Amaarae dishes on her sophomore album Fountain Baby & announces her new Tour!
Amaarae, the Ghanaian American singer-songwriter, has dropped one of the hottest albums of the Summer (literally) with bangers such as “Princess Going Digital” and Fan Favorite “Co-Star”. We celebrate our Rebel Music Issue starring Amaarae, who has just performed at the 2023 MTV VMA Pre-show. Tik-tok users have already created dozens of dances that one (me) simply couldn’t keep up with, Amaarae’s hard-hitting beats will escape you into her world that is Fountain Baby. “I want every cool girl in the entire world to want to play this music,” Amaarae declares, defining the coolest people as the risk-takers and the future-seekers, who dare and predict and challenge whether they have a million followers or a hundred. 10 seconds into the intro of Fountain Baby, you’re already gripped and transported to somewhere distinct, unexpected, and distant. The Eastern-infused, soaring orchestral introduction of ‘Moametal’, makes clear her unpredictable yet global ambitions from the jump. “I wanted it to feel like a worldly album that takes inspiration from everywhere,” the 28-year-old artist born Ama Serwah Genfi explains the follow-up album to her critically acclaimed kaleidoscopic debut. “For anyone to feel like they can relate to it and like it.”
On Fountain Baby, she’s seeking to stretch the boundaries further on topics at the heart of today’s generation too, especially as a young African woman. “I do consider myself an extremely spiritual person but my expression or how I view spirituality and even religion can sometimes be a social experiment, to see if I can push my African listeners further than the things they want to believe. Having that discussion through the music is really my way of trying to push us to be unafraid of the possibilities of what the religion that [we’ve] been taught could be, outside of [our] own fears.” And when it comes to sexuality, sensuality, and gender, Amaarae is similarly daring. “My real mission is for us to not think about sexuality,
or to subvert it so much to the point where it subconsciously takes people away from that… I wanted to make the music so sexy and captivating that you kind of wouldn’t think about what pronouns I was using, no matter if you are straight, gay, pansexual, whatever. That was my way of trying to slowly break that boundary that things have to be in boxes and confined and defined.” Once again, using her contagiously feel-good music as a vehicle for freer bodies, minds, and hearts, Amaarae takes us on an extraordinary sonic journey, this time with her sights set on the world. Fans can catch Amaarae Live on Tour kicking off next March, pre-sale starts this month, and tickets are available here.
Featured Interview:
Tell us about the themes and the making of your most recent album, Fountain Baby. What was your favorite track off the record?
Fountain Baby is about finding freedom in falling in love no matter how fearful of it you may be. My favorite tracks change every day! But right now it’s “Disguise” and “Princess Going Digital.”
We absolutely love your visuals! “Co-Star” and “Wasted Eyes” were so well executed! Can you please let us know how important visuals are to your art and how you usually approach new music video ideas?
Visuals are everything to me. It’s more than just making a video for a song but also telling people about yourself. What mindset are you in? What kinds of things do you like? What are your beliefs, passions, and goals? What is your taste like? With music videos, I always start with color palettes. What color and mood is the song? Then I start moodboarding and then build out from there.
Tell us about your experience at the legendary NPR Tiny Desk Concert.
I was actually so nervous and I don’t even know why! At first, I was fine, you know. Chilling, catching up with the producers (of the show), and then when the camera came on for some reason I felt like I was in front of the world. But overall, I had a great time. I’ve always wanted to be behind the desk and to have this now as part of my history as an artist is amazing.
We loved you starring in the H&M x Mugler campaign. Can you please tell us about the process of getting to that moment?
That was such a fun campaign to work on! The people at Mugler feel like family to me. I remember getting on set for my fittings and Cadwallader saying to me “you have to be prepared to do anything on this set. We’re crazy. We might hook you up to a harness and throw you in the air! Is that ok?” and I was like hell yea!
You’ve been featured on tracks for both Janelle Monae and Amine this year, how did those two features come to life?
