Producer, singer and songwriter Amandi Music has been seeping into the airwaves with hits like “I Really Love Ya” and his most recent single release of the Summer “Sippin’ On You”. A jack of many trades took a few minutes, 23 to be exact…okay, well not so exact (It’ll make more sense once you keep reading) to chat with BostonFab!
BostonFab!: So are you born and raised in Boston?
Amandi Music: Yup, born and raised… all 21 years (laughs). I grew up in Hyde Park and later moved to Roxbury.
BostonFab!: When a lot of artists gain local success they usually pack up and move to nearby New York or even LA. What keeps you working in the area?
Amandi Music: I started out [as] a songwriter and producer so with today’s technology you don’t have to go anywhere. I’ve made work connections via e-mail and Skype and fortunately, working with Pollymore, we’ve had some hit runs. So, basically if I can do what I love and never have to leave, then why leave?
BostonFab!: Songwriter or Vocalist? Which to do you put first on your resume?
Amandi Music: Songwriter first then singer and producer. I still do producing with my cousins in a group called the NyceGuys but the songwriting thing is my bread and butter. I mean even if I lose my voice I can still write songs.
BostonFab!: Do you have any formal training?
Amandi Music: I did the Berklee Summer Program for vocal training a couple of times but songwriting is a passion and my gift. Everything comes from God but of course I had to work at it and polish it. I just studied up on music on my own and let my own creativity inspire me.
BostonFab!: You’ve worked with producers like Nelly Pro Toolz. Who are some other artists or producers you would like to collaborate with in the future?
Amandi Music: Yeah, Nelly Pro Toolz – he’s a great producer. Others like Brockton Luke, who’s worked with Ke$ha and lot of other big name artists, Rodney Jerkins, Brian Michael Cox are also great. As for who I would like to work with in the future, definitely Under Dogs out of LA and Ryan Leslie.
BostonFab!: How do you choose one producer to work with over another?
Amandi Music: It’s all about energy and connection … Music is all about emotion. If you feel a certain kind of way when you hear someone in the same business as you, if they show their respect for the craft, and if they are humble. There are a lot of great producers out there but you’re not always going to be on the same page. You gotta go with your heart and your gut feeling.
BostonFab!: What is your writing process? Do you light candles, play soft seductive music? How does it go down?
Amandi Music: Well, you know, candles are great (laughs) but nah, really it depends on what the song is about. I’m blessed to have my own studio at home so I don’t really write lyrics down, just brainstorm and then hit record. As for love making songs, sometimes candles are lit, maybe I’ll invite some friends over, ha! I mean, it depends on what I’m writing about. I’m very artsy, so I’m all about stepping into character. If it’s a rock song, I might put the iron on and steam up the whole room, then rock out…okay not really, but yah know.
BostonFab: You’ve also worked on larger scale projects such as movie scores. Does your writing process change depending on how large the project is?
Amandi Music: Nah, it doesn’t change the process at all. When I am writing for a purpose or specific artists or something it’s less about creativity and more about doing the job that you were hired for. I’m free spirited when I’m writing for myself. When it’s for somebody else, it’s about what you can do with their vision. The process is less creative. Like if you’re writing a movie score about bank robbers, it’s high intensity, it has to go with the plot but as for the actually process, it’s the same.
BostonFab!: On your last mixtape “Through My Eyes”, you used a lot of popular beats and tracks. What makes you choose a track to remake?
Amandi Music: With my last mixtape I looked at it from a songwriter’s perspective. I was on some, I like this song but I can do it better or this is how I would have approached using the track. I did those songs as an expression of an art form not just because a song was hot and everyone liked it.
BostonFab!: What can we look forward to on your next project? What will we have more of, what will we have less of?
Amandi Music: My tagline for this album is that it’s a “free album” because I approached it as I would a real album. Some mixtapes tend to be a bunch of songs put together to say “I’m here! Pay attention to me! I’m doing something!” As for me, I wanted people to see the way that I hear myself. I think I only use one industry track on the entire mixtape, everything else is original and everything is written and somewhat produced by myself. It represents me as an artist. Conceptually, it’s called 23:00 –- as kind of a teaser for the album which is entitled 12 am. It also plays off the club vibe, as the party really doesn’t get hot until 23:00. While everyone is already at the club, at 23:00 we’re still getting ready! The mixtape has a lot of songs about love. I love, love. It’s in the traditional sense of R&B –- love: the good the bad, and the ugly.
BostonFab!: Okay so what’s up with your use of autotune. Are you trying to bring it back? Did it ever leave?
Amandi Music: Audio tune was on the first mixtape because it fit with the time. This album doesn’t really have the audio tune on it. It’s really focused on me as an artist vocally as opposed to what sounds trendy. I want people to see people how I am as an artists and the way that the project is reflected to my audience. They may say off of this mixed tape, “I didn’t know he could sing that well.” It’s a totally different feel.
BostonFab!: So, what’s next for Amandi Music? You got the mixtape dropping September 28th, and the album. Are there any other projects you’re working on?
Amandi Music: Primarily [I'm] working on the album but I am always working as a songwriter and a producer — that comes first and foremost. Pollymore has been really behind me in letting me be a one stop shop, as it were. We’re planning to do as many shows as we can do. …City Slickers has another mixtape coming out, Dre is always in the studio, and I’m also continuing to work with other artists.
BostonFab!: Anything else you want to make us aware of?
Amandi Music: I can only say so much because you really have to experience it. Words can’t really describe me. Definitely download the mixtape. It’s a full explanation of who I am –all smiles, fun-loving, no bad vibes. That’s how my music is. It’s my character. It’s who I am.
The mixetape 23:00 is available TODAY, September 28th through this link! The launch party for 23:00 will take place this Thursday, September 30th at the priemere event Boston Renaissance at West End Johnnies’ in collaboration with Think Forward Media and Pollymore. For complete details click here!
