10 Questions: Amaarae

After the release of her much-anticipated EP, “Passionfruit Summers”, Unorthodox Reviews had a chit chat to get to know more about Amaarae’s identity as an artist, creative process, and musical thoughts. Enjoy!

1. Hi Amaarae, could you start by telling us a bit about yourself?

Sure, a bit about yourself. lol

2. What’s your philosophy in life that influences your creative work?

“If it doesn’t feel right, it’s definitely not right.” That’s what I strive for in my music to create a feeling, a state of existence that transcends the listening experience.

3. Do you remember when you wrote your first song?

I wrote my first song when I was about 13 and it was a reimagining of R.Kelly and Usher’s “Same Girl”. It was called Same Shanga, please don’t judge me.

4. Let’s talk about the creative process behind your music. What is the chemistry like with your producers and the entire Amaarae team to come up with your peculiar sound?

I love working with producers and a lot of them will tell you how hands-on I am, I usually start my own beats either with a sample or an idea and then take it to a producer to evolve the idea.

Three producers, I have immaculate chemistry with are Mikemillz, Elijah Bane and Rvdical the kid, when I work with those guys, the flow is so easy especially with Mike. I don’t know how but it’s always so easy for me to write songs in his space.

He has an EP coming called Freedom and I sang and wrote every song for it and during that process, I never wrote a single word down, I would just get in the booth and start building, and while I’d record I’d be asking him the whole time “Mike is this ok, is that ok” and he’ll just nod his head and be like chale do you. When it comes to writing and voicing he gives me complete creative control the same with Rvdical and I love that!

With Elijah, he’s really great with melodies so usually, I prefer to bounce ideas off him.

5. How would you describe your genre of music?

My music is Afro-fusion, I experiment with so many elements but the drums are usually afro if you pay attention. But it’s also straight love making music, I just want people to have sex with my music.

6. What makes you the happiest: writing music, being on stage singing or recording an Album?

I love doing all three to be completely honest, they all challenge me in different ways.

7. Can you describe to us your fashion sense?

My fashion sense is just that MY FASHION SENSE, boom!

8. What do you feel is the most pertinent issue in our society and What in your opinion is a musician’s role in being a force for societal change?

The most pertinent issue right now is the struggle between women’s rights and patriarchy. A musician essentially is supposed to use their platform to create dialogue and social awareness with intelligence, thoughtfulness, and finesse, but not all artists are necessarily interested in doing so and that’s fine too, different strokes for different folks.

9. How long did it take you in bringing Passionfruit Summers to life and How Did you meet Dex Kwasi as an artist?

Passionfruit summers took a cool two years to complete! yikes. Two years for one EP, chale! This is how devoted I am to the process and making sure things feel right.

Dexter Kwasi Owusu is my cousin, I’ve known him most of my life, Dexter gave me my first $700 mic (which he eventually stole from me ) he bought me the full Ableton Suite and taught me how to use it and he taught me how to use Logic Pro as well and he has always told me he loved my voice and just encouraged me to go hard.

10. What’s next for Amaarae?

All I can say is, let’s just wait and see.