We Chat To Amey St. Cyr about her upcoming EP 'Mad World'
Amey St. Cyr has a very exciting upcoming EP on the way, entitled 'Mad World'. This is a collaboration with the mighty talented producer Abstract Source. Both are based in London. Let's chat to Amey and find out a little more about the project!
Tell us about your new EP 'Mad World'...
Mad World is about the delusion of supremacy. Whether we think we are superior because we are white or male or heterosexual or able-bodied etc, It's all an illusion Which in the words of the song can cause 'so much pain and confusion'.
I have put to bed certain childhood fantasies like finding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow but 'the fool in my heart still dares to dream' about a time when there will be equality for all regardless of gender, race, class, sexual orientation, and the like. I suppose the message of the song is despite the fact that we live in a society where there is so much inequality, if our sense of freedom comes from within then we can feel completely unfettered by society's constraints. When we stop feeling the need to keep up with the `Joneses, when we dress how we like without worrying what anyone thinks, when we follow our dreams, when we truly learn to love ourselves and embrace the person we were always meant to be that's real freedom and it's within our grasp. 'We've got the strength to survive in this mad, bad world we're living in'. Yes we really have.
You’ve been very vocal about how music has been almost like a therapeutic outlet for you which is so admirable so I want to say firstly, thank you for that. Is there a song in particular that you believe is your ‘comfort’ song in that it always seems to make you feel better?
My comfort song which always helps me feel better is "Heatwave" by Blue Nile. What is your creative process when constructing that ‘Amey St. Cyr’ signature sound?
I tend to get ideas coming into my head just as I'm dropping of to sleep. I sing my ideas into my phone then come back to them at a later date to see if there is anything worth working on. I sometimes make a really basic demo on GarageBand then I take it to the producer who brings my ideas to life. What was it like working with Abstract Source on this EP?
Working with Abstract Sound was a really enjoyable process. Jules played an active role in creating the vocal we ended up with on the track which i found most helpful. Jules is very easy to work with and he's a bit of a perfectionist. He took time to find the right sound for the track and it's really paid off.
Who are your biggest musical inspirations? I'm influenced by singers like Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald and Chaka Khan even though I sound nothing like them I'm also influenced by lesser-known singers like DC Lee and Carol Kenyon. As a songwriter Bob Marley Is a big influence of mine along with Masters At Work who make the best tunes to dance to. Other than music, how do you enjoy spending your time?
Well I've got a drama degree so when theatres are open I take frequent trips to the theatre. I also enjoy the modelling jobs I do, so I enjoy posing in front of the camera, surfing the net and spending quality time with my daughter.