Amine just hit me on IG. He’s so sweet! Janelle actually came to my concert first and then invited me to her home several months after! We just vibed man. She’s interesting, she’s so bubbly when you’re hanging & partying.
We noticed your band in the Fountain Baby merch, can fans cop this soon?
HAHAHA! It’s so crazy I wanted those tees to just be our own limited-edition tiny desk shirts. Like a collectible for all of us who partook in the performance. But people have been hitting me up about it so much. I think I’m gonna make it a thing!!
Can you describe your personal style and how has it evolved over the years?
My personal style right now is just laid-back, sexy, and cool. I’ve grown up a lot over the years, a few years ago I had a rainbow-colored buzz cut and I used to wear a lot of baggy clothes. As I’ve grown I’ve come to love and embrace my body for what it is! I also am less colorful than I used to be. I like to keep things simple lots of black, white, red, blue, and brown. Very simple palettes. I’ve also got my silhouettes down to a science now. I love mini skirts and boots, corsetted tops, baggy jeans, cool baseball caps, and leather jackets! That’s my vibe.
Is there a fragrance you’re in love with right now?
I love fragrances. I have so many I’m into at the moment. Bois d’ébène by Matiere Premiere, Parisian Musc by Matiere Premiere, Sports car club by penhaligons , Vyrao &bvetyver bucolique by Mad Et Len
In a fast-paced industry, what are some of the rituals that help keep you on track and find your peace?
I always find time to sleep and sleep A LOT. Outside of that, I’ll binge-watch my favorite comfort show
Do you have a dream collaboration?
I really would love to work with Young Thug or Gunna. I also really wanna do an EP with Metro Boomin!
How do you feel that your unique art and creativity are disrupting the culture within music?
I’m grateful to God & the universe above all. This gift is not for or from me alone. I am truly just a vessel!
Your skin is flawless! Do you have a beauty routine and what are some of your favorite beauty products at the moment?
I kid you not, my routine is very simple. I wash my face with Dove hypoallergenic bar soap & apply no7 vitamin C cream and serum. Also, I mind my business.
Lastly, can fans expect a tour soon?
I hope so! Haha! I’m definitely gonna be out on the road soon. I wanna see and touch the fans. I want to create a cool live interaction experience for them where they can do more than just see me on stage!
AMAARAE TOUR DATES:
TIMES:
Artist Presale: Wednesday 9/6/23 @ 11 am PT / 2PM ET
Spotify Presale: Thursday 9/7/23 @ 10am local – Thursday, 9/7/23 @ 10pm local
Live Nation Presale: Thursday 9/7/23 @ 10am local – Thursday, 9/7/23 @ 10pm local
General Public On-sale: Friday 9/8/23 @ 10 am local
UK / EU Dates:
March 6, 2024 — Paris, France @ Elysée Montmartre
March 8, 2024 — Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Melkweg Max
March 9, 2024 — Berlin, Germany @ Astra Kulturhaus
March 12, 2024 — London, United Kingdom @ HERE at Outernet
US Dates:
3/21/2024
Chicago, IL
House of Blues – Chicago
3/24/2024
Toronto, ON
Danforth Music Hall
3/26/2024
Philadelphia, PA
Theatre of Living Arts
3/27/2024
Silver Spring, MD
The Fillmore Silver Spring
3/29/2024
Atlanta, GA
Buckhead Theatre
3/30/2024
Houston, TX
White Oak Music Hall – Downstairs
4/2/2024
Los Angeles, CA
The Belasco
Team Credits:
Interviewed by: Perrin Johnson @editsbyperry
Editor-in-chief: Prince Chenoa @princechenoastudio
Photographer / Images: Lauren Dunn – @laurenelizadunn (IG)
MUA: Lake Sanu – @lakesanu (IG)
Styling: Briana Shaneè – @eenahsanairb (IG)Hair: 𝐙𝐮𝐫𝐢 𝐇𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨 – @zurihairstudio (IG)
