At just 15 years old, NY singer-songwriter Amelie Lucille sound is way beyond her years. With a voice that echoes deep, emotional tones, Amelie's musical journey commenced at the age of 7 through Christmas-gifted piano lessons. A student at LaGuardia High School, Amelie has swiftly made her mark in the music scene, releasing her debut self-titled album on June 15th, 2023, and unveiling her second single, "See Me," on February 2nd. A fixture at the legendary Bitter End as part of The Urban Garage series, Amelie Lucille showcases a uniquely powerful voice and a genuine love for her classic musical influences. Despite her youth, her music reflects the profound impact of artists like The Cure, Cocteau Twins, Björk, and The Sundays, infusing her moody and emotion-laden compositions with a timeless quality. Amelie's confessional and intimate approach, coupled with her captivating musical style, makes her a must-listen for enthusiasts of storytelling artists such as Lana Del Rey, Norah Jones, or Cat Power, embodying the spirit of an 'old soul' in every note she delivers. Stef caught up with Amelie for Five Fast Facts covering her latest release, "See Me."
Hi Amelie! Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us today.
AL: Thank you so much.
1. SJ: Can you start by telling us about your background in music, when did you start writing music, and what inspired you?
AL: I started writing very early in my life, and my love for it grew as I got older, and learned more instruments. Because I kept writing and writing, I thought eventually I would want to release the music I had. I was lucky enough to have very supportive parents who gave me the opportunity to record my first album, and now, I continue writing more in the hopes I can release more as I get older.
2. SJ: You just released the song, "See Me," on February 2nd. Can you tell us a little bit about this track and the story behind it?
AL: This new release is definitely a huge step for me because of how new and different I think it is from the album. I knew I wanted the next song I release to be a bigger production than the raw, “stripped down” style of my other music. I had such an incredible time working with my producer and family friend, Carolin Pook on strings. I wanted to write about a broken relationship and the feeling of being “trapped”. I’m so, so excited for this release and hope others are too!
3. SJ: What was the writing process like for this track? Do you like to collaborate with other writers, or do you prefer to write alone?
AL: "See Me” was actually one of the first songs I wrote that did not start on guitar or piano. I remember hearing the melody of the chorus one day and running to record it. After that, I wrote the rest of the song and fell in love with how different it sounded from anything else I had. I always write my songs alone, but if given the chance, I always love to get advice or criticism.
4. SJ: What did the recording process look like? How did working with producer, PK Variance, help you shape the story in the EP?
AL: The recording process was definitely difficult because this new song had the most production than any other song, I knew it would take a while before I thought it was good enough to release. I couldn't be more lucky to have worked with such incredible people who really helped this song come to life.
Amelie Lucille "His Song"
5. SJ: What is one song you wish Amelie Lucille wrote?
AL: One song I wish I wrote is Weird Fishes/Arpeggi by Radiohead.
SJ: What’s next for Amelie Lucille?
AL: I can only hope that those listening to my music or my fans are just as excited as I am for the release of "See Me," and the release of a potential album towards the end of the year! I am really so grateful for anybody who takes the time to listen to my music. Thank you so so much! You’ll be seeing me soon!
SJ: Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us about “See Me”! We can’t wait to hear what you create next!
AL: Thank you so so much! I’m incredibly grateful to have this experience and to talk to such cool people about my music!
Listen to "See Me" below!
Credits:
Songwriting: Amelie Lucille
String Arrangement: Carolin Pook Violin: Carolin Pook
Cello: Griffin Frost
Viola: Lucy Harris, Liam Meyers
Producer: PK Variance
Sound Engineer: Joel Arnow
Mastering: Dan Millice