Student by Day, Aspiring Artist by Night: A Skylar “Ivy Lo” Pharms Spotlight

Skylar Pharms, also known by her stage name as Ivy Lo, is making waves as a developing artist in the music industry. A communications and print major from Monroe, Louisiana, Pharms is a 19-year old Sophomore here at Southern University embarking on her journey as a young performer.
According to Pharms, her introduction to music came quite organically. She speaks of being a child, growing up, and watching 106 & Park on MTV, a show famous for showcasing popular music videos, and giving exposure to emerging artists—similar to Pharms now. “When I was around 9 or 10, I used to always analyze the songs…then go into my closet and practice the melody until I got it perfect.”
It was this same determination for perfection that led Pharms to get recognized both here at Southern and in the music industry. “I got invited to join the Southern Jazz Band my freshman year by a band member who saw me singing on Instagram,” Pharm states. “From there on, I got invited to a studio in which I began recording my own music.”
Ivy cites her musical influences as Sade, Janet Jackson, Jill Scott, Snoh Aalegra, and Jhene Aiko, among many more. Her music explores topics ranging from love and relationships to school and mental health, all things she experiences in her day-to-day life as a student. “I am very busy, I guess that is the result of being a full-time student on campus, and a full-time artist outside of school.”
Noting how she wants to be an inspiration to others who have followed her path, Pharms’s she tells us of how she manages her busy day-to-day schedule, stating, “If I’m not in the studio, or writing new music, I’m probably at the library getting homework done, and vice-versa.” School is a significant part of her journey, and it is clear that it’s a very important priority of hers.
When asked why she chose Southern she emphasizes, “Southern is in my bloodline.” With both her parents being proud alumni, a sibling in the nursing program, and her brother belonging to the Human Jukebox, “it was only right” for Pharms to continue the long legacy left by those before her and “get a feel for the HBCU pride” herself.
However, the sophomore’s journey was not always easy. “Sometimes, it does feel like a lot and I do get carried away and stressed out,” she tells the Digest. The sophomore also speaks of obstacles she faced in her early career such as performance anxiety, and how she found the strength to overcome it. “I used to be so scared to perform and get on stage… I always think back to when my Mo-Mo would tell me that I had a God-given talent and that it would be a shame for me to hide it… So now when I get on the stage, I get on with the intention to give my all.”
And it seems like the product of her hard work is paying off. Performances, proposals, and various other opportunities are in high demand for the new artist and are becoming more and more frequent. Pharms also shares very exciting news stating, “3 days after my EP dropped, I received my first record deal offer from a label. So, we’ll see what comes next, but I am definitely getting my wheels turning.”
The trajectory of this young career could not look any brighter for the fellow Jaguar, and she doesn’t plan on slowing down any time soon. Singles, EPS, and music videos are only a fraction of what’s in store for Ivy Lo. “You can expect bigger and better from me in the future,” she humbly states. In the meantime, her newly released EP titled “A Love Ride”, written entirely by her is out on all streaming platforms currently.