The number one voice on today’s dancefloors
Hey Amba, welcome to DMCWORLD towers. You have ben brought up in a musical family, your dad was a classically trained tenor and a jazz guitarist – did you ever feel pressured into getting into music? There was a lot of instruments you tried out!
“Yes I did feel pressured actually, I started piano lessons at 7 years and HATED it. I went to piano lessons crying many times but nothing was going to get me out of it. I went to a “musically elite” school in Sydney. I came into my own there when I pleaded with my Dad to let me learn the drums (after testing out violin, clarinet and flute yes that’s a lot isn’t it!?). I was the school drummer in the concert band from the age of 11 haha.”
You readily admit that…”I am completely and unashamedly obsessed with music, song-writing and recording. So let’s go back – who were the artists you were listening to as a teenager that turned you dance music way?
“Growing up I loved classic pop songs, artists like Michael Jackson, Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder, Sting & The Police, Nirvana, Hall & Oats, Lionel Richie, Michael McDonald, Eva Cassidy, Daft Punk, Imogen Heap – all incredible musicians and artists. Not sure you could say these influences turned me to dance but they have definitely influenced my writing style.”
If music wasn’t the career for you, and for one minute we doubt it ever wasn’t, was there any other career you perhaps you would have considered?
“I would have loved to have been a vet. I adore animals but only discovered this a couple of years ago when I got my first pet.”
What a roll you are on at the moment, let’s go through some of our favourite tracks that you are starring on at the moment…
Guy Robin’s track on Defected
“I wrote with Guy in London last September, his label Defected introduced us. Guy had a great concept which was to write a hook/melody over a piano progression and then morph it into a house track, in the same way that you would use a sample in a track I guess. He wrote the piano and I wrote the melody there and when I came home I wrote the lyrics and recorded the vocals. I love when collaborators have original concepts like this.”
Porter Robinson’s ‘Spitfire’ EP on Skrillex’s label
“Porter had heard and been playing a track I had out in June last year called Black & White (Joan Reyes & Sergi Domene ft. Amba Shepherd Fresco Records Spain) and contacted me in August to collaborate on his EP. At the time I had 3 weeks and something like 20 demos to finish from a writing trip to Stockholm, before I was off again to London and I had no idea how I was going to make it all happen. Initially they sent me Unison which I absolutely loved but then a couple of days later they pulled it saying another writer was going to work on it (a big name) and did I have any acapellas? I had one which was the Vandalism vocal so I sent it over. Something like 24 hours later Porter had finished the whole track it was amazing I loved it!! And then 2 week later when I was in Europe the EP was out and it was #1. A very inspiring project to be part of.”
Virtual Riot’s superb dustup track ‘Superhuman’
“QuantumDNB contacted me in January, they had heard ‘Vandalism’ and asked if I would be interested to collaborate with their newest artist Virtual Riot. Immediately I fell in love with this track. Initially I thought it might be a hard one because there is a lot of piano lead happening in it and that can make it very difficult for a vocalist, there has to be space for vocals and melody, it has to unite, the melodies can’t be fighting for attention. But something just clicked and when I put on the headphones and starting writing this whole melody happened instantly.”
Mark Sixma’s ‘Cupid Casualty’
“Armada sent me this track and same again fell totally in love with it, but actually I had this one for some weeks (I think I was getting over a cold – this happens alot for singers especially when flying a lot, such a nightmare). I knew I loved it but I had no idea how I was going to approach it. The structure of this song is quite intense, there are many sections and it’s quite a dynamic journey. When the day came to actually work on it everything fell perfectly into place, suddenly I understood the track and where the vocal should happen and the melody was also pretty instant.”
Kevin Doherty’s ‘Lifeline’
“Ah this one I wrote on last March/April I think. Central Station sent it over to me and I knew right away I could do something good with it. Kevin’s production is so different, really creative and musically so rich. Plus he is probably one of the sweetest guys I have had the pleasure of working with. Central loved what I did and then they assembled an amazing remix and promo package – how awesome to get to work with a label that believes in your work so much, they were/are amazing to work with. Actually just got news today that it’s been licensed in the US/ Canada and throughout Europe.”
Lazy Rich’s mad mix of ‘Vandalism’
How awesome is this remix!!!?? Rich took this track to a whole new level. Thank you Rich!! I’m not sure how this one came about actually you’ll have to ask Porter!”
and…
Ferry Corsten’s next trance track ‘Walk On Air’
“This one was initiated by Central Station they sent me an early version of the track which was produced by Pierre In The Air (David Skaines), I LOVED it. I wrote the Walk On Air vocal over it and the label loved it but decided not to sign it (they wanted to focus on Lifeline) so David sent it over to Flashover and they offered us a deal on the spot I was up to my neck in releases at the time and thought it was best to wait. There was alot of interest in this track around the place. But a couple of months later October I think, Ferry got in touch and said he would love to rework the production and include the song on his record. Quite an honour.”
You seem a very unassuming, humble songstress – do you ever get starstruck dealing with all of these dance music giants?
“To be honest, no I don’t actually – it all feels totally correct to me. I thrive on being challenged and I have a lot of confidence in my ability, right now I feel so happy, grateful and creatively fulfilled getting to work with so many of the best producers in the world.”
