios, I sent Corey a folder of unfinished ideas just to get his feedback. He handpicked a few and started developing them together with Ariaano. They’ve been on an incredible run lately, consistently putting out quality music, so it felt like the right moment.
We actually bounced different versions back and forth for well over a year, changing arrangements, replacing elements, taking things out and putting them back in until everyone felt it was right. And honestly, this EP is just the tip of the iceberg—we’ve got plenty more music together waiting for the right moment.
WWD: Was the vision for ‘Forgive’ clear from the beginning or did it evolve organically?
Inámo: From the beginning, we knew we wanted to create something emotional that would still work on a dancefloor. That part never changed.
How we got there was a different story. The track evolved naturally through countless revisions, but the emotional intention stayed the same throughout the whole process.
WWD: When multiple producers are involved, how do you balance individual styles while creating something cohesive?
Inámo: Honestly, it never felt forced. We’ve known each other for a long time, we’ve worked together through the label, and we’ve developed a mutual understanding of each other’s taste.
By the time we started working on these records, we were already seeing eye to eye creatively. Everyone naturally contributed what they do best, and nobody was trying to force their own identity onto the record. I think that’s why it feels cohesive.
WWD: The track carries a lot of emotional weight while still feeling built for the dancefloor. How did you approach striking that balance?
Inámo: That was always the intention.
Of course, getting there was a process. It’s one thing to have an idea and another to make it work in a club. We spent a lot of time finding the balance where the emotion never overpowered the groove, and the groove never took away from the feeling.
WWD: Starving Yet Full’s vocal performance feels central to the record. How did the vocals shape the production?
Inámo:The vocal carries so much emotion that it naturally became the heart of the record. Once it was there, the production started serving the vocal instead of competing with it.
There’s actually a lot more to come. There will be versions featuring the full vocal, so consider this release a little tease of what’s ahead.
WWD: ‘Scenic Route’ heads in a deeper, more hypnotic direction. Was that always intended as the counterpart to ‘Forgive?’
Inámo: Not really.
After quite a few versions, I actually gave up on the track. I felt it wasn’t getting where I wanted it to go. But the guys kept believing in it and continued refining it. Corey started testing it in his sets, and seeing the dancefloor reaction made it obvious that it deserved to be finished.
That’s ultimately how it became the B-side.
WWD: There’s a cinematic quality to ‘Scenic Route.’ Were there any places, films, or experiences that influenced its atmosphere?
Inámo :I think that feeling came more from the production process than from any particular film or place.
The atmosphere was built by layering lots of different ideas, textures and effects together, and then doing something that’s often harder than adding things – we stripped a lot of it away at the very end. Sometimes removing elements creates more space for the imagination, and I think that’s where the cinematic feeling comes from.
WWD: You’ve worn many hats throughout your career – from DJ and promoter to A&R and label manager. Has working behind the scenes changed the way you approach producing music today?
Inámo: Absolutely. If anything, it’s made me incredibly critical of my own music. Years of listening to demos, A&Ring records, managing labels and being immersed in the industry have definitely raised my own standards.
I try not to approach every production as a continuation of “my sound.” I like to treat each record as its own identity, with its own story. That’s actually where collaborations become so valuable. Working with people you admire often takes the music somewhere you wouldn’t have gone on your own.
I probably have far too much unreleased music because the “industry me” is always standing guard over the “artist me.” But as the years go by, I look back at the relatively small catalogue. I’ve released as Inámo and under my other aliases, and I feel content. I’d rather have fewer records that I genuinely stand behind than release music just to keep up.
WWD: Having helped shape the identity of trueColors, does it feel different releasing your own music on the label compared to curating music from other artists?
Inámo: Very different. As an A&R, You’re listening objectively, asking what’s best for the label, the artist and the record. Often, you have to leave your own taste and ego at the door.
Releasing my own music is much more personal. You’re exposing something you’ve lived with for months or even years, knowing it will be judged the same way you’ve judged countless demos yourself.
At the same time, it’s reassuring. I know exactly how much care goes into every release at trueColors because I’ve been part of that process. So when I release my own music there, it doesn’t feel like simply putting out another track – it feels like contributing another chapter to something we’ve all helped build together. And I make sure that it’s my most honest production at the time being… a motto that was set as the theme for the label at its formation.
WWD: Wild Dark, your music consistently blends electronic production with strong songwriting. When you’re collaborating with other producers, how do you make sure that narrative element remains intact?
Wild Dark: For me, the song always comes before the production. Before collaborating, I already know that artist is on the same page creatively and wants to tell the same story. My collaborations usually start with a strong foundation. If I’m sent an idea, I need to instantly connect with the vibe, and from that first listen my brain immediately starts sketching out the rest.
WWD: As brothers who’ve been making music together for years, do you find yourselves taking on specific creative roles in the studio, or has that become instinctive over time?
Wild Dark: Ryan and I built Wild Dark together over many years, and naturally we developed roles without ever really talking about them. We knew each other’s strengths, trusted each other’s instincts, and that’s what made the project work.
Today, Wild Dark has evolved into my solo project, but those years in the studio shaped the way I collaborate. Patience, trust, and being open to ideas that serve the song are essential. It’s never about whose idea it is – it’s about making the best record possible.
WWD: Ariaano, You’ve worked with Wild Dark on several occasions over the years. How has that creative relationship evolved, and what made Inámo such a natural addition to this collaboration?
Ariaano: Corey and I have always had a good connection musically, so working together has always felt natural. When Inámo joined, the chemistry was there right away, and everything fell into place.
WWD: Your productions often sit somewhere between melodic house, indie dance, and deeper textures. What draws you to music that lives in those spaces rather than one defined genre?
Ariaano: I’ve never chased genres. Whether it’s 16 Bit Lolitas, Cubicolor, or Ariaano, I’ve always just tried to make music that feels real. The labels don’t matter that much to me.
WWD: Congrats on the EP and thanks for the chat, guys 🙂
The ‘Forgive’ EP is available here