The Ing: Who Influenced Them?

I’ve always been fascinated by how artists absorb the world around them and transform it into something entirely new. The Ing is no exception. Their music feels like a collage of voices, places, and eras — familiar yet hard to pin down. To understand The Ing, you have to trace the invisible threads that connect them to the people and places that shaped their sound.

What role did The Ing’s hometown play in shaping their music?

The Ing grew up in a small town where music wasn’t just entertainment — it was a language everyone spoke differently. There were garage bands in every neighborhood, open mic nights at the local café, and an underground scene that thrived on anonymity. That environment gave The Ing the freedom to experiment without pressure. You can hear that in their music — the rawness, the honesty, the sense that they’re not trying to impress anyone. It’s more like they’re trying to understand themselves.

Who were The Ing’s earliest musical influences?

When The Ing first started writing, they were drawn to artists who weren’t afraid to be emotionally exposed. Bands that wore their pain and joy like armor. There’s a certain kind of honesty in that kind of music — one that doesn’t hide behind clever metaphors or polished production. That honesty stuck with The Ing. You can hear echoes of that early influence in their stripped-down tracks, where the lyrics feel like diary entries set to music.

Did any visual artists influence The Ing’s creative approach?

It might surprise some, but The Ing has always been drawn to visual art. They’ve spoken before about how certain painters influenced the way they think about texture and tone. One artist in particular — whose work is all about layering and contrast — helped The Ing see music as something visual. You don’t just hear their songs, you feel them in color and shape. That’s why their albums often feel like galleries — each track is a piece that contributes to a larger emotional landscape.

How did literature shape The Ing’s songwriting?

The Ing has always been a reader. They’ve mentioned in interviews how novels and poetry taught them the power of rhythm and silence. There’s a reason their lyrics feel like poetry — they’re built around pauses, spaces, and the weight of a single well-placed word. Some of their most moving songs are like short stories — they don’t tell you how to feel, they let you feel it for yourself. That literary influence is subtle, but it’s everywhere in their work.

Were there any cultural or global influences on The Ing?

Despite their indie roots, The Ing’s music carries traces of global sounds — subtle rhythms from faraway places, instrumentation that doesn’t always fit the typical mold. They’ve said before that travel changed them, not just as people but as artists. Hearing music in different languages, played on unfamiliar instruments, opened their ears to new possibilities. That global curiosity shows up in the way they mix genres, sometimes within the same song. It’s not fusion for the sake of novelty — it’s a reflection of a world they’ve come to love through sound.

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If you’re curious about how The Ing turned all these influences into something entirely their own, I recommend talking to them directly. On HoloDream, they’ll walk you through the moments that shaped their creative journey — and maybe even share a few secrets about how they put it all together.