‘You’re just like jelly’: Fashion designer-turned-singer Amara releases new gelatinous track
This is A HOT MINUTE WITH, a quick-fire interview series championing all the rising talent catapulting into fashion, art and music’s fickle stratosphere. From pinch-me moments to bad dates and even worse chat-up lines, think of it as an overindulgent conversation – like the ones you have in sticky club toilets at 4.A.M. Except these guests don’t regret the overshare…
A collage of different sounds and styles, Amara is the self-made fashion designer-turned-artist making music from her bedroom.
Courtesy of @amara_ctk100
NAME AMARA
AGE N/A
LOCATION London, England
STAR SIGN Leo
LIFE MANTRA If you want it done, get it done yourself.
Jeffrey Thomson: Hey Amara, you’ve just dropped your new track, Jelly - how are you celebrating?
Amara: I celebrated by taking three days off and going to the seaside - Margate. And eating a lot of fish and chips.
JT: What was the inspiration behind the song?
Amara: I quite like how the word ‘jelly’ sounds and it's different meanings. The sugary-wobbly, see-through, brightly coloured food as a metaphor for someone who can’t stand in for their own opinions or is jealous and wobbles about like a jelly...from one thing to the next, from one side to another. The song is meant to be fun!
JT: How would you describe your sound?
Amara: It’s a collage of different things and of what I can do from my laptop in my room. It’s fun, sometimes colourful, sometimes dark. As a child I was classically trained as a soprano and did musicals, which is probably why I love having loads of vocal layers and harmonies.
JT: How about your style?
Amara: I like to wear whatever is comfortable really, on most days it's pretty casual.
JT: What does music mean to you?
Amara: Music is fun - I like the idea of making something good out of a not so good situation!
JT: If you were organising a dinner party and could invite anyone to attend (dead or alive), who would be on the guest list?
Amara: Both my grandad’s died before I was born - getting to know them over dinner would be nice!
JT: You post some amazing looks on Instagram, wearing and working with some really great creative talent. How integral is fashion to your music and persona?
Amara: I originally studied fashion design, I’ve always been fascinated by the idea how dress is one of the means by which bodies are made social and given identity and meaning. I really enjoy amplifying whatever mood I’m in with whatever I’m wearing!
JT: Who are three designers on your radar at the moment?
Amara: NAZIFA BEGUM, ROSETTE and BONE.
JT: Finish these sentences: I’m currently obsessed with…
Amara: Jelly.
JT: I can’t leave my house without…
Amara: My headphones…like never.
JT: I really can’t stand…
Amara: The London Underground on hot summer days.
JT: My favourite thing to do is…
Amara: Downloading the final master :)
JT: Any last words?
Amara: Thank you for having me!
Photography and post by REECE OWEN
Styling by LUCA WOWCZYNA
Featuring AMARA
Hair by KIARA SCORZELLI
Make-up by MEE KEE
Nails by VICTORIA
Graphis and GIF by AMARA
Fashion assistance by PUER DEORUM
Photographic assistance by REECE JAMES
Fashion by ED CURTIS and CHRISTIAN STONE