For Ama Lou, music was always the path to pursue. Having begun writing songs from the age of 11 and singing from a much earlier age, once she got older and finished school—with support from her loved ones, she was determined to become a full-blown artist.
The North London native’s music is a fusion of soulful R&B and poignant storytelling with a captivating, modern edginess. Using raw, poetic lyricism to explore narratives about love and the ups and downs of life, having grown up listening to the likes of Brandy, Mary J. Blige and Nirvana, Ama Lou became enamoured by their vulnerable songwriting and how they played with melodies, and sought to incorporate those same elements into her own music, in her own way.
In 2021, the gifted singer-songwriter (who was co-signed by Drake three years prior) dropped AT LEAST WE HAVE THIS, her third EP, which was a significant point in her career. Seemingly by the day, Ama Lou’s audience grew bigger and music lovers worldwide were connecting with this new kid on the block, whose striking look, androgynous fashions and heavenly sound have made her stand out from the crowd. Following up said project with a deluxe version in 2022, it’s pretty safe to say the demand for her music (and move-like visuals) has only grown stronger.
On Sept. 1, Ama Lou released her long-awaited debut album, I Came Home Late. Throughout the 15-song offering, we are introduced to personal experiences and a sonic landscape that reflects her tastes and artistry. Since moving back from Los Angeles to her family home in Hackney, the rising star has been preparing for a European tour—we caught up with Ama Lou to talk all things music, fashion and evolution, before the first part of her tour kicked off in a quaint little cafe in East LDN.
“I listen to Brandy every day, especially her Never Say Never album. I think you have to learn from the best and apply what skill you learn to your craft without imitating.”
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COMPLEX: Was music always the plan since you began doing it so early?
Ama Lou: Music was always something I found easy and had gravitated towards early on. By the time I had finished school, it was basically my only choice because of the many hours I put into it.
You began songwriting at 11 years old, and the song “Bad Weather”—which features on I Came Home Late, your recently released debut album—is a song you wrote when you were 12. Has anything changed since you wrote it?
The only addition is the production. When I first wrote it, I used my grandparents’ piano to find the tune of the song. I wrote one verse when I was 12 and another when I was 14. The chorus was always the same until recently when I decided it needed to feel less adolescent, so I tweaked it a little bit.
What was your favourite thing about making I Came Home Late?
Remaking the album was my favourite thing. At the time, it felt like such a massive feat but my engineer, James, Shlomo and a handful of other producers helped make the process so enjoyable; they are all such good people. I especially felt so lucky to have those two people in my life and working on this impossible goal with me. The album ended up sounding better than it did in the beginning.
Oh! What was the reason you had to remake the album?
The person I was making the album with had just disappeared and took the album with them. And, unfortunately, I couldn’t get a hold of them.
That must have been an absolute headache! Sorry to hear that—it came out amazing in the end. The album sounds like a combination of all the genres you listen to: “Range 95”, for example, has a classic R&B feel to it, while “Patience” gives a nod to grunge-rock. Tell us a bit more about that process.
I see music as a tool to study from and I hope that most musicians do the same thing, because you’re only a product of what’s come before. I didn’t expect to accomplish the grunge sound on “Patience” but I love Nirvana and Pearl Jam, which inspired me to make that song as well as James encouraging me because of his background in working with bands. I also listen to Brandy every day, especially her Never Say Never album; I think you have to learn from the best and apply what skill you learn to your craft without imitating.
“I try to stay grounded and use my organisational skills to keep with the mission, which is creating music. I know what I put into my career, so planning and staying goal-oriented helps me focus on the wider path.”
What’s your favourite song from the album?
“Car Parts”, easily. The oldest song on the album as we discussed earlier is “Bad Weather”, but “Car Parts” is the first song I wrote for the album. Whenever I’d be driving back home from a session that lasted between three and seventeen hours, I would always put “Car Parts” on and it would give me so much hope to keep on going.
What do you hope your music represents to people? And what are you trying to convey?
I hope my music is a tool that people can connect with and use to heal. Music has always helped me and, moving forward, I just hope people feel seen by what I make.
How do you navigate your new found success and virality?
I try to stay grounded and use my organisational skills to keep with the mission, which is creating music. I know what I put into my career, so planning and staying goal-oriented helps me focus on the wider path.
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What has kept you grounded over the past few months during this rollout?
I feel like I’m a pretty grounded person, but if I’m not, then my family—especially my sister, who I couldn’t live without—keeps me grounded. We work together a lot. My management and friends based here and in LA are always there to speak to as well; they’re really supportive, creative individuals. I’m quite a tactile person, too, so I just spend a lot of my time sewing which keeps me grounded. My mum used to take me to fabric stores when I was a kid and I sometimes sew outfits for my dogs. I even worked on the outfits with Ashley that are on album artwork; the suit was made by an amazing tailor in Notting Hill called George Marsh.
Talking about clothes, you were recently featured in a Loewe campaign. What’s your favourite thing about fashion?
I love hunting and exploring capsule collections. I’m such a vintage babe and try not to be wasteful. If I find a certain piece then I need to look for the whole collection. Even researching designers and what houses they’ve worked for, it’s all really fun.
What else are you looking forward to this year, and in 2024?
I can’t wait to go on tour, and now that the album’s finally out, people will get an insight into who I am as a person because this is the first time I’ve ever spoken from my perspective. I’m grateful that music is my career and that I’m able to make and share art with people. I’m looking forward to sharing what I’ve been working on with everyone.
