#beendoingthis

Hello all

So, as I said, I didn’t get to make a new post until 2017. And I just want to point out that it is REALLY hard to have any semblance of a healthy diet when your birthday is the day after New Years. And your birthday dinner is the traditional lasagna and chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting. And for once no one forgot about it. *insert sigh emoji here*

But on a positive note, for my birthday I did get a punching bag! It even comes with hand wraps and gloves. I’m excited like no man’s business to get it set up somewhere. I want to teach myself kickboxing (and by teach myself I mean watch videos on YouTube) so I have a sport that I can get into that lets me channel my aggressions into something healthy. 

Because it’s hard to look badass while running when you can’t even keep going on the treadmill for long periods at a time and you basically only shuffle there anyways. #still can’t run to save my life

Speaking of running, I saw that there is a color run in March relatively close to where I live. Am I going to be ready in time? HELL NO. But it lets me know there are 5ks close to where I live at other parts of the year. I regret not being able to run the Reindeer Romp in town but if they have another 5k (which I believe they do) I want to be able to do it. Or to be able to do treadmill races. Ultimately I’d like to be able to run modest distances for charities. 

I also cannot wait to get my license so I can drive myself up to my gym before the buttcrack of dawn so I can go to the gym. Now, that realistically means leaving my house by about 5:30 AM. If I do that then I get there at 6, get my hour in and have enough time to rinse off and get to class. Some days I have more leeway as I have a 9 AM or 9:30 AM class as opposed to an 8 AM class. And Wednesday I have a day I can have a lot of wiggle room as I don’t have class until 1:00 PM. Oh yes. That means I can go for long runs, group classes and maybe even yoga.

I hate yoga. 

I don’t think it’s the stretching part that bothers me as I absolutely love stretching and usually can be found in some weird sitting or lying position anyways... I think it’s the slow hippie attitude. And I know that’s for my spirit or whatever. Still, I think I need to get into that part because it will help my anxiety and stress. I just wish it wasn’t so freaking mellow all the time. I mean, don’t tell me to envision gentle streams or something in that weird voice. Tell me to think about some cute motherfucking duckies. In a Samuel L. Jackson voice. And tell me to think they are like Rambo. This would please me as I make myself a human pretzel. 

Also, I’m looking forward to having my license as it gives me a sense of independence. God knows I need it. I won’t be forced to be around the toxicity at home as much and I think it will be good for me. I don’t know if I bring it out in them or if I just react to it and further it, but I truly believe that having to spend less time at home with my grandparents will mean that I am going to start having a lot less stress. And I don’t have to worry about classes running over because the only person who has to wait on me is my own bitch-ass self. It’s extremely liberating. I can go to the library and study or I can go work-out or I can simply go drive myself over to the park and go for a nature run. Realistically, it will most likely be me studying... you know, because I have a fuckton of classes. 

I’m also looking forward to getting to pack all that I need into my bag and taking it with me in my car and leaving what I don’t need at that exact moment in the car. That’s right! If I want to take textbooks with me to study, I will not have to carry around their bulk and then some all day! I can leave them and go get them at a later time! Gone are the days of cramming everything into my backpack and then stuffing my work out clothes in it as well! I can literally have a gym bag set aside so that when it’s time to get in, I’m only carrying what I need. My hype for this shit is unreal, you guys.

After I finish with this post I’ll be writing all my goals and my shopping list down in the planner @shyvalentines gave me for my birthday. Holy crap, y’all! I literally could not have picked out anything better- A schedule portion, a fitness portion, a meal planning portion, an inspiration/diary portion, important info, you name it! AND IT’S SO UNBELIEVABLY CUTE!!!! Like bless me! I’m slightly a bit afraid of writing in it because it’s seriously adorable and my handwriting is literal trash. 

Another shoutout to my friends @brynnabeth and @13friends4ever for being so supportive and sweet. I literally could not ask for better friends than the three people mentioned in my post. All three are some of my closest friends and they all support me and help me in so many ways that just astound me and make me feel so very grateful for them. I go to bed knowing I am blessed because of them, even when my day feels like it is only been filled with pain and anger. 

In conclusion, this is the first post of 2017 and these are my thoughts as I sit shivering on my couch.

TLDR; I am a huge sap with fitness goals and a strange reason to like having a car.

Sincerely,

Ámaris is the music producer and singer/songwriter based in London who just released her newest electronic R&B single “Been Doing This.” The song is about new beginnings and embracing change. While you may not want change to happen, it’s the only way to truly grow. 

In addition to her new song, Ámaris has been working on a music documentary called “On Tape,” where she documents and asks female and non-binary music producers answer questions about their work and their experiences as female/non-binary artists in the music production space.

We got a chance to speak with Ámaris in this very special edition of Indie 5-0. So, let’s dive in and find out what she has to share with us:

You recently released your latest single "Been Doing This." How did you come up with the song? What was the production process like?

When I’m working on an album, that process always leaves me with some leftover songs. I can’t force myself to come up with songs, but sometimes I come up with too many songs to use in an album. This song was originally a leftover song from “Dream World”. I had already written it, and when opening it again, I liked the vibe of the song and decided to use it.

As with most songs, I started with a sketch, in which I outline which sound sits where in the mix. Some instruments are always panned left, others right. Of course, that always changes slightly during the final mix, but it helps with building a structure for the song. Then comes recording the vocals. The song initially sounded slightly different, so I had to change it for the new version.

What does "Been Doing This" mean to you and what do you hope listeners take away from it?

The song emerged from not getting used for an album, and so its message of new beginnings is intertwined with its process. Sometimes you have to move on, which is a message that already inspired “Dream World”.

If you could perform with any artist/group, who would it be and why?

I think there are too many of them to decide on just one. But I really like Doja Cat at the moment, so I’d definitely like to work with her. But I think you can collaborate with anyone, really, as long as you are creatively aligned.

You are working on a music documentary called "On Tape." What can you share with us about it?  

It basically was something that came up when I was talking to friends, most of them producers themselves, and everyone thought that women and non-binary artists were really underrepresented in things such as tutorials and other more production-related stuff on YouTube. We discussed how it’s not always easy for someone starting out with music to find advice, and thought about doing something that would give female-identifying artists advice from other female-identifying artists. It’s basically an interview with some female music producers, and we hope that especially younger artists just starting out can use it.

I had already worked with Maria Corso (of Five Foot Two Productions, Los Angeles), who helps with the project, when filming the music video “Sunsets” while in lockdown, and so I reached out to her and asked if she was interested in creating a short documentary.

What advice do you have for other young women who want to be involved in music/producing?

My most important advice that I tell people would be: Just start. If it’s your dream to make music, you should start by making a song. It’s always the hardest to begin. Also don’t try to make every song perfect, as this can ruin the process of producing. I think it’s better to record a few not so good songs and learn from them rather than to not release any for a year.

Also, you don’t need that much stuff to start out. One good mic and a DAW is enough. You don’t need lots of expensive software. Make sure the room in which you record is treated for recording. In my first small room in London there were so many carpets in the shared flat that I barely needed any treatment to record. I think those are the essential things you should keep in mind when just starting out.