The mystical Ama Lou has gracefully established her ground as a rising star in the R&B scene. Revered by artists such as Jorja Smith, SZA and Drake, the North London native has mapped a truly sensational musical introduction.
Ama Lou was classically trained in London, England and began writing her own music at just 11 years old. She has always been musically inclined. The singer picked up the guitar at age 10 and learned how to play the piano at 14. At the age of 18, she released her debut single “TBC,” which includes a visionary tale that makes us all feel a little less lonely. She pays tribute to the Black Lives Matter movement.
"I write both from primary and observatory points of view. The verses portray a sense of group and togetherness, standing together and fighting against archaic societal rules opposed by modern feminism and the millennial generation," she said. "The pre-chorus references the infamous last words 'I can’t breathe,' uttered by Eric Garner, the Staten Island New Yorker choked to death by police in July 2014."
Her musical craft cites many personal experiences and relationships that intertwine with her own autonomy. She feeds the soul with methodical minimalism that speaks for itself. Back in 2018, Ama Lou had the opportunity of going on tour with the magical Jorja Smith, who elevated the emerging star’s platform.
She also directs a majority of her conceptual pieces, which showcases her intricate ability of storytelling through both a contemplative and comical lens. In “We Tried, We Tried,” Ama Lou is dressed up as an older woman who often clashes with her husband. The perspective shows a vulnerable side to relationships and the hardships that come across. She sings about this brutal revelation of fading love: "I can't believe we're at a point where we don't like each other's company / When you're not around the burden's off my shoulders / We've tried / But it won't get revived.”
In March 2018, she released DDD, a three-part film and EP directed and co-produced by the Ama Lou herself. The films stars Ama Lou as a member in a Los Angeles-based crime ring and follows her throughout the course of a regular day. The EP is composed of three individual music videos that are set at different parts of the day: dawn, day and dusk.
Her melodies never adhere to any particular genre, which is what is most magnetic about most of her work. Ama Lou’s striking vocal range creates a fusion of emotion that is so unlike what we hear today. Coupled with her visual components, her musical power is unstoppable. While the production is important, Ama Lou has noted that her projects are more atmospheric than plot-driven. She brings a level of authenticity that is, arguably, completely unmatched.
If you’re looking to add her music in your playlists, most of it can be found on all major platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and Soundcloud.
