Amerie: Comeback Kid
by Arlice Nichole
It's this one thing that's got me trippin: The fact that R&B recording artist Amerie made a come back when some thought she was just another pretty face in this game. I love it when that happens! Dropping November 3rd is Amerie's new release In Love & War
MaBu caught up with this very busy lady who was hard at work in the studio every time I called. When we weren't chatting nonstop about our immense love of all things Harry Potter, or exchanging juicy details of each other's undergrad programs (we both studied English during our school days), we managed to finally talk about the music.
MaBu: Singing, acting, modeling, you've even done a little producing. What's your first and true love?
Amerie: People have asked me that over the years, and I think music is definitely my true love, but I love acting too. They're both different. With music you create everything. You're birthing this whole entire thing, and the music really comes from you, so I'm more in love with that.
MaBu: How did you get in the entertainment game?
Amerie: I was always writing and doing talent shows while growing up, but getting into the music business is kind of a tricky thing because there is no one way to do it. I just really worked on linking up with different producers to create with. I tried a few different people, and I ended up working with Rich Harrison which was a good opportunity because he was in D.C. and I was in D.C., and we kind of just gelled. We created a sound, and did a couple of records on the fly, and it just grew from there.
MaBu: What can we expect from In Love & War?
Amerie: The stories are very important. They're pretty much stories of growing pains in a relationship and getting to the other side. It's nothing really idealized. Nothing like this is the perfect thing and it's been perfect from day one. It's more realistic but at the same time it represents true love, committment, and working through issues. There are some songs that are sensual, some that are sexy, and about sexual attraction and chemistry.
MaBu: Who are some other people that you worked with this on this album?
Amerie: I worked with The Buchanons, Bryan Michael Cox, Eric Hudson, Teddy Riley are a few.
MaBu: You also write for other artists right?
Amerie: I did write a record with Babyface for his artist Christina DeBarge, and it's on her album. I really saved a lot of material because I wasn't sure what I wanted to use. It's a whole different world getting into another artist's space. But it's great because sometimes you write songs that are really nice, but they're not right for you at that time, so it's great for them to find a home.
MaBu: So were you heavily involved with the writing and producing of this album?
Amerie:Yes! But I always am because I really like the album to reflect me. I don't want it to be a collection of songs thinking this song will be good for radio, or this one will be good for the charts. For me, it's really a creative process, and that's number 1. Having that creative release and bringing about art, because that's what music is, is important to me. Music is just like painting or acting, and that's the aspect of music that I love.
MaBu: Can we expect any more records that had the same kind of energy like One Thing, because that was my jam!
Amerie: Thank you! Heard Em All is a dance record, but it's a different kind of groove. There are the heavy drums, but it's a little darker. I love it! I feel like people are feelin where I'm coming from with it, and that's a good thing. It's kind of tribal, passionate, and strong...a different kind of groove for one thing, but it's still heavy energy.
MaBu: What are your beauty must-haves - ones you won't leave home without and the ones you cant live without?
Amerie: Well you know what I recently started using was this line of called The Organic Pharmacy, because I'm really into wholistic things and I try to eat organically. I don't always, but for the most part if it's anything that I'm cooking it's organic. I was really starting to get into organic beauty products too. I haven't gone to organic makeup, but I've definitely been using this organic line from the face wash to the toner to the moisturizer which is a lot of essential oils. It's really good for your skin especially for those who have sensitive skin like me. My skin has been a lot more soothed. I really recommend people look into this line of products. It feels really good to know that your're putting natural things on your face. A lot of the cleaners contain shea butter. Distilled roses picked in Persia are the base for the whole line. It's a really great line, and I feel like a little infomercial (laughter). When I find great things I do like to share it with people.
MaBu: What's your style philosophy?
Amerie: My style philosophy is first to be comfortable. That means different things to different women. Some women are not comfortable in high heels at all, and if you're not I don't think you should wear them.
There's plenty of other options out there that are just as stylish. Then you want to make sure that the clothes reflect who you really are and where you are.
MaBu: So what are you doing when you're not working
Amerie: It's kind of hard for me to relax because I live and breathe this. Even during my down time, I'm going through magazines because I love fashion, art, and photography. I'm also on the internet a lot looking to see the latest on the runways to get ideas for certain looks that I want for videos or album packaging, and all kinds of things. I also co-founded a company called Phoenix Rising Entertainment, and I'm actually signed to Def Jam through my company too. We're also working in film because we have a film division as well, and we're getting something from the production stand point together. So, there's always something going on and it can be hard to turn off, because it's just what I love to do. Work and personal blend in together. But, I have started rereading the seventh book of Harry Potter because I just love the movies. I watch Harry Potter almost every day.
MaBu: OMG! I am a huge Harry Potter fan! I just watched the Prisoner of Azkaban last night! And it's been raining all week, right, so I have this Harry Potter umbrella!
Amerie: LOL! That is so funny, I just watched it recently too! Before the new movie come out, I watch all the old ones in a row before seeing the new one. And when I say I watch Harry Potter every day, I mean every day! When I'm washing my face, Harry Potter is on (laughter). I know all the lines too!
MaBu: I believe it! I have children, and I make sure they cannot reach my Harry Potter DVD collection. I cannot believe another adult loves Harry Potter as much as me.
Amerie: Yeah, I'm totally into it all!
Be sure to pick up Amerie's new album, In Love & War
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