NeoL

ーーWhat was the most memorable things that you experienced on tour?


Amber：We played Jakarta a few days ago and it was quite shocking, surprising to me that so many people in Jakarta, an Indonesian knew the lyrics to my songs. So there was a moment where everyone was singing along to my song ‘Saw you in a dream’ back at me and it was kind of insane. Especially you could hear their accent being so different because I hadn’t played in Asia before. That was one of the most special moments and it was only a few days ago.


ーーSo it’s been a while since you put out your album and you have been touring so has there been any re-discovery or something new that you found through touring about your album?


Amber：I guess, the reaction to some of the songs have been surprising to me. Because I always thought that it would take a longer time to actually get a reaction. I thought that the EP tracks would be the most popular. But the album was, as soon as we started playing the show started to feel different and more lively. I guess it changed the dynamic of the whole show. The songs on the album are more upbeat I guess. I have more pace to them.


ーーI guess part of the reason why people reacted to it so quickly was because everyone had been anticipating it for a long time.


Amber：It took me a long time to actually record the album because I was touring in between EPs. So yeah, I guess there had been a big build up of about a year or something until the release so that could be a part of it.





ーーAs you said the album is more upbeat. In PR for other interviews you have mentioned that your shows have fed into the album. Your beats are rather than dance music, more experimental and more abstract. Do you think the feedback influences how you make your beats?


Amber：Yeah I think so. Having played more shows you can see a correlation between the pace and I guess the upbeatness of my songs. Once you start having an audience then you can’t really try and control how that audience is going to react to your music in a live setting. So not purposefully, probably subconciosuly it has affected it.


ーーDo you listen to experimental underground music?


Amber：Yeah I do. I go through phases of listening to loads of new music and then absolutely no music. I listen to a whole range of stuff. A lot of old stuff like Fleetwood Mac, ABBA and then I guess the new bands because I made a lot of friends in the music industry now and I listen to a lot of my friends music. For example, a band called Muna. Who are some of my best friends who live in America. I’ve been listening to their new album a lot. Arts School Girlfriend is quite experimental electronic music. I can’t really remember but there are loads.


ーーIn terms of beatmaking, are there any specific artists that you have been influenced by?


Amber：I try and not be influenced by anyone because I think it’s important not to sound like anyone else. But subconsciously you can’t really help it. But I think with making beats or writing music, it’s a very random thing that happens, and I never really think about why I’ve made it after I’ve made it.


ーーSo I’d like to ask you about the process on making this album. You worked with several producers on this album what did you discuss with your co-producers?


Amber：I basically did the album in two stages. The first stage was with BJ in Wisconsin and we sort of, I guess I was still writing the songs out there. We were sort of more in the experimental stage for the production. And then I finished the album with George in Oxford. And that was more finishing stuff off. I guess he added his personal touch to it. So it’s quite interesting working with two separate producers for the same thing. I then put it all together. George, I’ve known him for so long. So I’m really close to him and I’ve worked with him and BJ, I’ve known him for a while too and I can’t really imagine doing this with anyone else.





ーーObviously, you had been working with George for a long time but it was kind of a surprise to see BJ’s name on this production. What drew you to work with him.


Amber：I think it’s really helpful to have another input into an album but I think the initial thing that drew me to BJ was that I didn’t think I was going to be able to work with George at all. I thought we were going to both be too busy to match our schedules. So I kind of just googled some albums that I liked. I was listening to Sylvan Esso at the time and a James Blake thing and his name came up on all of the albums. And so I reached out to him. Weirdly he had also reached out to me so it was a weird coincidence thing. So I’m really glad that I did that and I’m sure that we will work with each other again in the future.


ーーDid you listen to the album by Low that he produced as well?


Amber：Yeah, he played me a lot of it in the studio. I love it. He’s really really talented.


ーーAn album that George has done was the 1975 album which was really well received. What was your take on their new track, ‘People’ ? It was a surprise to some people.


Amber：Yeah, it was a surprise to me as well when I heard it. They are sort of shamelessly denying all kind of genre. Genre bending I guess. I think it’s always good to shock your audience.


ーーThere is an Industrial gothic rock kind of taste to it. Is that something you are familiar with ?


Amber：I’m not really into that kind of that music. But that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate that vibe and the feeling that they are going for. To be honest I would never listen to that kind of music. But I feel like for them the message for that song is more important than the sound of it. I think the sound is meant to try and get the audience to listen to it. But personally I’m not a fan of hard rock.


ーーSo you have openly spoken about your gender and sexuality. Is that a subject something you are keen to speak out about or something you would rather not?


Amber：I don’t ever recall talking about my gender but people always just assume that being androgynous links to being non binary. Not that I take offense to that but it isn’t necessarily true. I am always open about talking about my sexuality. I think that’s something important to do, especially if you’ve got young fans who are questioning their own sexuality. Because when I was younger, there was one artist who wasn’t even openly gay but it was pretty obvious that they were gay and that kind of helped me feel ok with myself because I thought that was really cool.I could relate to it.





ーーSo we had just interviewed Girlpool and one of them happened to be transgender and when they were interviewed and asked about his gender he was expressing discomfort and was slightly annoyed about how everyone tried to talk about it. Do you feel like that? Do you feel discomfort talking about your relationship with your sexualtiy.


Amber：Personally no, well obviously I would like to talk about the music as well but if someone is talking about sexuality it is always an important thing to talk about so I’m ok to talk about it. I find it frustrating when many people assume things about my gender which is not true. I find it frustrating because it is pretty much because I wear jeans and a t-shirt and people assume that I am non-binary because of that. Which is also frustrating for me because I hadn’t had to go through all of the things that my non-binary friends had had to go through. But in terms of sexuality I’m always up for talking about it and I think it’s healthy to do so.


ーーSo Matt Healy had given a speech about gender disparity at the brit awards and about misogyny. Have you heard that speech?


Amber：Yeah, I think so. I can’t really remember it well but I have heard a lot of his speeches (laughs).

ーーYou mentioned your frustration towards people assuming things about your gender. Have you experienced that gender gap and sexual discrimination, misogyny in the music industry?


Amber：Yeah. The first meeting I had with a manager, not my own but he said that it was really rare that I could produce but I’m also a girl because girls can’t really do that which really annoyed me honestly. It’s really hard to distinguish day to day misogyny and misogyny in the industry because it’s happening all of the time. I’m really lucky because I don’t really experience it with anyone that I work with and I think that it would be extremely frowned upon if there was any misogyny. But at the same time, I have seen people’s growths with their views of it compared to before. Learning to have a more modern mindset when it comes to talking about women. Yeah, it’s definitely everywhere. I don’t know if I’ve experienced it that much but I’ve seen it everywhere. It’s almost like it is a given, constantly.


ーーSorry for asking three heavy questions at the end.


Amber：Oh, no worries (laughs)


ーーLooking forward to the show tonight.


Amber：Thank you.

The Japanese House
『Good at Falling』
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text Junnosuke Amai
edit Ryoko Kuwahara