Get To Know Get To Know… Beckah Amani
Stunning, well-studied stories of love, life, and everything in between.
Hello and welcome back to DIY’s introducing feature, Get To Know… which aims to get you a little bit closer to the buzziest acts that have been catching our eye as of late, and working out what makes them tick.
Having spent her youth between East Africa, Western Australia, and now The Big Smoke, Beckah Amani is well versed in both the importance of community, and the quest for kinship. Zooming in on life’s intimate moments to help make sense of the bigger picture, her writing deals in canny introspection and an empathetic fascination with interpersonal relationships, making for a timeless sound that’s already caught the attention of similarly emotive artists likes Jorja Smith and Ezra Collective. From the R&B pulse of opener ‘Try For Me’ to the folk-tinged guitar of next single ‘Call Home’, via the evocative soul of breakout track ‘Sober’, her imminent debut album ‘This is how I remember it.’ is an narrative journey through the highs and lows of human connection. Ahead of its release, we catch up with Beckah to find out more about its concept and creator.
Describe your music to us in non-musical terms.
I like to think of my music like a garden; a place where many beautiful flowers and plants grow together in a cohesive and colorful ecosystem.
You grew up between Tanzania, Western Australia, and Queensland - what were the music scenes like in these respective places? How do you think moving around shaped your outlook, both as a person and as an artist?
The music scenes in these places were vastly different, but exciting in their own ways. In Tanzania, the scene was rooted in East African traditional rhythms and afrobeats, while the music scene in Australia was generally more pop and indie-rock leaning. Being exposed to these different scenes made me so excited about music and the many ways it could be expressed; that’s a sentiment that I’ve brought into my debut album. Growing up in constant movement made me a curious person and a natural collector of stories. It also made me appreciate different cultures and understand that our differences can be a point of commonality, instead of a divisive factor.
What was the musical moment that changed the world for younger Beckah?
Music has always been a part of my life. My mum and dad were both quite musical growing up and some of my earliest memories are of my parents singing together and teaching my siblings and I how to harmonize. Because my life has always been entwined with music, I can’t say for certain what moment changed young Beckah’s world. I can however highlight a key moment that made me fall in love with songwriting and forever changed the way I think about music: the first time I heard Nina Simone’s album ‘Forbidden Fruit’.
It was bold and powerful as well as being soft and candid in the way it reflected on society, life and love. Her work in particular really showed me how much storytelling can get to the heart of who we are and where we are in history. It showed me that songwriting can be a beautiful place to bring people together to reflect on our shared experiences, and to listen to new perspectives. She once said that “it’s an artist’s duty, as far as I’m concerned, to reflect the times” - that’s stuck with me and has shaped the way I approach my own artistry.
“Growing up in constant movement made me a curious person and a natural collector of stories.”
‘This is how I remember it.’ is something of a concept album, looking at the various different factors that can influence people’s behaviour and perceptions of events. Can you tell us a bit more about its central narrative? Why did this feel like a good entry point to explore its bigger themes?
The album narrative centers around conversations between two people who are in a relationship that’s falling apart. I think to be loved is to be seen; being seen for who you are, unfiltered and unedited, is both comforting and confronting at the same time. Through a series of memories and reflections, I wanted these conversations between these two people to explore how insecurities, past experiences, and how we see the world affect trust in a relationship and accepting that someone can love us for who we are.
Overall, the narrative of the album serves to open a dialogue about the experiences and personal inferences that make it hard for us as people to give and receive love and do healthy relationships well. I believe these themes and ideas are worth reflecting on because now more than ever, there is so much outside noise influencing how we see relationships, how we see ourselves, and how we relate to others and their experiences. We all deserve to be seen and accept that we are worth loving. It’s a tale old as time but one worth repeating!
You’ve recently supported Jorja Smith, and worked with Ezra Collective’s Femi Koleoso on ‘Sober’. Did they pass on any artistic words of wisdom? Who else would be on your collaboration bucket list?
Supporting Jorja Smith and working with Ezra Collective are such career highlights for me. I’m such a huge fan of their music and artistry and it meant a lot to see them do their thing up close - I learned so much. Femi in particular really encouraged me to always trust my artistic expression and intuition. He also encouraged me to always remember that the gift I’ve been given is powerful, and to always lead with love and confidence in what I put out in the world. His wisdom is something I truly treasure.
Musically or otherwise, what are you most looking forward to next year?
Next year, I’m most looking forward to touring my debut album! It’s so exciting to think that this project I’ve been working on will have lived with people for a while and that I then get to experience the music with them. I can’t wait for those moments!
Finally, DIY is coming round for dinner - what are you making?
I would invite you to my family farm and create a farm-to -table dining experience. I would highlight all the wonderful fruit and vegetables that are in season and pair them with some locally sourced meat. I might even talk mum and dad into cooking some traditional Burundian and Tanzanian dishes, then I’d end the night with a cheesecake or panna cotta dessert!
Beckah’s new single ‘Call Home’ is out tomorrow (15th November); ‘This is how I remember it.’ is out 29th November.
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