“‘Princess Going Digital’ is for the Black Girls that are in the streets right now. I feel your pain ladies.“
Ghanaian-American vocalist and songwriter, Amaarae has gained respect for her unconventional approach to music through her genre-bending sound, as well as her representation of how multifaceted womanhood and sexuality can look. Her soothing falsettos have been a pacesetter in challenging perceptions of African music, and setting the global tempo for African Pop music more specifically. Amaarae recently sat down with Music Editor at iMullar, Fola, to discuss her process, the making of her latest album “Fountain Baby”, her inspirations as well as some of her preferred fashion choices. As expected of any conversation with the bubbly vocalist, there was banter, laughter and a great insight into the modern artistry that is producing alternative music that bridges the gap between our home continent and the diaspora.
iMullar: The album is based on a recent experience with a lover. Does it ever feel scary to be inspired by a subject who you know, and have to relive all of the feelings that come with leaning into that inspiration?
Amaarae: I was making the music while going through my personal love experiences. For me, the experience was liberating and refreshing. I actually enjoyed it.
iMullar: Have you had their reviews of the album yet?
Amaarae: They were present in the making of the album, hanging out with me, sitting next to me, and getting songs written about them. It’s interesting you know, when someone is around you throughout your creative process even experiencing the good, the bad and ugly in that sense with regard to things that you might say or feelings that you might feel it’s an eye opening process… It’s pretty chill honestly.
iMullar: You’re incredibly creative, from the music to fashion. What does your creative process look like when writing a new song, and is there any overlap in the creative processes for both?
Amaarae: Absolutely, my fashion and creative process are definitely intertwined. With this project, I switched it up completely and I leaned more into my feminine side. It was a real conversation that I had with my stylist in making conscious but subtle choices in makeup, hair, clothes, that we thought was a good representation of the music.
And thus far with my creative process, it differs. There are songs that I recorded by myself in my bedroom with my mic, songs that were heavily produced and went from just a skeleton idea to going through three different producers. We added a bunch of instruments, took some things out and there are songs which were done very collaboratively where we are all in the studio, or in the room together throwing ideas about, so I think for me ultimately it’s about genuine honest and raw expression and it’s also about collaboration that’s what the creative process looks like for me.
I also found joy in discovering new and underground artists during the process of making my album, and I have come across several that I would love to work with. I think that SuperJazzClub is pretty cool, Brazy, Lola, S God, Sky Fall from Canada who I met through working with another producer, also Bare One Boss who I got to meet and see his creative process, and Rags Original who I am a huge fan of too.
iMullar: How’s the love you’ve received from Ghana/the UK/America been? Is there a difference?
Amaarae: So I’m actually from Ghana, I just was raised partially in Atlanta and New Jersey. Right now I’ve earned my respect in my career and in different regions and I think that respect is translating to love. From traveling to Lagos, coming back to Ghana, the UK, U.S, places like Brazil, Portugal, France, I think the love is all the same and it’s all people who are really excited about an artist they feel is breaking boundaries and while doing that, as far as musically, is still palatable and is still relatable. I’m honestly so proud to be a representative of what African music means to the world right now and I’m proud to represent even a whole different type of African music.
iMullar: Tiny Desk! What can we expect? What does it feel like to make history being the first Ghanaian artist to grace the stage?
Amaarae: Apparently there was someone before me but I guess I’m the first one from Ghana, proper. I think what fans can expect is really cool renditions of the songs on the album. It’s unexpected with the route that we took it in but I really think people are going to enjoy the music and the overall vibe. As far as how I feel, I was really excited to play Tiny Desk and my booker apparently was on my music since 2019 so it was really a great experience. Honestly it’s such a cool platform for artists to translate their music in a whole new way. It even challenges you because over there, you can’t bring your own mic, you can’t bring your effects. I think as a vocalist it also gives you enough space to be vulnerable.
Watch Amaarae’s Tiny Desk performance here.
iMullar: I absolutely love the “Wasted Eyes” music video. I was really impressed by the fight scene. Did you have to do much rehearsing to get that scene right?
Amaarae: They told me I had a body double and I actually didn’t have to do the scenes myself but they lied, they just told me that so I wouldn’t get anxious. I got on set and they literally threw me in. They had a karate/Taekwondo instructor and then the guy I did the fight scene with was a professional, so I literally learned all the moves on set in one go but I had a body double who did a bit of the work. But I won’t lie, I feel like I did most of the work because most of the scenes are low-key me, and I was in Givenchy wedges, those shoes were no joke.
iMullar: “Princess Going Digital” is an absolute banger that immediately makes me want to dance! What’s the last song that made you stand to your feet immediately and dance?
Amaarae: OOOUUU Ice Spice “Like that keep it a stack, B*****s will walk cause they know I got bands, they be chatting, I don’t give a damn and I’m still getting money I don’t give a damn”, like what?? Honestly anything Ice Spice. I’m a serious captain of the Munchkins, Spice Cabinets, like I don’t play about my girl Ice.
iMullar: You mention wanting to be taken off the streets in the song- have the streets not been kind to you?
Amaarae: Personally I haven’t been in the streets for a cool minute, I feel like a lot, especially Black girls, on Twitter are constantly complaining about not finding quality love and really that record was for them. When Tochi sent me that beat, I hit up my co-writer and I was like we really have to embody the era that this beat is giving and he sent me back some crazy ideas and I was like we got. It’s for the girls that are in the streets right now. I feel your pain ladies. To all the men, please treat these girls right.
Author: Fola Akinsanya
