Ivan B, born Ivan Paniagua, is a 25-year old independent rapper who has been making music since he was a freshman in high school. Growing up in the Bay Area, Ivan was exposed to a rich and lively multicultural music scene. Drawing inspiration from the music in his community, he started exploring and finding his unique voice.
Passionate about making meaningful songs, Ivan B has never failed to release a body of work annually for the past three years. Two of his most famous songs are “Our Time Together” and “Need You Still”—both songs have reached tens of millions of streams on Spotify. As listeners explore Ivan B’s music and pay attention to the lyrics he wrote, they get to know him in a deeper sense. His music paints a vivid picture and gives his audiences a glimpse of a troubled past. He has the uncanny ability to captivate fans by sharing his truth. The sincerity and vulnerability Ivan B fills his songs with encourages audiences to dig deeper into their own experiences and find their truth.
Ivan B creates music with the recurring theme of believing in oneself. This is because he is the very definition of an “independent artist.” After graduating high school, the young musician went to work at a retirement home as a waiter and busboy while attending Santa Rosa Junior College. He wrote, recorded, and mixed all of his music out of his small bedroom closet in between balancing school and work. “I saved up for each piece of equipment I had. Then, one by one, I purchased the tools I needed to record and mix my songs,” the artist recalled. Three years later, he released Forgive Me for My Honesty, his first album. The album was warmly received, and it performed well, debuting at 10th on the iTunes charts. But, Ivan shares, “I had no marketing budget, no paid promotions, and no label backing. My success was all on me as an independent artist.”
Following the success of his first album in 2017, Ivan B has continued to grow as an artist. With each album he puts out, he influences people and slowly expands his fanbase. With strong messages of believing in oneself and doing whatever it takes to achieve one’s dreams, Ivan B inspires his listeners to feel confident in their capabilities. His latest album, Frames, dives deeper into emotions and explores feelings of regret. “Here, most songs are about recognizing how much we subconsciously hold on to regret and how we can push past it,” he shares.
Being an independent artist has come with its challenges, but Ivan B has no qualms about the route he took in his career. “My music has been a personal journey, and doing it independently feels like the right fit,” he says. Despite having no record label backing him and no headline shows under his belt, Ivan B has proven to be an artist who can capture his audience. “My songs are heart-driven. They are raw and intense, but the honesty in them is what makes these songs relatable to a lot of people.”
Fans of his music will be delighted to learn that Ivan B will be performing his first headline show in Los Angeles later this year. “I will be performing on November 4th at Catch One. This is a huge step, and I am excited to take my career to the next level,” he said. Aside from preparing for this show, Ivan B is also planning a full-length tour in 2022.
Ivan B grew up with love for music and a dream. He made those dreams happen with his talent and determination. He began by recording and mixing his songs out of his closet, and today he is preparing for his first headline show. “I believed in myself and in my dream,” he said. “I hope my music inspires others to believe in themselves too.”
Ivan B is an independent rap artist. He is set to perform in Los Angeles on November 4th of this year. For more information on his music and upcoming live events, you may visit his website.
