Amaarae

Nice to meet you too. I’m good, I’m joining from Los Angeles right now. 

It’s been a very good eventful year. I’ve had a lot of fun releasing the music. This is probably the most fun I’ve had during a rollout and even though it’s been a lot, I’m happy with how the project has been received. 

I don’t know if world domination has happened completely yet, I will say that my goals have been realigned, as far as what I enjoy and how I enjoy doing it. I’m interested in exploring other facets of my creativity, being successful in those too. So, once I get to really lean into some of my other talents and dreams, then I can say maybe world domination will be achieved, or at least a completion of some form of happiness.

Mental and emotional wellness and growth was a big one for me, especially as I started working on “Fountain Baby” two years ago. That was a very turbulent time that turned cathartic. “Black Star” was a conclusion of doing a lot of the work, not only with myself, but in actual therapy and coming to a place where I understand myself, my emotions, my mind. I’m able to better manage my thoughts and my feelings. That lifted a weight, gave me a freedom and a lightness that I was able to apply to this album.

I’ve been to Miami several times so going back there was fun. Miami is like being in Cuba or in a nicer version of Ghana. Very humid, very tropical. There’s a lot of Haitian and Hispanic heritage and life out there, so the food is great, the people are great, the beaches are great, and the music is great. After that we went to São Paulo, even though I really wanted to go to Salvador, because it’s where a lot of the Afro-Brazilians are. If you have knowledge of the slave trade, there’s a place in Ghana called Jamestown. That’s where the Door of No Return is. That’s where a lot of the slaves who were kidnapped and captured were ferried from through Portugal, Brazil and then to North Carolina, Georgia, etc. That felt like a connection and heritage for me. A lot of the language in Portuguese has tones and expressions similar to Twi or Yorùbá aside from the music and culture, being in Brazil felt like creating a familial connection, getting to know an external part of what it is to be African, experiencing it through a different lens. 

Definitely. We went to a lot of sambas, and that was so beautiful. I got to see live drummers that reminded me of live events in Ghana. We got to go to a lot of parties, including one with Batekoo. It was beautiful, and it was great to work with a lot of the producers too. They visited the home, a lot of them would bring their partners or kids, it was a family-oriented environment, it reminded me a lot of back home. Brazilians are so friendly and kind, they treat you like family. We then wrapped the project between Ghana and LA. Ghana feels like a homecoming and in LA, it was an editing process so there wasn’t too much going on there. 

I sleep. I chill by a body of water or go to a nice restaurant.

What sign are you? 

Okay, twin! Me too, July Cancer. 

Period (laughs). 

I wouldn’t say my personality changes. I learned to be adaptable, as we moved a lot when I grew up. I’ve lived between Ghana, Atlanta, New Jersey, New York and London, all in my youth. So, I was raised to be worldly and adaptable, to learn how to make friends quickly, how to engage with people and their interests, how to be a good conversationalist, how to go into spaces, try different foods, and learn the language to be a good communicator. 

It has resonated in my music, from all the things that I’m inspired by and also being good at expression and communication. The biggest change would be when I speak my native tongue, which is Twi. It’s a sharper language and, saying little things, oh, or ei can mean so much. The language back home in Ghana is rich in context and sound. One sound can probably mean fifty million different things based on body language, the style of expression or the tone. 

To be honest, no. When I work on an album, I find ways to stop everything I’m doing. I focus on that. 

I agree with what you’ve said, but it’s more sensual than sexual. I feel the lyrics do a good job at being tasteful, versus being very explicit and flagrant.  “B2B” is a great example of that, where it’s all innuendos about sex. It never fully describes in an explicit way what’s happening. I like the idea of keeping things mysterious and tasteful in that way, because it heightens the idea and the feeling of yearning.

That’s so funny. I would say, as long as you learn your lesson in due time, I don’t think you should regret any lover that you’ve taken, especially if you’ve grown from this situation, or if you’ve learned from this situation. I have no regrets in love, and I am absolutely a hundred percent in love with all my exes and in love with everything that I’ve learned and experienced with them. That’s it, as long as you don’t have any regrets.

