After spending a few weeks in LA working on new music, we caught up with Dublin-based singer songwriter Aimee to hear all about her new tunes…
Aimee, how are things?
All good! I feel like the last two years have just been non-stop, which is great. I really needed to get away for a while and just focus on my writing. I needed to be in my own space, because life happens around you, and sometimes it can be distracting- especially when you’re a creative. I’m naturally a sponge, so if there’s other stuff going on I kind of draw myself to it and then I’m like ‘No, I need to switch off and write!’ Now the music is out, it’s done, I can actually breathe!
This shoot took place LA and it’s so gorgeous. Do you love it there?
It’s like my recharge, and there’s so much creativity and inspiration over there. You meet the coolest people and there’s so many opportunities. I like to get over there at least twice a year. And because this was such a summer EP, I needed somewhere with guaranteed blue skies and palm trees, and you know, that’s not exactly Dublin. Any excuse! [laughs] Ireland will always be home but the goal is to have a place in LA so I can be here or there whenever I feel like it.
You do a lot of writing over there too, right?
Absolutely. I’ve been travelling back and forth for years, and I write for other artists too. There’s a lot of American artists who I write for, and hopefully their songs will be coming out soon. I do a lot of stuff under the radar.
Is there anybody who you can tell us about?
The only one I can tell you about now, because he already posted, is Laidback Luke, which is really cool. He actually flew a few of us out to Amsterdam to write for his next dance project. With a lot of the bigger names, it’s super strict. You’re not allowed to talk about it until the song comes out because the artists have so many of them to consider, that you just have to quietly hope they pick yours.
You’ve worked with some huge names like Max Martin who’s known for his music with Ariana Grande and Ash Howes who’s worked with Kylie… that’s impressive! How was that experience for you?
I’ll be totally honest, I’ve worked with some people who have insane credentials, who have worked with incredible people all over the world, but I’ve also worked in really small home studios with up-and- coming producers who have never had a cut, and I’ve had an equally incredible experience. I’ve been in sessions with arrogant, awful personalities like you’ve no idea, I’ve been through it all. And those songs are never good, ever. It’s always down to the good people. Even though Max and Ash are such huge names, they’re good, good people, and that
to me is the foundation of everything, because I’m not just throwing words together to create a song. These are all my very personal life stories, so it has to be a safe space. I’ve found my core people who I work with now, in Ireland, Sweden, London and America, and I love it. I’m so lucky, it’s so fun.
Let’s talk about the EP itself. There’s fun, summer tracks but a lot of very personal lyrics too, referencing your late mum, Tina. How do you find writing and singing about her, is it therapeutic for you?
This is how I keep her alive. I’ll never stop talking about her, ever. My mam’s mam passed away before I was born, but I grew up as if I knew every single little detail about my granny. I know her favourite song, where she grew up, I know her childhood friends, what her interests were. That’s because my mam never stopped talking about her. So even though I lost my mam very young, and obviously she won’t get to meet my kids, I’ll always keep her alive with me, no matter what. And the good thing about music is that it lives forever.
What would be the best lesson you learned from your mam? Is there anything she taught you that you bring with you through this career?
Any time I’ve a really difficult decision to make I ask myself what would she tell me, and it’s like I can hear her in my ear. It’s always trust your gut. She really instilled the idea that no matter how small or big you are, you respect everybody that you meet on the way up, and be nothing but kind to absolutely everybody. And always look after the women around you. Women supporting women, and looking after each other, was always so important to her.
From the posts that you share on social media, your dad seems to be your biggest supporter. How is he finding all this? He must be over the moon for you.
Oh, he’s so overwhelmed. My dad can’t handle his emotions whatsoever – I love that about him though. Growing up, it was so normal to see men cry in our house. My dad would just cry at adverts, me singing in the shower, everything [laughs], but yeah, he’s just so proud. It hasn’t changed since I was a kid. Both my parents were very much like “Whatever it is that you want to do with your life, we fully support you.” Ever since my mam passed, my dad has taken on two roles, and he’s doing a great job. I’m so grateful for him.
It’s so important to have people in your corner, especially in the music industry which can be so fickle and uncertain. Is it a hard world to navigate?
It is, but you have to remember to follow your own gut, treat every situation with kindness and don’t take everything too seriously. As quickly as you can get an opportunity, you can lose it, so keep yourself humble. Rejection is just redirection, that’s really been my biggest lesson.
Was this always the dream? When you were younger, was this the goal the whole time or was there something else you wanted to do?
Oh, as soon as I saw Britney Spears on the TV I was like yep, that’s me. Well, minus the abs!
A lot of people turn to music to switch off and unwind. Are you the same?
Oh, for me it can’t be music related! I can’t watch a live concert on TV in the evening time, I can’t watch any Netflix specials on the pop industry, because I won’t sleep. I’ll be up all night either writing or making notes of plans and ideas. So the best way for me to unwind would maybe be out with my dog. I love to exercise, go for walks, and have dinner with my family. Just normal, non-music, non-industry stuff is how I switch off. You have to really step away from it all to get new inspiration to write.
And who or what inspires you?
Absolutely everything. I have actually written songs based on conversations between strangers that I heard in a coffee shop. You could be talking to me and I’d take my phone out and start typing, which seems rude, but really you just said something and I thought it was a great idea for a song. I take inspiration from everything. There’s a song on the EP called Runaway, about my best friend who went through an awful break up last year. At the time, I kept asking her stuff, and she was wondering why I kept asking so many questions. No reason…[laughs]
INTERVIEW: Michelle Dardis
PHOTOGRAPHY: Ryan Douglas
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