AMBER T TALKS HATE TO SAY (I TOLD YOU SO)
"Having that slightly biting edge to it"
Daniel John
It’s been a while this being your first new release in over a year’s time, what did the pause entail?
While I had to take this break due to personal reasons I also think I just needed some time to step back and grow a little, both personally and creatively. I’d been releasing music from such a young age that I’d never really given myself much time to stop and think about what I actually wanted to say and where I wanted to take things next. It helped open my horizons again and feel that creativeness I felt had been lost.
So are you all back?
Definitely. 'Hate to Say (I Told You So)' feels like the beginning of a new chapter rather than a one-off comeback. I’ve got loads more music that I have been working on, so I’m really excited to finally start sharing it. I think people can expect a lot more from me from this point onwards and I’m continuing to keep developing my style and sound!
What story does 'Hate to Say (I Told You So)' hold. What sonic-energy does this new song carry?
Sonically, I wanted it to feel fun and energetic while still having that slightly biting edge to it. I love when a song can sound really catchy and upbeat but the lyrics have a little more attitude underneath. My main goal with the song was to have something catchy that you feel like you can turn on and feel uplifted!
As you said you were putting songs out at such an early point, how did you start messing around with music?
I started really young! I was always singing and making up little melodies, and then I started writing songs and teaching myself guitar. It was very much just messing around at first, I wasn’t thinking “I’m going to become an artist.” I was just obsessed with music and I wanted to make my own. By the time I started releasing songs, I’d already been writing for a few years, so although I was still really young, music already felt like a huge part of who I was. Looking back, it’s crazy to think how early it all started.
Making feelings sound pretty, can songwriting in itself be a way for you to figure things out and make sense of what life throws at you without it, necessarily, ever making it to a release?
Absolutely. I think songwriting is probably one of the ways I process things without even realising I’m doing it. Sometimes I’ll write something just because I need to get a feeling out of my head, and it doesn’t necessarily need to become a finished song or ever be released. I also think you can be much more honest when you’re writing for yourself. You don’t have to think about whether someone else will understand it or whether it fits into a certain sound. Sometimes those songs end up being the most important ones because they’ve helped me understand how I’m actually feeling.
There's so many brilliant pop artists to come out of the UK, some of whom, cough Elton John cough, have called you brilliant too. What pop runs natively in your heart just by that proximity?
I’m definitely influenced by a lot of British pop and alternative music. I’ve grown up surrounded by artists who are not afraid to make pop music but still have something really individual about them. I love that balance between something being instantly catchy and still having personality. I’m just really inspired by artists who can make something feel completely their own rather than trying to fit into whatever is currently popular. I think that’s something I’ve always wanted to take into my own music too.
You’ll celebrate with fans on Zoom the day after release. How’s the vibe for you now ahead of the song coming out?
It’s honestly a mixture of excitement and nerves! I’ve never done a release party like this before, so I’m really excited to actually celebrate with the people who have supported me. It’s quite surreal knowing that after spending so long making the song, it’s finally going to belong to everyone else too. I’m mainly just hoping everyone has fun. I want it to feel really relaxed and personal rather than like a formal event. I’m excited to hear what people think and actually share the moment with them.
How long until we can see your name in big letters on stage again. Are you looking forward to returning to the stage?
Hundred percent. Performing is something I’ve really missed. There’s something completely different about hearing a song you’ve written played live and being in a room with people who know the words. I don’t want to put an exact date on it just yet but getting back on stage is definitely part of the plan. Hopefully it won’t be too long before there’s a big sign with my name on it again. That’s definitely the goal!
