There are plenty of ways to respond to hearing another woman’s voice in the background of a phone call with someone you’re seeing. You could ask who it is, give them the benefit of the doubt, and simply carry on with your day. Or… you could hang up, sit down at your piano and write an entire song about it before dinner. Fortunately for us, Amahla chose the latter.
The Hackney-born singer-songwriter’s latest single, ‘Only Yours For The Moment‘, is a deliciously dramatic exploration of jealousy, romantic uncertainty and the stories we tell ourselves when our imaginations get the better of us. Released via 7WALLACE and produced alongside WAVSDNTDIE, the track takes its cues from the rich funk and soul sounds of the 1970s, weaving silky congas and drum breaks together with sweeping strings and a live horn section. The result is cinematic, playful and full of feeling.
Raised in Hackney in a Guyanese-Jamaican family, Amahla has built a musical identity that draws from jazz, soul, reggae and the wider traditions of Black British music. Her career has taken her from the release of her debut project Consider This in 2019 to international performances, sold-out headline shows and mentorship from the legendary Nile Rodgers. Throughout it all, storytelling has remained at the heart of her work.
Her forthcoming project, a little hope, arriving on 20 November, promises to explore the less than straightforward business of being human, from grief and heartbreak to lust, addiction and jealousy. It’s an ambitious emotional landscape, and one that feels fitting for an artist who sees imagination, honesty and even a little gossip as essential ingredients in creativity.
Noctis caught up with Amahla to talk about the art of being dramatic, the enduring magic of 70s soul, finding inspiration in unlikely places and why a little hope goes a long way.
You’ve described ‘Only Yours For The Moment’ as the result of being a “little dramatic” after hearing another woman’s voice in the background of a phone call. Do you think being dramatic is an essential part of being a good songwriter?
Being a little dramatic is essential in life! It’s okay to take up space. Imagination, drama and gossip are at the crux of creativity.
‘Only Yours For The Moment’ draws on the richness of early 70s soul, with live horns and strings adding another dimension to the production. What is it about that era of music that resonates with you, and what did you want to bring from it into your own sound?
There was an appreciation for the expansiveness of music back then. It wasn’t easy or cheap to source the instruments, set up a studio, record a voice, so entry to these spaces were based on practice, skill and involved a lot of care. Plus with the introduction of synthesizers and electronic instruments, artists were pushing the limits of what people thought music could sound like, mixing the old and the new. Honestly, I think every musical era since then has been harking back to the innovation of the 70’s, it’s an untouchable time.
Jealousy is such an interesting emotion because it’s not always rational, and sometimes the stories we tell ourselves are worse than the reality. When you’re writing, are you more interested in what actually happened or how something made you feel?
Songwriting is an opportunity to be selfish, to put your feelings and emotions first. Especially when writing alone, you are the writer and the editor and that’s okay. I think all great songs are centred around strong feelings, so I prioritise them. If the feeling comes through it’s easier to tell the story, ‘Only Yours For The Moment’ came about that way.
Is there a book, exhibition, film or piece of art you’ve encountered recently that’s stayed with you or changed the way you think about something?
I’ve been reading The 22 Immutable Laws Of Marketing by Al Ries and Jack Trout. It’s an incredible book on big brand marketing written in the 1990s. Its focus is on big businesses like airlines, retail shops and drink brands but it’s so fascinating to look back at how those decisions have kept them in business so long. I’m an artist but I’m also a brand, and learning how to share my art in this new algorithm world has been a process. Books like this remind me that a clear purpose, intention and a powerful creative vision can help you overcome all those other constraints. At its core what people want doesn’t change much, only its packaging.
What’s the most unserious thing that’s ever inspired a serious piece of music you’ve written?
I wrote a song inspired by a scene from Love Is Blind! It’s actually so good, I’d love to have it play at the end of a movie.
If someone wanted to understand you as a person but wasn’t allowed to listen to any of your music, what three songs by other artists would you play them?
- ‘Redemption Song’ – Bob Marley
- ‘Stardust‘ – Nat King Cole
- ‘She’s a Bad Mama Jama‘ – Carl Carlton
With a little hope arriving on 20 November, what are you most excited for listeners to discover about you through this project that they might not have heard in your music before?
I’m really excited about the depth of topics I get to share on this project. I know my fans have discovered me at different points. Some discovered me when I’ve leaned more into Hip-Hop/Soul, some found me when my music was closer to folk/soul and some where there is a strong presence of jazz. Having a full length project allows me to showcase all of who I am and how all of those parts of me come together. I’m so excited!
Finally, since we’re talking about hope, what’s something, big or small, that’s giving you hope at the moment?
Painting the props for my tracklist announcement!
From an overheard voice on a phone call to the grand arrangements of 70s-inspired soul, Amahla has a knack for finding something worth singing about in the everyday absurdities of being human.
‘Only Yours For The Moment’ is out now via 7WALLACE, with a little hope set for release on 20 November.
Follow Amahla On Instagram
Words: Tara Choudhary
Photographer: Justina Stasinuiate, and Solarize Visuals