Amahla - Money (Single) + 10 Questions

Photo Credit: Justina Stasiunaite

Hackney singer-songwriter Amahla returns with her new single ‘Money,’ a seamless blend of UK Jazz and R&B. This track serves as the lead single from her forthcoming EP ‘Ooooh Honey!,’ set for relase on September 27th and dedicated to celebrating the power of women. ‘Money’ features Amahla's voice at its most powerful, gliding over an infectious bassline accented by orchestral flutes, brass, and glistening R&B chords.

Produced by Stormzy collaborator PRGRSHN Amahla’s raw, unfiltered vocals are set against a backdrop of Hip Hop beats and live brass orchestration, capturing the emotive power of Lauryn Hill and jazz influences akin to Amy Winehouse. Inspired by a series of underwhelming dates, Amahla shares, “I wanted to merge Jazz and R&B in a way that felt effortless, so I wrote the vocal melodies as if my voice was part of the horn section. PRGRSHN and I joked how funny it’d be to claim compensation for someone wasting your time. It felt witty, confident and real, then I wrote my favourite lyric ‘If it’s too high a fine to pay then boo, please don't waste my time when rent is due!’”

Following her sold-out performance at London’s Omeara last year, Amahla is set to embark on her debut UK tour this November, including a headline show at London’s The Royal Albert Hall, Elgar Room.

This release comes off the back of her protest song collection ‘Enough,’ which saw three tracks go viral on Instagram and TikTok. Six months later, it continues to spark thousands of new video creations each week, showcasing its dynamic impact and constant engagement. Accompanied by a visually compelling music video directed by Destinie Paige, ‘Enough’ draws inspiration from Caribbean culture and significant moments in Black history. Watch here.

Discussing themes of love and politics, now is the perfect time for Amahla to reintroduce herself with ‘Money.’

Amahla sat down with Wordplay Magazine to answer our infamous 10 Questions:

1. So tell me, how did it all begin? What sparked your love for music?

My family is Guyanese-Jamaican so music is just a way of life. My earliest memories are listening to reggae, Bob Marley and the Wailers, John Holt, and some R&B too. Then in my early teens, I discovered Jazz and felt my voice was at home. Around that time, I also discovered Stevie Wonder’s ‘At The Close of a Century’ CD compilation. That record changed everything, as soon as I heard that album, I knew I wanted to do this forever.

2. Who are some artists that influence you and that you want to work with in the future?

I’m a huge fan of Kendrick Lamar. ‘To Pimp A Butterfly’ blew the doors open on what I thought an album could be. Similarly, Beyoncé’s way of blending art, literature, and politics makes all the connections in my brain buzz! They’ve shifted what I thought was acceptable for an artist to be, it’s bigger than music.

3. What projects do you have coming up and can you give us any info on them?

This September, I’m releasing my new EP ‘Ooooh Honey!’. It’s an ode to all the women in my life and all the bits of knowledge I’ve learned from my friends and family. As a child, I’d hear my aunt’s and uncles share nuggets of wisdom around the kitchen table and in the front room. Now that I’m old enough, I guess I’m doing the same but with my songs. I’ve grown a lot creatively in the last few months too and I can’t wait to share the visual world I’ve developed to present these songs.

4. How would you describe your sound?

Soulful, orchestral and grand.

5. What's your proudest moment to date so far as an artist?

Recording and releasing my last single ‘Enough’ in three languages was a special moment for me. Seeing people across the world take my songs, sing them at protests and vigils to find hope in the most bleak moments is overwhelming. One teacher in America told me they were using the French version of ‘Enough’ in their lessons to teach students about learning the colonial language as an act of resistance. Unbelievable. I am so proud of what those songs mean and what they represent.

As we speak, there are racist riots across the UK with White supremacists launching attacks in cities across the country. They’ve burned a library, dragged people out of their cars, attacked people's homes, and raided hotels housing asylum seekers. It’s devastating and a heartbreaking reminder that a song like ‘Enough’ will always be relevant. In fact I’ve just written a poem about it. It’s called ‘The World’s Not Ending, It Just Feels Like It Is”. Strange times.

Photo Credit: Justina Stasiunaite

6. Do you have any advice for our readers who may be trying to play the mad game of music?

Longevity comes from building slowly. Set a few small goals each year, as long as you’re growing a little bit each year, you’re on the right track. There is no such thing as too young, too old or too late. Take your time, you’ve got this x.

7. Are there any artists on your radar right now that we should check out?

Lily Lyons, Ella Clayton and Ashaine White. Three British singer-songwriters I have on repeat.

They all write songs with guitar as the basis and have such distinctive tones of voice. They’re also brilliant songwriters – very intricate. I’m hoping they write a song together one day.

Lily Lyons – ‘Spinning Sides’

Ella Clayton – ‘Murmurations’

Ashaine White – ‘Hotel’

8. What albums are on heavy rotation on your Spotify playlist currently?

Tendai – ‘The Rain’, Brandi Carlile - ‘The Story’, Cameo - ‘Word Up!’

9. What do you like to do when you're not making music?

Dance is increasingly becoming a big part of my life. For the last few years, I’ve been dancing salsa and I’m obsessed. It emphasises the way I move naturally so I feel at home when I’m on the dancefloor.  One of my New Year’s resolutions was to learn to crochet but I haven’t quite gotten around to that one yet!

10. Name Three things you can't live without when in the studio?

I always start off writing lyrics by hand. I usually have a notebook and a couple of coloured pens, so I can go back and forth between different ideas and see them clearly. Sometimes I’ll take my diary, but if I don't have it, I’ll take whatever book I’m reading. I use them to generate ideas. I’ll open the book to a random page, pick a word or idea, and write inspired by that line. Depending on the book, those ideas can take me places I never thought I’d go. Similarly, I have lots of saved images and art on my phone. I use them sometimes to create a mood, and we go from there!