Who would be your dream writing / studio collab with – any artist, dead or alive?
“I spent alot of time thinking about this and have narrowed it down to Michael Jackson. He was an incredible artist and I would have loved to have had the chance to be mentored by him or collaborate. His artistic freedom, musicality, charisma as a performer, and now legacy is unbeaten/unparalleled I think. When he died I was in shock and for like 3 or 4 days I just watched all of his youtube clips everything I could find.. he influences my work a lot and actually I have had a few bizarre dreams about him. He’s in my subconscious!”
Who is the coolest person on your mobile phone?
“My sister Cam.”
“When I told the people at The Buzz Chart I was interviewing you, they said great! She has a lot of projects coming up, see what you can prise out of her regarding her next tunes! So…?
“Ha ha!! I am not going to lie, there are some major things I am working on right now which is very exciting. I feel extremely lucky. For now I can say the next track I have coming out is a collab with Lazy Rich & Hirshee on Rising Music, and OWSLA are releasing the remix package of ‘Vandalism’ soon I hear/I hope.”
You live in Sydney. Australia is finally producing some great talent – the start of the 90s saw a real bunch of great DJs and producers and it then kinda fell away until these last few years – why do you think it had that lull and why do you think it is now back with a bang?
“The ARIA club chart over here is very supportive of local music, it’s probably 40-50% Australian/ 50-60% international, and even many of the international releases here get local remixes. This is vastly different to the singles/album chart which is maybe 5-10% local music. Also when a label gets behind a track here they are really dedicated to the release with a lot of time and money invested in remix packages and promo. I think combined with the fact that it’s so easy to send music around to labels anywhere and collaborate with people on the other side of the world has a lot to do with Australian music being heard and supported, vs say 15-20 yrs ago when technology would not have allowed you to do that.”
You have written with some brilliant artists from all around the world, singers from Japan, South Africa, Holland and America. How have you found working with so many different cultures, how do you have to adapt with the massive difference in their home countries and how they see how a song should be written?
“Yes there is some adaptation involved! The most challenging for me has been learning how to write for the Japanese/Korean market – they love their dynamic emotional pop songs but also require certain rhythmic patterns in the melody to suit their language. Obviously I don’t write the lyrics they get translated afterwards but I have to make sure the melody will lend itself to their language. Cowrites with Japanese producers so far involve quite a bit of back and forth but I love learning and have a lot of respect for their culture and the fact they have one of the lowest illegal download rates in the world.”
I interviewed Tara McDonald last week, I asked her whether she swatted up on songwriting books and she said no, she just learnt as she went along. Same for you when you started out?
“I have a couple of books and am sure I got something useful from them but I certainly never got really absorbed by them. Songwriting is something that’s learned by practice so you can read books and get lots of tips but in my opinion you only get good by doing it a lot and collaborating as much as possible preferably in the room together (vs sending ideas back and forth online which I do mostly.. it works too but it has it’s limitations).”
Nor many people know this, but Amba Shepherd is really good at…
“Judging character.”
Where are the current hot spots club wise in Australia right now?
“Chinese Laundry, Fake, Soho, Art House and even the Ivy all get great artists in to play. Marquee Sydney just opened which looks to be very promising.”
What is the best and worst thing about living in Sydney?
“It’s a beautiful city, open spaces, beaches, the harbour and the city is filled with lovely little villages and people are mostly pretty laid back I think. But for me honestly I feel pretty cut off and need to travel as much as possible to LA London, Stockholm, Amsterdam etc. in order to feel more connected to my work & my peeps if you will. I would love to live in London, LA & New York – each city for some time would be awesome…hopefully soon!”
With such a diverse musical affection – talk us through your i-Pod big tunes you are currently nodding your head to…
“‘Greyhound’ by SHM, totally obsessed with this tune. Then recently Phil Collins’ tracks like ‘Easy Lover’.I don’t really use my ipod. I get stuck on youtube just spending hours looking at clips and playing them over and over. Maybe this is why no-one buys music they’re all on youtube like me hey? I bought ‘Greyhound’ though (note to my pals at Virgin / Positiva).”
What is your idea of a perfect Sunday?
“Imagination runs wild. Actually the concept of Sundays slightly escapes me but for the sake of the exercise and in a perfect world: Morning coffee and writing by the harbour here in Sydney (I do this most days), then lunch in Paris at The Tulleries, afternoon studio session with Will.i.am in London, followed by falling in love while watching the sunset in Ibiza. #justsayingthatwouldbeprettygoodright?”
How did you first hook up with Nick Galea?
“We met on Myspace! Nick lives in Brisbane and even though we’ve only met once we chat a lot on the phone and I consider him a good mate. I loved his production and hit him up for a collab. The first track we wrote together was called ‘I Believe’ and it did really well over here.”
What is the best thing your parents taught you?
“I could do anything if I put my mind to it…haha that is such a parent thing to say.”
Who is your best friend in the world?
“My sister Cam.”
Thanks Amba. Great answers…
“Thanks Dan Big appreciation, quite honoured to be part of your amazing mag. AX”
www.ambashepherd.com