Some people love it. Some people hate it. Some people are in the middle on it. There’s a community of kids that can appreciate it for what it is, because this is the kind of music that they dance to, party to, then the gen pop will come to it in due time. 

Definitely. Throughout my career, I’ve held my country in high regard, I’ve been a great representative. I see now that I’m well respected. I love when a lot of young kids feel inspired and tell me that my success, or my boldness, is aspirational. That’s cool, that’s the biggest compliment anyone can pay you. 

I don’t think about people’s image of me at all. I only think about my image of myself. 

You can’t be confident if you’re not kind. Some of the meanest people that are ugly in spirit, that might appear confident and indestructible, do not have a thimble of kindness within them. Being kind, being generous, being free of heart and spirit is the sexiest thing you can do as a human being. We’re in very difficult times. Climate-wise, as far as society and politics goes, I see a lot of disdain and unwarranted hate online that people have for one another, for artists or public figures. I see little disdain for the people that can actually help and change the economic, social or political situation. We need to remember that we’re all human beings, we’re nothing without community. We need to be kinder to each other, online and offline.

I have strong boundaries, it’s clean and cut. If you don’t fuck with me, I won’t fuck with you. That doesn’t mean I’m ever disrespectful or unkind. If I’ve ever had an experience with someone and they didn’t treat me with respect, I know to never speak with them ever again. 

Yo, that’s so funny. You shady. No, I do not. I’ve watched Naomi since I was a child. I was born in 1994 so you realise I was born when Naomi Campbell was already a supermodel. In comparison to her peers, the majority of them being white, she’s got a bad rep for being herself and being bold. She’s got unnecessary heat just being clear with who she is, what she likes, what she will not tolerate. A lot of women of colour get a bad rap if they’re vocal about their boundaries. 

She was chilling for real. We text, we talk, and she’s super sweet, she wasn’t really on no advice. She asks, “What’s going on? How are you?” She was kind when I brought my friends around. She’s cool.

My parents for sure. They both dressed really well when I was younger. My mum has shoes and bags that date back to 1991; she still has the original Fendi baguette, a lot of early Dior, all of that is still in her closet. My parents have always dressed well, taken good care of themselves and have evolved with the times. Obviously, their fashion now is geared better towards their age. In the 90s, early 80s, they were fashion killers, for sure. 

No, it does not get harder. I am the boss of my life. I’m the boss of my team. I dictate the pace, but I also dictate the mood of a space. I try to always remain in high spirits, but I have very strong boundaries. If somebody does something that I don’t like, I don’t yell. I tell them directly, you did this, I don’t like it. I would like for you to change. I try to keep the floor open for people to be able to talk to me about their feelings as well, if I do something that they don’t like. I always make sure to say thank you at the end of a day, at the end of a show, you know, so people feel appreciated. If you f around, you’re gonna get it from me. I’m not gonna beat you up. I will read you nicely, and I will tell you my mind. Doing that helps weed out the bad apples too. Right now, I don’t work with anybody that I don’t like or respect or whose company I don’t enjoy. 

Self-care. As soon as I got back from my New York show, I went and got a nice sauna, a drip, I got a glutamine boost. I’ve been sleeping my ass off. I’ve been cooking my own meals. I’ve been watching “Real Housewives.” I’m taking care of myself and enjoying my days. It’s very rare that I get to rest and stay at home. 

It’s a meal in Ghana called waakye. It’s rice and beans, they fry spaghetti in a little bit of oil and put that on top. We have this cornmeal thing called gari. You put that on top. You do a side of egg, avocado, a piece of fish, a piece of goat meat, some side of plantain. Excellent.

That’s a good question. What I’ve learned is that there are characters within me that don’t exist in my everyday life, that I like to play in the music. Those characters find an outlet because they’re buried underneath a cool, calm exterior. I’ve learned that I’m actually a bit of a fucking nut job. That comes out only with people that I’m very, very close to, or in the music. What I’m starting to learn about myself is that I’m a little crazy.

