Amiena Makes A Splash
Posted by Susie Kopecky on Aug 2, 2009 - 12:07:46 AM
Photo courtesy of amiena.com
BEVERLY HILLS—Have
you heard of her yet? If not, you may soon become familiar with the
name Amiena. The singer/songwriter is making her way around
the globe this summer, and you may want to listen up!
Amiena will soon be heading to London, where she will be performing on Tuesday,
August 4. She can be seen at a number of nightclubs and performance
halls around Central London this summer. Luckily for the youthful songbird, she is quite a fan of the United Kingdom. "My favourite place to perform is London—outdoor venues... they are the best! Under the scattered clouds—lots of people gathered round—just a great feeling and wonderful vibe!"
The influences of Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Kenny Edmonds, Tim Spell, India Aire and other soulful singers is apparent in Amiena's material, particularly in one of her newer songs, "Graham Cracker Houses." Originally written for her niece, Cassie, who was 2 years old at the time, the song "almost did not make it on the album," Amiena remembers. "I thought it was too personal, but in the end we put it on and, it is my highest selling song on iTunes. When I wrote 'Graham Cracker Houses,' I was literally tucking her into bed saying those things to her — 'close your eyes and dream... it just came from a special place inside me and working with my co-writer/producer, Rocky Grisez, it all came out."
Amiena has performed with a wide variety of well-known performers. When she isn't busy performing live, Amiena is also writing lyrics both for her own songs, and for songs used by others. "I get... in a year, maybe 18-20 songs," Amiena recalls, which she is requested to pen lyrics for. Amiena only writes when the time is right. "I don't actually look to write a song," she muses, "I just keep a journal and write down whatever's going on... and sometimes, some people in London will oftentimes send me music [to inspire me] and I'll go back to my journal [and consult]."
The journal which inspires the magic is no new toy: Amiena has been using it for quite a time. "I started writing as a whild in a journal, and that became my song book later on."
Amiena is working on a new CD, tentatively to be released in late November. (A November release date would come just in time for the third anniversary of Amiena's win from the 2006 LA Music Awards for R&B Album of the Year for "Fourth Floor").
Amiena had just finished one of the four new songs the night before we spoke. One of the new songs will be released in the next month or so, as Amiena's co-writer on the song is currently in Italy (the co-writer creates the music, while Amiena is in charge of lyrics). Watch out for two of the already-titled songs: "Real" and "No Matter."
In September, Amiena will be performing in Milan, Italy and in Bahrain and Dubai. Later in September, Amiena will be back in the United States, performing all around Texas, in Houston, Dallas and Fort Worth.
If you haven't already, be sure to pop by Amiena's Web sites, at amiena.com and myspace.com/amiena.
