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'I don't know how to enjoy quiet moments': Iman Fandi looks back on life and career, Entertainment News
Iman Fandi's career started at 14 when she began modelling.
Now she's 25 years old, and in an interview with AsiaOne on June 25, she said she has gotten used to "always working".
"When I do have quiet moments, I realise I don't know how to enjoy it. And also, in the kind of industry that I'm in, sometimes there's no stability in what's next, and I think that is something I always worry about," explained Iman, who kicked off her music career with the single Timeframe in 2021.
She has a "quarter-life crisis" twice a year but feels it's normal: "Honestly, I also feel that it makes you more aware of your surroundings and what you need to do next.
"When I look back at it, I'm like, 'Oh my gosh, Iman. You're fine. Now relax.'"
Now, she's working on herself: Her growth as an individual and learning how to be an independent artiste.
When asked what interested her in music, she told us she has been surrounded by it her whole life.
"I used to be a dancer as well. My family in South Africa, every time we have, like, barbecues, someone is playing music and dancing around. So, I think just having that atmosphere around me made me want to go into entertainment and music," she added.
"I listen to music a lot as well, so I just thought, why not just create something of my own and tell my own story?"
Iman's South African heritage comes from her mother, model Wendy Jacobs, who married local retired football player Fandi Ahmad in 1996. The couple have five children, with Iman the only daughter.
In February this year, she released her first Malay song Hari Raya Raya Raya, which was recorded together with her parents and brothers.
[embed] 'A place that holds a lot of meaning'
Besides music, Iman also recently took part in a few short-form video series for Kakee, a local entertainment and lifestyle app.
In an episode of See You There — where local personalities introduce a location or landmark in Singapore that holds special significance to them — she takes host Irene Ang to her alma mater, the Singapore Sports School.
"I was able to just tell her (Irene) about how I grew up, memories that I created, and a lot about my past and me growing up during that period of time. It's a place that holds a lot of meaning to me," the former sprinter recalled, adding that the trip brought back memories she had forgotten about.
We asked which year she would travel back to if given the chance.
"I'd go back to the time when my dad was still playing football, because I'd love to know how the atmosphere in the stadiums were like… I think so many people of his generation still talk about it now," she said with a fond smile.
"Sometimes when I'm hanging out with my dad, there are people who come up and talk about it. To hear about it is so different to seeing it, so I wish I could understand what that felt like back then."
She cheekily added: "Also, of course, just to see my dad play and see if he's really good or not." 'Ask me in 10 years'
With so much working experience at a young age, we asked Iman how she copes with the periods of uncertainty.
For her, she leaves it to time and doing things she enjoys.
"Maybe working on an art piece or just taking things slow. Do it day by day. Don't rush, because the more you put pressure on yourself — or at least for me — the more anxious and pressure you feel on yourself," she advised.
"Talking to friends, meeting people who make you feel supported and maybe even understand where you are, and getting advice is something that I also do."
What makes her happy now?
"Travelling. I'm looking forward to my next round of travels, but also what makes me happy now, I think, is finding peace," she said.
"I'm still in the middle of finding where my happiness or peace is, because happiness fluctuates, but peace will be a little bit more stable. So, I'm trying to find more of that."
She's slowly getting there, she added. "I mean, it comes with age and time, right? So maybe you can ask me in, like, 10 years, and we'll see."
Iman's episode on Behind the Song is streaming on the Kakee app, while her appearance in See You There releases June 30.
In celebration of Kakee's launch, a four-day public event will run from June 26 to 29 at Plaza Singapura's Outdoor Square. Admission is free and visitors can immerse themselves in interactive zones, enjoy exciting games and giveaways.
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