Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Amelia. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Amelia, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?
From very early on, my parents provided a safe space for me to learn about my interests and skills. I grew up on 39 acres of pine trees in south georgia, and that allowed me to be very still and present. They pushed me to pursue my passion at a young age and never forced me into anything I wasn’t interested in. If I ever told my mom I was bored, she would write down 10 random things on a piece of paper and ask me to write a story incorporating all 10 things which made me realize writing and storytelling came very easy to me. They just allowed me to create and be a kid and taught me there was no age limit on being a “kid”. Everyone is born creative, but those who don’t let that inner child in them dwindle away are the ones who we call “artists” in the adult world.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?
I got invited to perform at a showcase in Atlanta back in 2018. I only had one completed original song at the time that I felt I could perform in front of a crowd, but the organizers (for whatever miracle), took a chance on me and let me perform. After that I asked them to manage me as an artist, which allowed me to start recording my songs in a studio for the first time. Shortly after, I started going on a small tours and performing at local venues and events and was completely hooked. Now, that one original song has turned into probably 500 songs and I just can’t stop. Writing and singing are the only things that I feel come to me effortlessly. It’s like breathing – it’s calming and you don’t have to think about it. It’s what I came here to do! I think a lot of soul has been lost in the last few decades of music, especially in pop. So, my goal as an artist is to encompass that soul and allow people to let go and heal when they hear me and see me perform. I just want people to feel safe and happy because life can be hard, but beautiful if you allow it to be. I’m also really honest and sometimes harsh or morbid in my music but I try to put a more poetic spin on things. Staying vulnerable in my music is important to me, too, and allows people to really connect with the lyrics rather than just giving them a cookie-cutter song.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Right after college, I got my first “big girl job”. It was a really well known advertisement agency that paid a nice salary. I was miserable there, mentally, but I was financially comfortable so I didn’t quit. Every day I would take my notebook into one of the phone booths and would just write because I felt like such a zombie at my desk. I knew I wanted to leave but was so afraid to jump into music full time. After a year of being there, I got laid off. I called my dad and was so scared that he was going to be upset that I lost such a high paying job. But he and everyone else I called that day was so excited for me as they knew this was the final little push I needed to get started in my music career. I immediately started connecting with local producers and set up time in the studio as much as possible and since then, I haven’t looked back at the corporate world.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
There’s a book called “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill that I asked my team to read together. It gave me a lot of security in our journey because it talked so highly about finding that “mastermind” team to help you pursue your goals. Another huge takeaway was that you, in some sense, have to burn every bridge besides those that lead to success and that has been where I am mentally these past few years. My circle got really small in a good way because I stopped people pleasing and started living for myself and my own dream. I’m still soft, but more selfish because of that book and it’s encouraged me to only surround myself with the best.
Contact Info:
- Website: ameliamusic.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/ameliaonthebeat
- Facebook: facebook.com/ameliaonthebeat
- Twitter: twitter.com/ameliaonthebeat
- Youtube: youtube.com/ameliaonthebeat
- Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6dYgKbhT4SMV4YM4cegTpY?si=DfOkv-mJStiarzrWzJy4YA Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/amelia/16170441
Image Credits
First image: @justmoja Film photos: @dannikilo