Hey Amaka Queenette first things first I wanted to thank you for agreeing to interview with Nefarious Supply. Just to get started, introduce yourself to the audience who is Amaka Queenette, and what events led up to you taking up a career as a musician?
I just always gravitated towards music. I was born in Nigeria and most of my memories there involve music; early morning worship, church, school events. My parents would always play music on a Sunday morning as we got ready for church as well. Music has just always been there. And it's never felt like a choice, just like why wouldn't I continue to want it around? Addition though, as I work to make music a career, I am also in nursing school as well. Was on a year off from school this past year to finish off a few music projects though. I'm trying to have it all; best of both lives.
Being currently based in Pickering, Ontario how would you say this area has had an influence on you as well as your music?
As much as I know I want to see the world, my safe little suburban slice of Pickering is such a home to me. My house is surrounded by a stream, a park and a forest so I always have places to hide when I need to. I think because I can be considered "comfortable" where I am, it gives me mental space and capacity to dive deeper into the intricacies of my experiences and how they affect my emotional and mental well-being. Being where I am has surrounded me with some amazing East end talent without feeling too suffocated- which I do tend to feel when in Toronto. I love the idea of having to hop on a GO train to get downtown. It makes the city such a novelty. More romantic and wistful that way.
What artists would you say have had the biggest influence on you, and how have they done so?
Musically I don't know that I have too many influences. But I do try to chase the feeling an artist gives me. Kanye's confidence and way-paving, makes me want to be braver. Erykah's uniqueness and claiming "I may not be ____ but I'm clever" really resonated with me. I think I'm so clever and like she taught me it's okay to think that about yourself. Frank Ocean of course makes me want to make music people can cry to as they think about their first experiences with love or any unrequited loves.
Tell us about Tomboy Records and how did you end up getting signed to them as an artist?
So I met Cassandra, my current manager and one of the founders of Tomboy Records when she DM'ed me at the end of 2018. Cass had seen one of my covers and apparently really liked it and thought my voice was unique. We also had a mutual friend who kind of helped make that connection. Then we started talking and I mentioned a concert I wanted to curate in August 2019. They really had my back every step of that process. They helped make it possible and we've been together since!
Since you’ve started your career what are some important lessons you have learned, and what is some advice you would give to new artists?
I still 100% consider myself a new artist. But what I've learned is that there will always be people who think like you. The doubt will come, second guessing your ideas will happen. But trusting your instincts is a must or you'll just find yourself floating. Or find yourself performing songs live that you don't even like or really believe in. Another thing I learned is that a team is important. It's not everything and we as humans can accomplish so much alone, especially when we have to. But I say, if you have the option of working with people you like and trust with your ideas, please do. It makes the process much sweeter and this way, you have someone to panic to at 3am the day before a release.
So let’s talk about your newest EP “Fleeting Inconsequential”, what inspired it?
Those 2 words in sequence came from the movie 'The Age of Adaline'. I love movies so much, and movies that are sentimental about the passing of time always get me. Time moving and us not being able to do anything about it is such a scary concept for me, but it's one that I force myself to sink into and fully feel because that's the reality of things and avoiding it would be unwise. 'Fleeting, Inconsequential' is a body of work that addresses loves and lives past. The title was inspired by that movie, but the concepts in it are ones that take up my mind a lot. The project is inspired by fear of the ever-changing and the seeming insignificance of a single human life.
Walk us through each of their songs and their meaning to you?
'Suffocate' is about a love that doesn't exist on both sides anymore. It's strictly single sided now. It's about giving everything to a relationship and still ending up empty and without. It's not my exact personal experience because I've never been able to give 100% into any romantic relationship I've been in, there's a lot of fear there for me. So I guess I reached out to those around me who had fallen in love so completely and I lived vicariously through them. I collected and compiled their stories, I channeled the feeling I got when I thought about being completely in love and the output was 'Suffocate'. The song feels a little frantic and unsettling sometimes and there are random time signature changes here and there. All of this kinda reflects that discomfort I feel thinking about love and how it can come and go so fast, hence 'fleeting'.
'Ceilings' is then again about this idea of time moving faster than I'm ready for. I get tired thinking about all the things I've done and all that I still plan to do. And sometimes I just want to either live fully, taking in every beautiful moment. And other times I just want to sleep and pass my time alone. The line "it's a fine night to feel infinite but we're infinitely finite" really summarizes 'Ceilings'. It basically translates into: in this moment right now, I feel infinite (a paraphrased line from the movie 'Perks of Being a Wallflower'), life is beautiful, existence in itself is beautiful and is such a privilege, but I also can't shake the feeling that every moment is just a blip in the grand scheme of my life. Hence, 'inconsequential'.
So on the production end what producers as well as engineers did you work with for EP?
Executive Producer is Joshua Stanberry. That boy is such a rockstar. He produces everything I release. Sitting with me or over the phone, everything I do has him written all over it. I also had a role in the production of those 2 songs as well. Although the term "producer" to me feels so broad. I never know all the title entails, but I played roles here and there in the composition. The mix engineer is the master, Adam Pondang. He is incredible; so patient with all my notes and so attentive to detail. He treats all my songs with respect. He mixes and produces for LOONY, and he's mixed everything I've released. Other credits on this EP are Justice Der on guitar, Stephen Bennett on drums, and Joshua Stanberry on bass (they are all music students at Humber college).
So what’s next for you, what are some goals you want to achieve by the end of the year?
So by the end of this year, I'd love to release one or two more singles. I definitely have stuff in the works and bigger projects in the far future, but for now a single or two here and there. The pandemic has set some things behind and definitely messed with my motivation levels, but I am still working and chipping away at projects. So a few singles should emerge by year's end. Then in September, I'm off to nursing school again! I actually wrote my entire first EP while in first year UNI so I always make time for music while I'm there.
Any last words?
Nothing too exciting, just thank-you for caring about my music and what I'm up to. Appreciate your time and you amazing questions. I love music with my whole heart; it's the thing that cuts through the apathy and reminds me of the parts of myself I'm sometimes afraid to address in my day to day life. So I'm grateful to get to talk about it with you guys.
Big shout out to Amaka Queenette for coming on and interviewing with Nefarious Supply. If you enjoyed this interview and want to stay up to date with her you can follow her on Instagram and be sure to check out her newest EP “Fleeting Inconsequential” available on all streaming platforms now!
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