Amy Steele feature and new interview

Amy Steele has debuted her new track ‘The Wolves’ – which we love!! Recently we took the chance to chat with the star in an exclusive interview about: her music, reality tv shows; plus discover what 3 things she could not live without!!

Juggling a music career alongside with studying for a medical degree sounds challenging for most, but after chatting with gorgeous singer / songwriter Amy Steele; who also hopes to become a Doctor; it is clear to see just how hard working and determined she is to fulfil both these dreams.

The very talented and extremely ambitious 21-year old has already collaborated with artists such as The Game, Mario, Starboy Nathan and Kevin McCall to name a few and is now keen to fly the flag for Britain – making her music known across the world.

Amy Steele chats to MarkMeets reporter Hannah Fuller

The 21-year-old singer/songwriter has two main focuses in life, music and medicine. Currently pursuing both simultaneously, Amy balances a medical degree alongside spending time working hard in the studio.

Interview…Hello Amy! Thanks for talk to us here at MarkMeets. So when did you first realize that you wanted a career in music and how did you go about it?
It wasn’t that many years ago, maybe 2 or 3 – hard to remember exactly as time flies by so quickly! I was at Uni studying medicine and I wasn’t sure whether I should pursue music or just concentrate on studying to become a Doctor. But I’ve always loved music and singing so I decided to follow my passion. Suddenly I was in the studio working with other artists and I thought to myself, ‘I love this and I want to do more of it.’

Like you just mentioned, you’re also studying medicine – is the dream to become a Doctor also or did you want a career to fall back on?
I wanted to be a Doctor from the age of about 5 or 6; I liked the idea of helping people. I wanted to do that but also in the same breath, I wanted do my music which I am also really passionate about. With a medical qualification, I want to be able to help people around the world, making them better – like organizations like the UN and World Health do.

Tell us about your new single ‘The Wolves’ and the story behind this?
Well I originally came up with the idea whilst I was just sitting around one day and I started singing a few lines and then was able to come up with the whole song. It’s about the risks we take when we love someone. It leaves you feeling vulnerable when you let someone in and I think this resonates with most people; they can identify going through this – including myself. But the song isn’t about feeling vulnerable – it’s about being brave.

You’re head-lining at the O2 Academy in Islington on Tues 25th Nov – how you feeling about this?
I have mixed feelings! I am excited and nervous, but mainly excited! (laughs.) We have a really great show lined up and I have a fantastic band supporting me also. There’s also a showcase coming up, so there’s been lots of effort put into the show and I’m looking forward to seeing the results!

What has been you most memorable moment so far, working in the music industry?
Ahh that’s a really hard question! I would probably say all the ‘firsts.’ So the ‘first’ time I was in the studio recording a song I’ve written, the ‘first’ time I worked with Mario and The Game. That was so exciting – I was jumping and and down with excitement! (laughs.) The ‘first’ time I ever did a radio interview! Oh god, there’s been so many memorable experiences! (laughs.)

Who are your inspirations? What music do you listen to?
It’s hard for me to pin point or shape a certain style. I am definitely inspired by a lot of great singers though. From the age of 12-14, I loved listening to Mariah Carey and Christina Aguilera – like most girls at that age! (laughs.) I also listened to a lot of 80’s, although I’m not quite sure why! (laughs.)

In terms of what I listen to now, I listen to quite a few – Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Kate Bush. I like to listen to lots of different music and I love random playlists, especially on Spotify. It’s a great way to discover new artists and listen to new sounds.

How would you describe your musical style?
I really don’t know how to describe my sound – pop I guess? I’m not sure! Some say I’m soulful, some say I’m more ‘r and b’ and some even say alternative – so there are mixed views!

I actually wrote a list of the different answers people gave my musical style but I can’t remember what I wrote – I’ll have to have another look! (laughs.) Oh and I’ve also been compared to Baroque pop which is indie music, so I’ve had all sorts of style comparisons!

When you’re not busy in the studio or recording, how do you like to spend your time?
Well if I’m not at Uni or in the studio, I do spend quite a lot of time writing, but other than that I just like doing normal things like seeing my friends, watching TV, going to the movies and things like that. I like to go out to new places too.

What do you think about shows like the X Factor and Britain’s got talent?
I enjoy them for their entertainment value and it’s good to see some really talented people on the shows. However, I do feel it’s rather disappointing if someone is extremely talented and hasn’t gone further in their musical career. I used to watch The X Factor a lot, but not so much these days.

What do you think of the music scene at the moment?
At the moment, it’s really exciting – music is really starting to evolve, especially in the last year or 2. I’ve been ‘wow’d’ by so many great new artists. It’s great to see so many people going in their own direction – creating their own sounds and styles.

What 3 things could you not live without?
Haha that’s easy to answer! My phone, headphones and the internet. I can’t leave the house without these!

What would your advice be to those wanting to break into the music industry?
Well this isn’t advice I was given but wish I had been given – you really and truly have to just be yourself. Find out exactly who that is and just go for it. Everyone will have a different opinion of you, but as long as you are true to yourself, that’s all that matters. Find the sound and style you want to achieve and just focus on that so you don’t get distracted.

And lastly, is there anything else you want to tell us or message for your fans?
Just a huge thank you to everyone that is supporting me. Thank you for all the nice comments and positive feedback – it really means a lot. When people tell me they like what I’m doing, they’ve listened to my music and they say good things about me, it just really means a lot to me and I really appreciate it.

For Amy’s new single ‘The Wolves’ – Pre-Order NOW on iTunes:

Showcasing her sultry vocals (drawing similarities to Banks, Lana Del Rey and Indiana) as well as her strong ability to write lyrics which is in turns vulnerable, provocative and perfectly delivered in Steele’s distinctive, silky vocals.

It’s no surprise we’re expecting big things to come from Steele’s new single ‘The Wolves’. The narrative of her latest release is a girl ‘throwing her heart to the wolves’ which appears a relatable metaphor for choosing to wear her heart on her sleeve in a new relationship.

Amy’s first headline show is set for November 25th at the O2 Academy Islington, ahead of her EP due towards the end of the year, with tickets going fast and a growing fan base this is going to be an exciting few months for this hard working, young starlet.

Interview by Hannah Fuller.