This summer check out the fresh and new music pioneer, singer, musician, songwriter and producer Amber Mimz with the release of her latest project entitled Urban Romance Sessions with an alluring sound that compliments her harmonious melodies.
At the age of 24 she has set a tone to her beliefs of love and relationships and has an enticing story behind every lyric that makes Mimz a musical mastermind. Her beautiful free expression is seen and felt through her energetic ballads and Je ne sais quoi style.
In early July Amber Mimz held a private listening event to take a peek at her hot new EP Urban Romance Sessions Part I, available on Itunes July 30th 2010. With lyrics written by Mimz, she captivated her listeners with such songs as “Urban Romance Ave,” featuring Black Cobain, “Text Messages” and “Candy Soft.”
Take a listen:
In our interview she speaks of her new EP in comparison to her mix tape Thought’s While Getting Dressed, and said she wanted Urban Romance Sessions to be completely innovative and original. On the mix tape Thought’s While Getting Dressed, Mimz featured sounds from the legendary Marvin Gaye along with the Isley Brothers' “Footsteps In The Dark.” Part II of Urban Romance Sessions entitled Picture Perfect Suite, will release early January 2011. Amber wants her fans and new listeners to know that both Urban Romance Sessions Part I and Picture Perfect Suite Part II series is a definition of those who question who is Amber Mimz.
Check out Gypsy Soul's interview with Amber Mimz.
Kellei_Lovely: can you enlighten some people who don’t know your musical background who you are.
Amber Mimz: well first of my name is Amber Mimz, I am a singer, songwriter, musician, producer, composer, you name it I will do it. As far as my music goes I like to call it urban electronic soul, and I like to call it that because it’s very soulful lyrically, and my lyrics tent to be about situations that are about love but more of an urban kind of feel. Not anything to do with the EP but over all my lyrics have always been about love, and also about just being true to yourself exploring whatever it is you feel the need to explore. I also consider myself to be a story teller. I love to speak about particular situations and not just a broad thing, anybody can talk about love but its so many different categories, but I definitely try to key on specific things. I would say as far as my sound vocally my voice is very sultry, it can be very seductive, but have innocence to it as well. Some of my influences are Minnie Riperton, Sarah Von, Erykah Badu, Geez…Prince like the list goes on but I definitely take those influences in with me when I’m writing, when I’m recording when I’m creating at the piano, in the studio on my computer using my different software and things like that. The best things to say is to listen and get your own response of what you think but I’m optimistic and confident that people will like it.
Kellei_Lovely: you just recently had a track off of your last mix tape called "Dutch Master". A lot of people took that track different ways so what was it that you meant from that track?
Amber Mimz: The song "Dutch Master" was definitely taken in many different ways but my spin on it is it’s just about any guy who considers himself to be a man, or considers himself to be a leader in any type of way and has that kind of je ne se qui if you want to say it like that where it’s just something about them that makes them your "Dutch Master". And the reason I used the words "Dutch Master" is because it’s typically something that’s used when needed so if this person is who you need at that time then that’s your "Dutch Master" otherwise he’s just that guy or your friend or whomever.
Kellei_Lovely: You described some of the artist that you love and inspire you, what artist will you be working with in the near future for collaborations.
Amber Mimz: On the mix tape I didn’t have a lot of features I had one feature by Robbie MC
Amber Mimz: On this next project I have a artist, a rapper by the name of Black Cobain who’s on The Board of Administrations Label which is a label here I DC but it’s Wale’s label, I’ll also be doing some features with Jesse Boykins, there’s also another artist here by the name of Husain Bilal, who I’ve done some collaborations with already, but I hope to work with any and everybody. I would definitively love to work with Janelle Monae, absolutely...Oh my God! Erykah Badu, Muhsinah, Jdavey. There are some producers I would really love to work with Pharrel, Cee-Lo if I meet Cee-Lo…oh my god! Laughing but with Cee-Lo everything he puts out is the shiggety to me for real. If I could work with somebody that was no longer with us it would definitely be Marvin Gaye and Minnie Riperton.
Kellei_Lovely: Why did you choose those two?
Amber Mimz: Because Marvin Gaye, his harmonies are out of this world. There’s a video of him lying on a couch rehearsing with his band and he sounds like he is on the stage like he’s just giving you everything but he’s just laying back on the couch doing absolutely nothing but singing pointing and giving cues and it’s like if you can do this laying down just imagine what you could do if you’re giving your mind and soul to someone else collaborating. And I have a lot of Marvin Gaye videos almost every live cd like I absolutely love Marvin Gaye. Minnie Riperton because she was one of those artist people definitely slept on. She did so much work with Stevie Wonder, like Stevie Wonder knew that she was the Shiggety before anyone else did. So it’s like you got to key into these geniuses they know what’s going on! I definitely would love to be in that circle, it would be amazing!
Gypsy: What Instruments do you play?
Amber Mimz: Piano, I want to learn guitar but my friend is suppose to be teaching me but we’ll see. I’m trying to master piano first.
Kellei_Lovely: When you were coming up you had a mentor, the person who you worked with as a mentor when you originally were coming into the music world do you think that shaped you?
Amber Mimz: Yes, I definitely think you need and I need guidance. I’m so for mentorships and taking a lot from your elders and it’s important for your mentors to be someone that’s older than you. Like someone that’ your age or even younger could definitely have a lot of experience but it’s just something that comes with age that people can’t define. But definitely having a mentor is something like as an artist you need to have because your friends will sometimes tell you something sound tight --and it sounds whack, so your mentor is somebody that’s going to be true, and going to be honest with you. Somebody that is going to give you their opinion whether you like it or not and tell you where you need to grow and what you need to focus on and help you try to eliminate certain things within your circle and in your life that has nothing to do with what you need. I have had more than one like my mom is definitely one of my mentors she’s the reason why I can sit here in this interview and “sit like this” because she is that kind of woman. So it trickles down into my backbone. But I’ve had several mentors since high school and they come in different shapes and different forms and the have stayed for certain periods of time and then they serve their purpose and that was it. But they definitely shaped me to be who I am today, that’s for sure.
Kellei_Lovely: Was there anything that was ever said that ever stuck with you?
Amber Mimz: My Godmother said and I will never forget “You must be fabulous.” That’s what she said and I was like what do you mean and this was like me senior recital in college, “you must be fabulous if you’re not fabulous no one will remember you.” And I was like --well then I will be fabulous, that’s just it!
Kellei_Lovely: Speaking of fabulous but your style is phenomenal, who does it?
Amber Mimz: I have a couple of photo shoots where a stylist has come on and helped but I definitely give my input it’s never lie hey go pick something because I love clothes too much and just style period I’ve worked with a stylist by the name of Ameris and another stylist by the name of Lauren Gillian who actually is the head of a company here in DC.
Kellei_Lovely: Do you think you style meshes with your music?
Amber Mimz: Yes, it’s probably a combination of things you probably wouldn’t put together, and it would be the same for the music like maybe she shouldn’t sing over all those heavy sets but it sounds so good; or like she has on that dress with sneakers, why is she doing that? But it looks so cute like everybody couldn’t do that --but she pulled it off. So my style is definitely a reflection of my music and my artistry for sure!
Be sure to follow the movement of the Urban Romance Experiment at http://www.ambermimz.com/
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