For sure. All of my favourite artists are crazy, that’s facts. Nicki Minaj has maybe nine different characters. I was watching a bunch of her videos the other day, and I realised in all of her videos, she plays two different characters, so she’ll show up in one wig, then she’ll show up in another or in a whole different outfit. Man, that’s one of my favourite rappers of all time, one of the greatest rappers of all time. 

Yeah. I want to say on record, my goat is going through some things right now, I hope that we can give her the grace and the peace that she deserves as she sorts through. What we cannot do is deny her incredible contribution to legacy, her impact on pop culture, on Black culture, to Black culture, to pop music, to rap music though. One of the greatest to ever touch a mic, that cannot be denied. Top five dead or alive, male or female.

Girl, I really be talking about Twitter. I’ve learned to keep my mouth S, H, U, T on Twitter because I’ve been dragged. I get dragged at least four times a year for some type of tweet. I’ve got dragged enough now I keep my thoughts to myself. On social media you can’t joke anymore. The smallest thing you might say, you expect people to laugh, and they’re gonna say you have pebbles for brains. That’s actually something I’ve read, like, okay, never mind. This joke didn’t go as well as I would have hoped. Cool.

Hell no. Things just are as they are. You have to say it as it is. I see a lot of artists slowly coming to realise how much power and influence they have. Speaking for what they believe in, speaking against what they don’t believe in. Different people have different opinions, thoughts and beliefs based on how they were raised, at times you have to do nothing but respectfully agree to disagree. But I’m not afraid to speak for what I believe in. 

Whew…

No, no it’s a good question. All of my music is pan-African, all of my music is about global connection because it dabbles in so many different sounds, cultures, energies. What I always try to do is bring it back to Africa, bring it back to the diaspora and the Black community. With “Black Star” I think about all the different types of Ghanaian music that I tapped into, going to Central Africa and tapping into zouk or bacardi from South Africa. Detroit club, Chicago house, baile funk, traditional African music that’s found in Salvador, all of these sounds, textures and sonics come alive in my music. It’s about teaching my culture and my people we are all one; all of our patterns and all our rhythms are intrinsically the same. The fact that a song like “S.M.O.” is able to exist and it’s Detroit club, it’s highlife, it’s zouk, it’s bacardi all at the same time is probably the biggest way to show exactly how connected and united we are in our sonic palette as Black people and as Africans.

In a way. I’ve always used music to elevate and uplift undermined communities and societies. I started by doing that in Ghana. I’ve been vocal about, especially from my visual perspective, how I’ve challenged again and again and again the norm of sensuality and sexuality, the norm of relationship dynamics in my visuals, as well as in my music. 

Not at all. What people need more than anything is light in their lives, lightness and music that brings not only a sense of community, but a sense of interconnectedness. That goes back to your question of fusion, we’re all one, we’re all a common people. We’re all going through a common struggle. For as long as I can remember, music has been the medium for messages for political change for community. Dancing has been a form of therapy and expression, so in my offering, it’s to help move culture forward. It’s also to help move my agenda of peace, kindness and happiness forward in comparison to some of the other content that we’re being exposed to whether it’s music or visuals or art or politics. I think that anything that I do is in the best interest of the community.

I feel like I receive acts of kindness every day. The smallest thing is kind. Saying hello on the street is kind, saying hello in the morning is kind. Someone helped me put on my shoes the other day, I thought it was such a loving gesture. Offering or being in service in that way seems to be a small gesture, but there’s kindness in it. I care how I can be more of service to others, I have a lot of respect for people who get joy from that. 

Tenderness is such a disarming emotion. If someone is coming at you upset or angry and you immediately soften up, they become disarmed, they become surprised. Either they’ll match your energy and calm down, or they’ll get angrier because they can’t get a rise out of you. Mastering that skill in a moment of pressure is a Jedi mind trick. You have to mean it from your heart. You can’t try to weaponize it, as if I’m going to kill you with kindness. The intention with which it’s used is very important. 

