Born in Germany and raised around the world, Amana Melome’ is a Euro-Caribbean-American singer-songwriter whose music blends jazz tradition, soulful storytelling, and global influences. The granddaughter of jazz legend Jimmy Woode, former bassist for Duke Ellington and collaborator with Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, and Sarah Vaughan, she carries on a generational legacy of musical excellence.
Her debut album, Indigo Red, was the first record ever distributed by Whole Foods Markets and subsequently released internationally by Italian label IRMA Records, launching her into festivals across Europe, Brazil, and Asia.
RECALIBRATION introduces a new chapter for Amana Melome’. After stepping away from the music world to focus on motherhood and her visual art practice, Amana Melome’ returns with great force with RECALIBRATION – a new era of inner strength, quietude, and soul-jazz reflection.
With RECALIBRATION out now, we took some time to hear from Amana Melome’. Read below to learn more about Amana Melome’, the story behind RECALIBRATION, and what’s to come.
Hi Amana Melome’! Let’s start with how did you get your artist name?
Hi! My artist name is actually my real first and middle name!
It translates to Peaceful Star from Swahili!
What city are you from, and where are you based now?
That is actually a tricky question for me to answer, haha! I was born in Munich, Germany, grew up for a large part in Italy (Rome and Florence), college at New York University, lived in Stockholm, Sweden for some years, and now loving life with my family in southern Spain in the Marbella area!
At what point in your life did you decide to pursue a career in music? How did you get started?
I come from a jazz family, my grandfather, Jimmy Woode, was the youngest musician in Duke Ellington’s band. My grandmother, parents and aunt are also musical, someone was always singing or dancing in our house. I enjoyed going to jazz bars around New York on open mic nights and sharing my voice on those stages. For many years, I was reluctant to record, as I feared that I would loose my freedom of expression. Around 2005, I met Saverio Principini, a producer very keen on helping me keep my vision, for a demo…that became a first and second album! Once I felt the magic of touring and connecting with people through songs I wrote, I was hooked! By choice, I am an independent artist, so I can make every decision with intention of my own Soul vision.
How would you describe your sound to readers who may not be familiar with you?
I would say my sound is a mix of jazz and neo-soul, mixed with a bit of world music. Often I am described as a Nina Simone meets Erykah Badu, with sprinkles of Sade and Zap Mama!
Do you have any hobbies outside of music? What do you do to stay creative?
Yes! I actually enjoy being creative in many directions! Music, dance, pottery and sculpture. I paint as well and have a creative studio. I enjoy getting creative in the kitchen too!
Who are some of your main musical influences?
I would say Nina Simone, Erykah Badu and Marie from Zap Mama have definitely inspirational over the span of my musical career.
Who would be a dream to collaborate with?
I’m dreaming up a music collaboration with Masego!
What’s one of the proudest moments of your music career so far?
When I was singing at a jazz festival in Capri (Italy) at the port, and suddenly the electricity went off mid song! I realized the musicians couldn’t be heard, but I decided to carry on vocally, without the mic, to finish sharing the emotion of the story the song was painting! It was a magical moment – and after that concert I received many tearful hugs backstage, even from a couple that told me they didn’t speak English, but had embraced every emotion and color of what I shared that night. I was so proud because it was a beautiful reminder that music truly is a universal language of the heart!
What would you say are the greatest lessons that you’ve learned so far?
To stay in your relaxed “jeans and slippers” inner comfort zone, even when stepping onto a very “important” stage. That is when the magic happens!
Now onto your release, RECALIBRATION. What inspired this album?
Years of recalibrating, the inner work of re-evaluating my life and myself as a person, a mother, wife, and conscious creative artist.
Reconfiguring ways to be my best self and enjoy the flow of my life without getting overwhelmed. Confronting things that were triggering and keeping me from being that version of myself.
What is the overall theme of RECALIBRATION?
Poetic Rebirth, in a way that a caterpillar goes through a complete disintegration of the self she once knew herself to be, in order to become the magnificent butterfly she could have never even imagined!
What was the inspiration behind the cover artwork for RECALIBRATION?
Energy shifting in different directions, but as one.
What was the creative process like when making RECALIBRATION?
I wrote the final version of the main songs over the past year, but in reality, they’ve been simmering as sketches with different titles and versions, over the past few years. I recorded a pre-production sketch of each song vocally (which is how I write songs), layering each instrument I was hearing with my voice, then singing on the multi-layered track. I sent these sketches to my producer, Saverio Principini, in Los Angeles. He refined the vision recording live with some awesome musicians in the studio. Once we were happy with the track, I recorded the final vocals in a studio in Spain, where I currently live. The decision to add the intro, interlude and outro came at the very last minute, once the other songs were fully produced and mastered! I felt called to create an invitation from the heart into the journey of Recalibration, and be guide through the emotional phases. I recorded these in my personal studio in Spain and had them mastered to match the sound of the other songs. The Recalibration journey was complete!
Is there a specific song on RECALIBRATION that speaks to you the most? If so, why?
They ALL speak to me deeply in different ways! I chose “Con C.Alma” as a first single to release perhaps as a mission statement of not letting the world rush you! A reminder that your superpower is your uniqueness along with how you do things and dance through life!
What do you hope fans take away from RECALIBRATION and your music in general?
A gentle reminder that we are all part of each other’s life journey in one way or another, united.
A permission slip to be our authentic selves! May we try our best to appreciate every NOW, and not allow anxiety about what is behind or ahead of us take the reins! Don’t forget to breathe!
What’s next for you? Are you working on any upcoming projects, or do you have any upcoming shows that we should be on the lookout for?
I will definitely do some live touring with Recalibration towards the end of summer, into the fall. I invite you to go to my website (https://www.amanamelome.com) to see the full tour as it gets confirmed and join my newsletter (from my website), so you can follow me on this musical journey directly!
I have my next album already bubbling inside, eager to come out! (Actually, my next 5 projects!! Hahaha!) Stay tuned!
Where can we follow you on social media?
INSTAGRAM (where I’m most active):
@amanamelome
FACEBOOK:
@AmanaMelomeMusic
WEBSITE:
THANK YOU!!!
Of course, thank you for the great interview; wish you much continued success!
