After spending the last few years dropping a wealth of fresh and enticing offerings, US-born but Liverpool-based artist Amorie returns once again to deliver her breezy new effort 'Goddess'.
Teaming up with regular collaborator and producer Patrick Perez for the release, 'Goddess' makes for a wonderfully vibrant and sun-kissed listen. Channelling a warm and inviting alt-pop texture that leaves us yearning for summer days, this new one will certainly help kick off your weekend.
So with the new single available now, we sat down with her to find out more about her background and influences over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
The voice has really always been my favourite instrument. I’ve always been in choirs and been drawn to choral music. I remember being a kid and downloading Audacity and realising what it sounded like to layer my voice for the first time. I’d been playing the piano but in that moment it occurred to me that the voice could be limitless, I could build an entire track just out of my own voice. Even now this is a theme I’m carrying into my upcoming album. I’ve always loved the voice being used as a percussive instrument — Black Skinhead by Kanye West is probably my favourite example of this — and I’m loving experimenting with manipulating voice and breaths.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
My parents didn’t expose me to very much music growing up, and the things I gravitated towards myself were certainly varied. Kanye West and Eminem have always been my favourites; my relationship with their lyrics, production, delivery has very much shaped me as a musician. I started to understand how that kind of expression might look for me when I started finding artists like Gotye and Bon Iver, around the time I started producing and recording myself, when I was 12/13 or so.
What was the first album you remember owning?
I think Hilary Duff’s album, Metamorphosis haha. I remember getting the piano book for it too.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
For No One by The Beatles. I’ve always really romanticised the woman he’s talking about; I feel like the lyrics are specific enough I find my story within it but ambiguous enough that it can take a lot of different tones depending upon the listeners’ interpretation — it can be more sad and somber, or more resilient and strong.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
Hmm, I’ve never thought of it in terms of habits or rituals but I suppose there are things I generally do. I normally bring the things I’m working on on walks with me, I find I have a different kind of mental energy when I’m in motion. I try to work on them somewhere loud at least once while I’m still finding melodies, like the tube or a cafe, because I’ve come to like how outside sounds and conversations can help my mind drift into more adventurous melodies than when I use the structure of a piano and a studio.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
Tove Lo, Kali Uchis, Doja Cat, Jorja Smith, PinkPantheress!
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
This changes often, but right now I’ll say Doja Cat. She’s created a universe around Planet Her and I love that kind of concept, that’s a tour I’d love to be a part of right now.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
Connection, to self, others, something greater. The portals to communication and escapism that music opens…there’s something inherently human about creating and partaking in music.
And what is the most frustrating part?
Decision-making, I really struggle with decision fatigue/analysis paralysis. When should we do this, how much marketing, which platform, what company. I’m trying to streamline my processes lately, and always trying to not complain about being a musician…every industry sucks up close, pick your flavour of frustrating and focus on the positives.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
Write what you are saying, not what you want to say.
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Amorie's new single 'Goddess' is available to stream now. Check out the new video for it in the player below.