Together with her genre-hopping catalogue and emotionally frank songwriting, Ami Leigh has by no means adopted the anticipated path to musical recognition. She writes from the quiet corners many artists are afraid to enter, providing listeners a lifeline via the shadows of tension, isolation, and self-doubt. On this interview, she opens up in regards to the autobiographical pulse of Birds (You Are a Thriller), the sonic evolution sparked by new collaborators, and the way her neurodivergent perspective continues to form each her lyrics and reside performances. Moderately than chasing traits or pandering to platforms, she leans into vulnerability with defiant grace, inviting her viewers to really feel seen with out ever asking for sympathy. From Sooty’s sidekick Sweep making cameos within the studio to soul-searching tracks like Damaged, due out later this month, Leigh’s reflections carry a uncommon type of intimacy.
Welcome again to A&R Manufacturing facility, Ami Leigh. It’s an actual pleasure to talk with you, particularly after seeing your sound resonate so strongly throughout continents and join so deeply with audiences through the years.
Birds (You Are A Thriller) seems like a strikingly trustworthy reflection of your expertise navigating the world as a performer on the autistic spectrum. What prompted you to put in writing that music, and the way do you hope it lands with listeners who is likely to be dealing with related emotions of isolation?
I wrote Birds (You’re a thriller) in 2019 and launched it in March 2020. The music got here to me after I was in my studio simply sat questioning alone listening to the birds exterior. I had the riff after which began to tug the lyrics collectively they usually type of simply fell into place. I used to be feeling a bit of down and my thoughts was considering the loneliness of not having any associates and at all times wanting to slot in with the group. The primary verse within the music says all of it actually “I need to fly just like the birds within the sky, wave them bye as a tear falls from my eye, why do I cry”. I hope it lands with individuals who discover themselves in an identical positions though, take consolation from the attractive stress-free melody and really feel higher about themselves. It’s a bit like a type of nice songs which can be unhappy songs, you already know Wet Days and Mondays.
You’ve proven such a fluid potential to maneuver throughout genres whereas at all times holding what makes your music so particular intact. Do you’re feeling that versatility comes from intuition, or has it been formed by particular musical influences over time?
I believe at first with my two EP’s Darkish Soul, Gentle Coronary heart and Flight, they had been primarily based upon the influences of Pink Floyd, George Michael and The Treatment and the truth that my producer on the time Wayne McAloon (sure, a relative of the Prefab Sprout McAloon) was in isolation attributable to well being points and we might solely work remotely and subsequently, there was no studio time collectively. Nevertheless, since working with Neil Gibson within the studio, we have now a relationship the place we bounce off one another rather well, we permit songs to develop organically and we each actually problem one another to go exterior our consolation zones. We’ve got nice enjoyable as properly and you’ll hear this on the start of one in every of my future tracks “Wait and See” the place Sweep (Sooty’s good friend) makes an look in the beginning of the music (we have now amusing with Sweep each time as he’s Neil’s mic cowl).
Breaking to the following stage as an unbiased artist is notoriously robust. What have been the most important challenges for you in determining who to belief, particularly when there’s stress to put money into your individual success?
This has been one of the crucial troublesome areas of the enterprise for me, particularly if you would not have the funds, know folks within the business or, are fortunate sufficient to have been born into an leisure business household. I’ve been approached by numerous folks saying they can assist me make the following step in my music profession. Nevertheless, it at all times seems that there’s a worth to pay and it’s not reasonably priced. I’ve been approached by many individuals with large guarantees after which they hit you with the massive bucks and may by no means promise you outcomes. Now that’s service for you!!!
As somebody who’s confronted social anxiousness and studying difficulties, how has performing helped form your confidence, and what position does music play in serving to you talk when phrases may fall quick?
Being a musician is the whole lot to me. It makes me really feel worthy and fulfilled to know that I could make folks be ok with themselves once they hear me performing. I’m typically instructed that I’m humble and shy, and I’m not good at taking compliments very properly as a result of I have no idea the way to react to them. I at all times ask myself, am I actually worthy of this reward. I get so many compliments from audiences who love my singing and slowly I’m constructing an ideal fan base and following. Music helps me get the whole lot that is occurring in my head and my emotions, out into the world. With out music, I might simply bubble it up inside and possibly explode LOL!!
You’ve had the popularity of worldwide radio stations and even caught the eye of a Nashville producer. Has that type of suggestions shifted your mindset or ambitions in any sudden methods?
Once more, my humbleness takes centre stage each time. It has shifted my mindset, given me confidence though I’m nonetheless shy and wrestle with phrases on radio interviews. We’ve got a joke within the household that after I go to hug somebody, I unintentionally hit them within the face as a result of I have no idea the place to place my palms and I’m extremely socially awkward. No less than I haven’t carried out a Rachel from Buddies YET!! The contact and Zoom name with world class producer Dean Miller from Nashville was unbelievable. We had been all so excited to sit down down and speak with him and he was eager to supply a few of my songs. Nevertheless, we had an open and frank dialog with him about how we’d be capable to promote and market the world class songs he would produce and, sadly at this second in time, I would not have the next on Tik Tok and funds to get probably the most out of the funding. Maybe subsequent 12 months?
With new music on the playing cards for 2025 and early conversations a few 2026 album, what’s inspiring this subsequent physique of labor, and the way does it examine to what you’ve shared thus far?
Effectively, as you already know I’m considerably of a Chameleon (love that band as properly, Mark Burgess, he’s an affect). Anyway, I digress. My inspiration for my tracks are primarily based upon private experiences, different artists and daily life. My subsequent launch is Damaged, which is out on the 29th August. I believe the title speaks for itself, it’s about being damaged and making the identical errors over and over. It’s a soulful observe particularly with a refrain of soul singers and at all times consistent with my Americana affect. After that we should “Wait and See”, Sorry, that could be a play on phrases as a result of that is the identify of a observe I might be dropping in some unspecified time in the future after Damaged. Wait and See might be a bit of extra upbeat and having the Americana affect once more, with a touch of The Lumineers. The album, which is being mentioned, might be a vinyl launch subsequent 12 months and a group of the most effective of my earlier songs and a few brand-new ones as properly.
Do you discover that writing music provides you an area to replicate and reset, or is it extra of a option to attain out and make a reference to others?
I discover writing music to be extra of a option to attain out and make connections with others. Prior to now my songs have helped and supported people who find themselves experiencing points or, are having fun with the lighter aspect of life. That is my means of creating connections with folks as a result of I discover it troublesome making these one-to-one connections attributable to my Neuro Divergence. I believe for this reason I’m able to carry out to a crowd as properly, as a result of it isn’t one-to-one, and I can categorical the feelings of the songs via the lyrics and the music and conceal behind the persona of Ami Leigh.
Your lyrics typically carry a deep sense of vulnerability and resilience. Are there explicit themes or private experiences you’re exploring extra brazenly within the songs you’re at present engaged on?
Sure, I believe it’s honest to say I’ve brazenly explored varied subjects lately together with narcissism, despair, love and break-ups. The way it works for me is, I’ll create a riff after which discover how the riff makes me really feel, what image does it paint in my thoughts. This often provides me the subject to put in writing about. So, I suppose we should wait and see what themes develop from my subsequent songs. Taking it again to full circle, my songs will at all times have that darkish and light-weight, Ying and Yang about them. I do have a cheeky little darkish aspect to me and my music!!!!
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Interview by Amelia Vandergast
