Some of y’all know that Meri Amber is one of my favorite young indie musicians. She’s just got a completely different take on things that you can’t resist falling for.
Let’s get to know Meri, the artist and your music a little better. What attracted you to this “geek pop” style?
At first I thought I invented the genre! I decided to start performing in this niche because I found that I got the most joy out of performing songs that were inspired by things like awkward social situations, pop culture and social commentary in general.
I liked having a mix of really silly, sometimes funny, songs with more serious numbers. I also like combining the sonic aesthetic of bright, catchy pop music with things like left-field topics, computer game synths, 90s inspired punk influences and chopped in sound samples.
How long have you been making music? Have you been performing or sharing it with the public all that time?
I’ve been a musician for as long as I remember! I first received a guitar when I was 4 years old and joined the Primary School guitar ensemble. I went to a performing arts high school, a talent school and haven’t stopped making music since!
I started sharing my music as an artist about four years ago publicly online as Meri Amber. I went through many transitions and phases and only really started working primarily on geek music about a year and a half after I began.
Who or what influences your writing and performance?
Anything and anyone in my life! From getting inspired by watching a TV show to getting inspired by having a conversation with an old friend, really anything is fair game. I’ve recently had a particular fascination with subjects like feeling/missing/wanting real, genuine human connection, feeling lost or confused about the future, living in the moment and not giving up/working hard/pushing through on dreams you want to achieve.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bb16lAxRnNk
It seems all creative people go through rough patches or writer’s block of some sort. What motivates you to keep going?
I haven’t really had a period of writer’s block as of yet (*touch wood*), though I do get periods where I don’t have time to write or create. As a creative person I find that very frustrating. I also have periods where I’ll write a lot but nothing comes out “good enough”, which can be just as frustrating.
I guess the reason I keep going is that I physically cannot stop. I can’t help myself- I have to keep making songs! I have a feeling that even if I was working another job I would still have to find time to write songs to get them out of me. They’re kinda my way of processing the world around me and they’re almost compulsive for me to create.
Were you trying to accomplish something different or specific with this project – creatively or otherwise?
With my album Retro Sherbet, which is my latest album release, I created an entire concept album inspired by the 90s and my childhood (as I was born during the 90s). As well as having those sonic and topical influences, the album came together almost like a story where as you follow along with each song, it’s like you’re following the main character through struggles in their relationship, a break up, moving on and finding happiness again.
It’s odd that it came out this way and definitely something different for me! I also wrote all the songs during February Album Writing Month, which was very different for me as I usually like to take time to write, perfect and then curate songs. But, with FAWM I was forced to really push them out (though I definitely came back and worked on them more afterwards).
You can listen to the album in full here: http://www.meriamber.com/retro-sherbet
What was the last song you listened to?
Barenaked Ladies – One Week
Do you prefer a certain medium for listening – vinyl, CDs, mp3, reel-to-reel, Pono,(lol sort of)?
CDs are my favourite. I like listening in the car if I have a choice as you can hear a lot more of the bass frequencies and I find headphones can get a tad uncomfortable.
One of the things that bugs me about the digital age is that we have such great technology and can produce such high quality sound, yet mp3s (relatively average quality ones) are still the standard way for people to receive or download music files. Sites like Spotify seem to push lower quality sound content as well (you have to pay for higher quality) and it bugs me that people are getting used to hearing songs that they could hear at a much higher quality, at this lower quality.
If you had to choose one place to host your music, would you prefer Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp, or … ?
Between those three options I would choose Bandcamp. Otherwise, I stream and sell my music directly from my website, which is my top preference (as it can be streamed in it’s proper quality and if you decide to purchase it, all your money goes directly to me as the artist).
I find it’s a tough one as an artist, because the landscape is changing all the time and it feels like every week there is a new place you “have” to build a presence, you “have” to have an impressive number of listens/listeners and you “have” to have as your main outlet. My music is everywhere, on all the main sites, and you can choose which one you prefer to use to listen to it. I just hope you like it when you do!
Do you ever feel as if your tunes are lost in a sea of music? What are one or two of the biggest challenges you face when trying to attract new listeners?
