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"I can't, I can't, I can't breathe," Ama Lou's husky voice mutters during the pre-chorus before the her debut single "TBC" erupts into the fully-bloomed chorus. If the phrase packs an eerie nostalgia, it's because the 18-year-old is referencing the last words spoken by Eric Garner before he was choked to death by police in July 2014. "TBC," Ama Lou says, examines, “current events and historical issues experienced by the minorities of the world."
The North London singer is a classically trained musician who has been writing since she was 11. "At the time, it was the one thing that I found really easy to do by myself and it kind of hasn't stopped since then," she explains. Now, a few years later, Lou is ready to share what she's been working on all this time.
"TBC" is our first taste of her efforts, and it's a powerful introduction. The track features ambient synths layered over a punctuated bassline. At the forefront is Lou's vocals, rich and confident, leading you through every drip and clap embedded in the electro-R&B production.
Though a sensual and smooth listen musically, the track's message is anything but. Lou may be young in age, but she tackles on-going current events with a gracefulness and deftness that extends well beyond her years. Throughout the song, "TBC" embodies different perspectives one can feel in regards to these issues. One minute it's a call for unity, the next it's mocking how media views activism. "'Should it be I’ve lost my way,' is a kind of mockery of the media’s perpetuated projected propaganda that labels activism crazy; because they have lost their way and place in society, they need to make noise and be heard."
Lou is readying a lot more new music, but for now, get acquainted with her sound by listening to "TBC" below.
You're only 18 but you're a classically trained musician. Where did the initial interest in music come from? How did you get into creating your own music?
Classical singing was suggested to me by a school teacher of mine when I was 13. I thought, "Why not try the hardest type of singing and become graded at it?" In terms of being a vocalist, any type of classical singing requires immense discipline and precision. I really loved it. I was always surrounded by musicians growing up, cliché as it sounds, but I wasn't really inspired by any of them. It just gave me a free space and the resources to play with it. I started writing when I was 11. At the time, it was the one thing that I found really easy to do by myself and it kind of hasn't stopped since then.
"TBC" is your debut single - literally the first taste listeners have to your music and it's a massive introduction. Why did you choose "TBC" to be the first song you released?
Everything went really well with "TBC [To Be Confirmed]." The process was really natural and easy. I had just come back from NYC so it felt integral in its being. It was just the right fit.
Your music has a really modern vibe, but your voice feels timeless. Who are some of your influences?
Thank you so much! I would say my main influences would be Ella Fitzgerald, Dolly Parton, Lead Belly, Gil Scott-Heron, Justin Bieber, Hannah Montana (aka Miley Cyrus), and the whole High School Musical cast.
Your instagram bio says, "We're not going to be told what to do anymore, we're going to do what ever we want," which is a mentality that you can really see lends itself to your creative process. How important to you as an artist is that aspect of risk-taking in music?
It's not so much about risk taking as it is about having the fundamental rules of a good song, and then playing with it. All you can do really is lend your ideas to reality and then let people find their own comfort or rebellion in it.
I'm hopeful "TBC" is the lead single off an upcoming EP or LP. Is that something that's in the works?
I have so much music up my sleeves, but right now I’m just seeing where the music takes me. Stay tuned.
