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hip.hop :: interview :: Amel Larrieux |
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Not feeling any brotherly love in Philly, Larrieux moved back to New
York and began working at a publishing company at age 19. While in New
York she was signed to a deal at Epic with a group called Groove Theory,
an under-appreciated group that critics now credit with ushering in the
neo soul movement. Despite a couple of minor hits, Groove stayed together
long enough only to release 1995's self-titled debut and thenbefore they
disbanded. It would be five years later to until Larrieux released a follow-up
effort, the solo Infinite Possibilities in 2000. Shortly thereafter,
she left Epic "I had such a different vision then the people in charge of my
music at Epic. There was a lack of promotion behind my stuff, that's 95
percent of why you do well as an artist, the talent is always there and
prevalent but you need that kind of push," she said. Larrieux then began touring out of necessity and has done so on a
consistent basis for the past four years. "Seventy-five percent of
existing as an artist is being on the road. When I found I couldn't get
things going the way I needed to, the road became my bread and butter,"
she explained. She built a loyal fan base that while recording her latest release,
Bravebird. On her latest disc, she redfines her soul and acid jazz stylings to
find create an almost "garage soul" type feel. Here she is clearly
reaching for a new sound. It is album that is at once encouraging and
gracious, while at the same time deep. She sings about the pain we can
experience and the joy we can feel and shows incredible range, both vocally
and intellectually throughout the album. "I hate the studio, I hate it. It's totally unnatural,"
she said. "Singing into a mic but hearing it in my headphones. It's
such a disconnect. It always takes me a long time to get into it, it's
an unconscious act." On her latest disc, she redfines her soul and acid jazz stylings to find create an almost "garage soul" type feel. Here she is clearly reaching for a new sound. It is an album that is at once encouraging and gracious, while at the same time deep. She sings about the pain and joy we can feel and shows incredible range, both vocally and intellectually, throughout the album. Check out more info on Amel at http://www.blisslife.com/
2004 1-42 Online |
Throwing
around the word "bohemian" to describe an artist may sound like
a cliche or a throwback to the beat generation, but Amel Larrieux embodies
that carefree artistic term like a second skin. Raised by two artistic
parents in the West Village section of New York City, Larrieux's artistic
endeavors were always encouraged. She spent the early years of
her life studying dance. Later she wrote poetry and turned the writings
into songs. When Larrieux was in the ninth grade she moved to attend a
performing arts high school to in Philadelphia, where her mother was a
professor at a local university to attend a performing arts high school.