Interview with Amana Melomé


Q: Please tell me a little bit about your childhood. Where were your born in Germany and where in Italy did you grow up? In retrospect, how influential was this time for you?

Amana Melomé: I was born in Munich, we left when I was only two years old, moved to the States for a few years, then to Italy when I was nine. Rome at first, thru middle school, then to Florence,Tuscany. My time in Italy, consequently, was VERY influential...those are important years when you start deciding who you are and what you want to be and not be. The fantastic passion for life and good food is and will always be a huge part of me. Also having the opportunity to travel around Europe got me into studying languages (I like to talk - ha!) and intrigued by other cultures and traditions.

Q: Both of your grandparents were active jazz musicians. What was it like to grow up in a musical family, and when did you know you wanted to become a musician yourself? How supportive was your family when you told them you wanted to become a musician?

Amana Melomé: I have always loved the fact that everyone in my immediate family is an artist. Everyone ranges from musicians, to photographers, to designers and more musicians...haha! My grandfather Jimmy Woode (who sadly, recently left us) was an amazing Bass player. He worked with literally the Who's Who of jazz greats. I can't begin to list them. He had stories for days, he was just an amazing man, and an inspiration. My grandmother was a Jazz vocalist and a dancer. She'd sing a lot around the house. Nana (my grandmother), my mom and I would have a ball harmonizing Christmas carols, but otherwise, during her life time I was quite shy with my voice and only let it loose in private...perhaps afraid that if they knew I had a nice voice, that there would be expectations of me that perhaps I couldn't live up to. Instead, I am so thankful for the fact that my grandfather got to hear the demo of Indigo Red before he passed and he was so proud and amazed. That felt really good - to watch him stand up and dance around to my songs, to watch him take in all the little nuances of Jack and Jill with that pensive face with thousands of thoughts scrolling (we were so curious of what the Jazz maestro was going to think!)
My aunt Shawnn Monteiro is a fabulous Jazz vocalist, still touring. Needless to say everyone in my family has always been very supportive of my choices in the arts (which ranged from painting and sculpting, to dance, to acting, to singing now). I really surprised many with the singing and songwriting thing though! They had no idea what I was bringing to the table (I kinda kept it in a jar for a long time), so they were blown away once the jar was opened (smile). It's only been about 3 years since I seriously took singing as a career into consideration. Feeling I had something valid to bring to the table, something to say and light to share - then meeting Saverio (Principini) my prducer (little over 2 years ago), kind of brought it all together. He was open to the creativity and not stuck on the mainstream crank out a pop hit mentality. My sweet sweet momma has come to every show thus far (actually she missed ONE and feels guilty about it). There is a lot of love and support. I am blessed.

Q: Your music comprises many different styles. Who has influenced you?

Amana Melomé: Wow, that's a hard question to answer since I grew up listening to such a wide range of music. Of course a lot of Jazz around the house - Carmen McRae, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughn, then there's the funky stuff like Al Green, Curtis Mayfield onto Prince, Michael Jackson, Caetano Veloso, Juao Gilberto, Bob Marley, Les Negresses Vertes, Tiromancino, Neffa, Giovanotti, Manu Chao, Mozart, Guns'n'Roses, K-os, the Fugees, Aretha Franklin, Eminem back around to Zap Mama, Les Nubiens, Ella Fitzgerald, Sade... Man! I could go on for days. Truthfully I take everything in, interesting and inspiring - then I do me. I don't consciously try to mimic anyone's style. It's been quite a process finding my voice and being happy with what I sound like and not holding onto the ideal of someone else's voice as what I'm SUPPOSED to sound like.

Q: How do you describe your music and where do you see your place in today's music scene?

Amana Melomé: When asked directly I often answer something to the likes of: It's a jazzy - funky - soulful concoction of world and eclectic vibes. You know...with my hands moving around gesturing. It encompasses a little bit of everything. It's VERY interesting to me to hear different peoples descriptions of my music and who they compare me to. I am proud to say often they can't think of anyone to compare me to cause I sound unique - teehee - so they can only compare the vibe, but not the sound. I like to think it's NEO soul, not the Philly neo-soul, but NEW soul..in my mind, constantly evolving, growing, encompassing different worlds and territories as it does so. Soul, because there's a lot of heart and soul driving it.

Q: You've studied at NYU and recently moved to LA to pursue your singing career. What's different in LA compared to NY and why do you think it's more useful to be in LA than in NYC?

