ARTIST SPOTLIGHT – AMIQUE
This month, we dive into the world of Amique, a genre-blending artist whose sound fuses soul, jazz, funk, and rock.
Known for captivating live performances with The Ecstasy and a creative process rooted in freedom, Amiqué shares insights on their influences, their journey through the Liverpool music scene, and aspirations for the future. Get ready to explore the spirit behind the music and what drives this innovative artist.
Your music blends a variety of genres, from soul and jazz to funk and rock. How do you approach the creative process when merging these different styles?
The process of making music has always felt very natural to me, I try to not interrupt the flow of sound by overthinking. Instead, I often go into a sort of hypnotic state and let the Spirit take over. There’s a verse in the Bible ‘from the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.’ what comes out is a reflection of what’s going on ‘in’. I listen to great music, I study the Greats and keep a good sonic diet. It’s the same concept.
Who are some of your biggest musical influences, and how have they shaped your sound and artistic vision?
I had an epiphany recently that what links all my artistic heroes together is the fact that they all yearned for freedom and found it in their music. Miles, Prince, Joni, Coltrane, Jimi, Kate….they all refused to be confined into one space. They never looked back, always forward…each song was an evolution of their spirit. Like in Buddhism, each song was like a new cycle of life, closer to nirvana. I was always inspired by the greatest Artists. My Grandad told me that when I was young they tried putting me in a playpen but I would become furious and kick up hell until they let me out. I never wanted to be restricted or confined. Freedom is everything to me. Music to me is freedom. Right from the beginning, my dad was playing Robert Johnson, Charlie Patton, Elmore James. I was exposed to greatness from the very beginning.
Liverpool has a rich musical history. How has the city influenced your music and career?
Growing up in Liverpool taught me to be tough. It taught me to embrace my individualism even if some people didn’t understand. Liverpool loves an individual but it can be afraid of the concept sometimes. Through a baptism of fire, I realised I didn’t have any choice but to be me. The musical heritage of the city is so wonderful. The Chants, The Real Thing…some wonderful talent has come out of this city. To be honest, it’s the young ones that influence me a lot these days though. I always loved Nu Tribe, I love what Elias is doing as a solo Artist…Koj, I absolutely love him. His energy, his insight, his spirit. Ni Maxine, Remeé, Bethane, Dayzy, they are creative visionaries and the talent is on another level…there are young Artists I met through Noise; Leighton Jenkins, Jake Baddock, Azize Dia…they are the future. You’ll hear about them soon enough for sure. All these Artists inspire me so much. You spend some time with them and then realise you need to practise some scales yourself so you don’t fall behind! They all make me so proud and inspire me to be better.
Your live performances with The Ecstasy are known for their energy and intensity. What do you aim to convey to your audience during a live show?
The truth. We never play the same song exactly the same way twice. Every day we’re reborn and the music will always reflect that. I can’t sing ‘Lights On’ like I did last April because I’m in a different place now. The things I’ve seen, heard and experienced..I’m a different man and so now it’s a different song. ‘The Ecstasy’ takes its work very seriously. We’re committed to the craft, to the moment and to the audience. It feels like one long prayer to me.
Can you share the story behind one of your favourite songs you’ve written? What inspired it?
I love my new song ‘Mighty’. It’s a joyous song and it feels good to play and listen to. The band are all over it and the horns…!! Oh Lord the horns! Eric Animan…he’s another musician who inspires me so much. Playing with him feels like rebirth, he transcends this realm when he plays that sax. No one can touch him. When I’m composing and arranging, I can sing the horn lines to Eric and he will play them back to me immediately, note perfect. He plays all the horns on mighty and listening to those arrangements almost brings me to tears. The recording process for that took a long time but as any midwife will tell you, it takes as long as it takes. I wish you could have been there for the process though it was something else. If anyone wants to give me money to make more music that way please send me some. As for what inspired ‘Mighty”… his name was_______
What challenges have you faced as an artist breaking into the music scene, and how have you overcome them?
I’m not the boy next door. But that’s ok I still get a lot of love which I appreciate. Challenges…one day we can talk about that, as a gay working class kid..hmm I’m not ready. ‘How have you overcome them?’ I’ll call you when I have I’M WORKING ON IT.
What’s the most memorable experience you’ve had performing or recording music?
Too much to mention here. Playing Fredericks to a packed out house, playing Servant Jazz quarters in London and Kazimier Stockroom to a sold out crowd, playing The Barbican for London Jazz Festival, Ronnie Scotts. No promoters or managers or labels. I’m very blessed and have had so much fun. Making music heals me and every experience lifts me up. It’s my life. I want to live a life of service. I want to serve with everything I do and say and lift people up.
Looking forward, what are your goals and aspirations for your music career in the coming years?
For the music to keep getting better, the audience to keep growing bigger and the money to keep growing taller.