No. What I knew was that I didn’t need to make another “Fountain Baby,” I needed to explore other parts of my interests or of myself for better or for worse. I wanted to help people understand for the third time in a row you cannot put me in a box whether you like it or not, you should learn to expect the unexpected.

I wouldn’t call myself mainstream. I don’t feel mainstream. 

Oh period! You’re talking from the queer experience. You know what? That is true. That’s hilarious. I would say no, I do not miss being a smaller artist, because this is what I prayed for. It feels good to know that whether people receive your music well or not, they care enough to listen, they care enough to think about it, to talk about it. That makes me feel satisfied in my artistic endeavours and it drives me to want to continue to create, so that I can continue to tell people stories, challenge people’s thoughts, consolidate ideas and bring communities together. I love having a platform and I hope that it gets bigger and bigger so I can do more and more with it. 

Yeah. You know what? I will always live and die for the gays because I feel you got me here. So, fuck it. We ball. 

No, I feel emboldened, I feel free because being an African actually makes it so much more fun to go against the grain. There were a lot of people that told me if I made the kind of music that I’m making now or I’ve been making, I would never break out. Guess what, motherfuckers? I’m outside with it. What that does is it gives other young artists coming up an idea of a blueprint, a road to follow. You don’t need to listen to anybody but yourself, tell your own unique story. I’m a prime example of that, I’m so glad I didn’t listen to anybody telling me nothing about nothing. I did what I believed in and followed my visions.

Charlie Wilson is perhaps next to Ronald Isley, one of the greatest, most lasting voices of a time. He has an iconic voice, I needed to get in with the OG while he is still here and living. He’s the soundtrack to many Black gatherings and many Black celebrations of community. Naomi Campbell is the Black star, the greatest supermodel on earth so it was only right, it made sense. PinkPantheress is one of the most forward-thinking songwriters and producers of our time. Bree Runway is an iconic dark-skinned diva that definitely has mainstream pop appeal and potential, she is a great artist, great writer, great producer. These are people that I’ve always wanted to work with and have a lot of respect for. I don’t just collaborate with anyone, I only collaborate with artists that I like and respect; so for me, this was the perfect thing to do going from no features to if I’m gonna have features, I’m going to have people that fifty years from now, you guys are gonna look back and this is going to be an album that had quality artists who have built legacies for generations.

Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Missy Elliott and Beyoncé Knowles of course.  

So, when I say a curator, I mean a musical curator. 

When I talk about curation, I talk about it from a production standpoint. I’m not the best singer in the world by any means, but I’ve been able to create a sonic palette that is good for my voice, allows me to work within my parameters and make great music, which is a difficult thing to achieve. Being a producer, what’s tasteful to my ear and intriguing to listen or inspiring, I’m not necessarily recreating them just understanding how they were made and applying those processes to my process as well. 

I see a lot of young Africans weaving more different types of music from other African regions. One of my favourite artists from Africa is called brazy. She was probably the first to get into the concept and the idea of club music in the African context. That was the first artist that I heard doing a lot of loops with her vocals. She’s the first that I heard mixing amapiano with zouk and leaning into the concept of dance music. Since then, I’ve seen it take over and seep into music that other people are making as you mentioned, Theodora and so many others. That amalgamation of all the different types of African rhythms are starting to make a new debut and be used in different ways. I can see that being the next lead sound for Africa. It doesn’t go without crediting brazy for being the first to do that, on inspiration, that’s who. 

With lots of millions and the choice to make music when I feel, not necessarily leaning on it as hard as a livelihood. I wanna act, I wanna make furniture, I wanna create a magazine, I wanna teach, I wanna make scores for films and animated films. I really wanna have a family. That’s what I want for the future, to be well off enough so that I can build a family and continue to build my dream life.