OSM: Hi Amie, how long have you been performing and when did you first start writing music?
Hey - so lovely to chat with you again! I first started writing music at around age 5 or 6 and I've been performing since around the same age. I was a real theatre/performing child - musicals, plays, choirs, recitals, dance shows, cabarets - you name it, I was in rehearsal for it! I wrote songs just because I wanted to and it helped me process my thoughts as a child, not realising it would go anywhere. It wasn't until University that I realised how much I loved songwriting and that I was actually quite good at it, and it hasn't stopped since then!
OSM: Has any particular artist or genre influenced your music the most?
I'm influenced by so many artists, and I really do love a wide range of genres. In the last year or so, I've been most influenced by indie pop, dream pop and synth heavy tracks, which I think you can definitely hear in my most recent releases. I've been listening to a lot of indie artists and bands and finding under the radar type artists as they're always so talented and inspiring, and are doing things nobody else is.
OSM: Your new EP, ‘Cancer Sun’’ is out now. What was the songwriting and recording process of the collection?
The writing and recording happened as I went along. I wrote 'Unashamed' first (which was the lead single), and once I had the idea of each song representing a different stereotype of my zodiac sign, I shaped the other songs around that when I was writing. We recorded Unashamed, then Cancer Sun, then Sweet Nostalgia and finally Start Again, which was with another producer, Joe. For some, I had a clear idea of what I wanted but for Cancer Sun & Unashamed, that just happened in the studio. I wanted the vibe to fit the song lyrically and capture a real emotion with it, and even though some of them weren't what I expected - I was OBSESSED as soon as they went that way.
OSM: Title track ‘Cancer Sun’ is a standout for us. What is its message?
Thank you so much! Cancer Sun is about being a people-pleaser. It's very 'if you're cold, I'll give you everything I'm wearing until I freeze to death'. Not dramatic at all... But it's essentially something that became a focus for me during the pandemic - I realised I exhausted myself trying to make everybody around me happy and the song is me acknowledging that it's not the healthiest thing to do, and that it's just as much my fault if I'm cold as the person who took the jacket!
OSM: What challenges have you faced since launching your career?
I think just being heard. When you don't have a label or any financial backing or even help with the admin side of things, you really are a designer, a singer, a songwriter, a manager, a PR team, a social media team and finance team all by yourself. With a full-time job on top of it, it can get a bit much sometimes - but I'm not a 50% type of person and I love every second of doing it, so it's okay. I'm probably too much of a control freak for someone to help out, anyway!
OSM: What are the plans for the year ahead for yourself?
Enjoy life, write more for the luxury of writing rather than because I have studio time coming up and there's a time limit. I have the luxury of being independent and doing things when I want and how I want - so I need to stop putting pressure on myself to do things quickly. I want to get performing again too, and just keep pushing my music and my career as far as I can.
OSM: If you could change anything about the industry what would it be?
I'd love it to be more inclusive, regardless of where you come from, who you are and who you know. I wish everybody got the same opportunities and support, for sure. It's not fair that just because you happened to be around successful people, you get more of a chance than somebody working just as hard with just as much talent, to me.
OSM: If you could share the stage with another band or performer who would it be?
Alanis Morissette. In case I haven't mentioned her enough every time I do an interview... She really is my inspiration and a great role model and person so that would be a dream come true. I don't even think I'd get through a song, though - I'd just be so overwhelmed!
OSM: What songs are on your playlist right now, which songs are you into at the moment?
I'm currently obsessed with 'she's all I wanna be' by Tate McRae. I've followed her career for quite a while now and she's killing it - it's so nice to see her getting so much recognition. I've also got Chloe Lilac's discography & Charli XCX's 'Crash' album on constantly, too. Ooh and there's a great independent pop artist called Kieran Ivy that I'm loving - definitely check him out, he's incredibly talented.
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