Amethyst is a London based soul/R&B singer-songwriter. Born in Chichester, Amethyst first discovered her love for music by singing along to Disney soundtracks in her living room from age 3 and listening to classical and soca music with her dad on the way to school.
She started learning classical piano and violin at 4, then went on to learn drums, whilst also teaching herself clarinet and guitar all by the age of 11.
She attended the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford where she studied vocal performance, then completed a songwriting and production Masters at Tileyard. Amethyst was lucky enough to have the opportunity to be mentored by Joy Crookes through winning a female artist programme with Hypertribe and has currently just received backing from the MOBO Help Musicians funding.
How would you describe your music?
I guess I would say it’s a mixture of old school R&B production, with soul instrumentation and jazz vocals. I always tell people my music is meant for the soul.
Who inspired you to make music?
So my main inspirations when I was young were Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, and the Noisettes. But over the years I became more inspired by the jazz, blues, and soul scene a lot more including artists such as Gregory Porter, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Lianna La Havas, Jazmine Sullivan and Cleo Sol, but still take inspiration from Beyoncé, etc, I like to fuse my favorite genres together into my music.
How do you feel the Internet has impacted the music business?
It’s been a blessing and a curse. I think that the fact we have all these platforms to connect with fans all over the world is amazing. However, I feel like in turn it’s made music more about popularity and people’s attention spans are shorter, so they don’t value music or bodies of work anymore which is really sad and I hope that does change soon.
Have you got a ritual of sorts when making music?
I like some mood lighting, candles if I can. And then normally I will decide what I want the song to be about so we can decide the vibe of the production and where I want to go lyrically and build from there. But depending on the producer each session can always be different, but the main thing for me is getting to chat beforehand and getting to know one another so the awkwardness is gone and we can both feel as comfortable as possible.
What’s next for you?
So I have another single on the way on the 7th of October which I’m super excited about and potentially a music video following that. And then it’s all about preparing for next year, hopefully, I will start doing some support tours and festivals and of course, making and writing as much music as possible.
What are your top two favorite songs of all time? Why those songs?
Gosh, this is one of the hardest questions you could ask but at the moment it would be, In Love With Another Man by Jazmine Sullivan and Mona Lisa Nat King Cole.
What was the last series you watched on TV?
At the moment I’m rewatching New Girl and absolutely loving it because I forgot how funny it is!
What do you think the greatest invention has been?
I would probably say the invention of the vinyl. The idea of being able to put music in all those tiny little dents and seamlessly move from one song to the other and make it portable is incredible.
Do you have any lucky items, objects, or traditions?
I don’t have any lucky items, but I am quite superstitious, so won’t stand on three drains and am a big believer in the magpie superstition, I don’t even know why, but it’s never failed me!
If you could ask your future self one question, what would it be?
Am I happy and where I’d hope to be in life?
If you had to describe yourself as a flavor, what would it be?
Sweet and Salty popcorn, most of the time I’m very bubbly and cute and always laughing, but I’m also very determined and headstrong when I need to be so I feel like I can balance the two quite well.
Following the release of her debut EP ‘Get Comfortable’ earlier this year, Amethyst returns with her latest single ‘Boys’, out everywhere now. Amethyst also shares a stunning music video to accompany the track. Directed and styled by Amethyst and Kimberly Fua, and featuring an all female/queer team, the music video highlights the beauty, vulnerability and strength of womxn.
Stream/Download Boys https://pages.amethystmusic.co.uk/Boys