Amana Melomé: You know...the sunshine brought me to L.A. I am a sunshine baby - the cold makes me a not so happy camper. I studied in NY and had a ball, taken by the crazy frenetic energy of the city. LA has proven itself to be a place and space to zero in on myself, go hiking, do Tai-Chi, write, record. Of course the entertainment industry is very VERY present over here, so it definitely was a win-win situation. However I get back to NY whenever I can! I wouldn't say one is more "useful" than the other city, just different...each with a lot of different things to offer.

Q: Indigo Red is your debut album. Usually it's hard work to finally come up with an album and most musicians do session work, live performances, singing in a band etc. to gather experience and money. What did you do in the music biz before you started to work on Indigo Red?

Amana Melomé: I have done session work for other artist's albums, and sang demos for other songwriters to submit. I sang background vocals for an R&B artist at one point, and for a Reggae artist at another point. A lot of fun and a chance to feel out how things work and feel (quite a feeling being on stage in front of 12.000 people at a festival! I have yet to experience that singing my own music - ha!). Definitely all good in gaining experience.

Q: You've said about your producer Saverio "Sage" Principini that you feel "so blessed to find someone on the same crazy page as I am." Please tell me how you met Sage and which musical vision do you share?

Amana Melomé: Saverio and I met really randomly at a private party in LA, where neither of us were planning to be that evening. Each of us accompanied by friends. At one point of the evening (once I got bored with the magician doing cigarette tricks - hahah) I ended up sitting across from Sage and his friend (the only free sitting space). I asked if the seat was taken...he answered in a VERY obvious Italian accent, and it was on! "Are you Italian" - "Yes" - "So am I" - "No WAY" (often the reaction to my brown skinned dread-locked fabulousness - hahha)...so we started talking. Come to find out he was working on a project and was looking for a singer with a certain quality of voice to sing on it. We exchanged demos soon after (mine was ridiculous, but apparently enough to grasp some qualities from - his of course was impressive). We started out thinking we'd do just a demo - and the collaborative synergy was so great we nurtured an entire album into existence - and had a ball doing so, challenging each other often! Him coming from rock roots and me bringing all these jazz elements, while both of us love world music. Saverio was very intent of maintaining the essence of who I am throughout the project. Both open to suggestions, no ridiculous egos, never a fight, a lot of time and a lot of heart went into Indigo Red.

Q: I assume Savana Records is your own imprint. Please tell me why you established it. Where do you see the advantages/disadvantages of your own label and do you want to sign other artists?

Amana Melomé: Savana Records is an independent label that my producer started with the determination to give this project wings. A small team of dedicated people. Currently we're looking into getting distribution on a larger scale (a small independent label only has but so much muscle alone, in the music world), by connecting with a bigger label and re-releasing the album, as it would guarantee a proper promotion for it. I think Sage as a producer will continue to look for artists to sign.

Q: Which of the songs on Indigo Red are your favorites, which have a special story?

Amana Melomé: Searching For Myself is my personal favorite song on the album. Very introspective. We all get stuck sometimes, hangin' low inside our souls (in somewhat of a hole), and still maintaining hope of the light to come. Nao Falo is special to me as well. I've been blessed with the opportunity to travel quite a bit in my life, and have had a few encounters where, although the language is not in common, it is not a barrier and the communication of feelings is still beautiful and absolutely understood, thru smiles, gestures, eyes and intonation. In such brief encounters and heart-felt connections, you wonder if you'll ever cross paths again. Ok, I'll admit to being a hopeless-romantic...yeah. I could go on about each song...but then you'll never get rid of me (smile).

Q: How content are you with the reactions towards Indigo Red so far and what can we expect from you in the future?

Amana Melomé: You know, the reactions thus far (and it's only been finished for about a month and a half now) have been FANTASTIC! I get e-mails from friends with little write ups I didn't know about, that they've found on the web...independent record stores in other states that want to order copies to carry in their store. Many many beautiful, heart-warming, uplifting and encouraging comments and reviews from around the world, including yours - I thank you! And this is only the beginning! Hopefully very soon Indigo Red will be distributed in stored worldwide! (we're workin' on it) and I'll be touring near you (yeah!).
I thrive off of people connecting to my words and music, in an attempt to share this glow - I am thankful always - and excited to grow...as a person, as a singer, as a soul. The next album will definitely be a voyage - I am curious myself! (smile)

For more infos visit amanamelome.com, savanarecords.com, cdbaby.com and read my review of Indigo Red.