I think everyone that’s an independent musician in the digital age does! By far the biggest challenge for an independent artist is having your voice heard over the noise. This feels very much like running at a wall repeatedly, hoping it will turn into a door sometime.
The second biggest challenge, for me personally, would be scheduling time to do all the tasks (from practicing, to writing, to producing, to doing admin, to organising shows, to performing, to trying to get press, to trying to get airplay, to doing photoshoots, to organising video shoots, to filming videos, to editing videos, to making press releases, to editing photos to post online, to creating show posters or flyers, to meeting with venues, to repairing or maintaining instruments, to learning new skills, to creating networks etc.) as an independent musician. It often feels overwhelming and you know you can never do anything to the level you dream of having it in your mind because of how much time it would require.
Are you playing on live stages, clubs, bars, the local town picnic, festivals?
Yes I am! I’m constantly performing, usually on a weekly basis, and usually at quirky events like comic conventions. You can see all my upcoming shows here: http://meriamber.com/shows
Do you ever stream your performances over the net? Where can music lovers see you perform?
Occasionally! I should get back into Periscoping more often. Unfortunately internet connections are usually weak and data is super expensive! I may end up filming some more of my performances in the future as well if I’m able to get a decent set up (both the picture and sound quality at shows is often disappointing on video due to the lighting on stage being very bright and the sound being murky when it’s not recorded through the mixing desk).
Where is the best place to connect with you online and/or discover more of your music?
My website is the absolute best place to connect with me. I update it regularly and show it a lot of love. You can find links to social media and I’m relatively active on all the social pages I’m on so you can always chat with me on there too.
I’d also recommend, if you’re interested in my music, that you sign up to my mailing list: http://www.meriamber.com/free-stuff. As the URL states, you get a free song and PDF e-zine I made when you sign up and I send all my best perks to the people that have signed up. I tend to send links to videos or albums a day before they go out publicly for mailing list subscribers to listen to, I also do most of my “free song download” giveaways through my mailing list, so you’ll be able to collect some more of my music (not just the first free song you get when you sign up) if you stay signed up over time.
Lastly, I put a lot of work into making my YouTube channel as awesome as I can, youtube.com/meriamber. I upload relatively frequently and have recently committed to a regular schedule of posting more casual music videos on Mondays (things like an a cappella cover of the Invader Zim Christmas song, parody of I Believe I Can Fly [on a plane], or a mash up of the Kingdom Hearts theme with pop song Kingdom Come whilst dressed as the Queen of Hearts), while posting official music videos on Wednesdays when I have them (videos for official songs from my CDs like the animated video for Tamagotchi, the video featuring my five TARDIS cosplays for She’s Blue [Eiffel 65 Parody] and the Block By Block video featuring Lego art coming together by Bricktascale). I’d definitely recommend subscribing to my channel too.
Can you share an anecdote or tale of woe or inspiration like a story about an out-of-touch club manager, your favorite fan interaction, broken busses, or you know… just some experience in your musical journey you’ll never forget?
Recently I had my first ever cyber bullying incident that was relatively serious. Up until now I’ve had some hateful or mean comments, but it’s something I’d become quickly used to and was able to brush off relatively easily. My cyber bullying experience was different as it involved being in a situation I couldn’t ignore and the main person doing it started to gather more and more people to join them in making false and hurtful claims about me.
I would say in general, don’t respond to haters. Don’t feed the negativity as, despite what it may feel like to you, they won’t understand your perspective or leave you alone, it’ll just grow. The best thing to do, in general, is ignore them.
If they are making particularly slanderous statements (such as accusing you of bribing others with money etc. which was happening in my case) then that affects your business and you do have to address it. False statements like those are illegal and you can likely report them to an authority or even sue them. The quicker you can resolve and halt the situation the better, so if you can contact website administrators and they’re able to nip it in the bud that’s the best option. In my situation I was able to show that these statements were false and the comments did stop.
I did get very upset about the situation and the one thing I learnt, emotionally, that made me feel much better, was to reach out to the people that care about you and support you. If things are effecting your mental health, you have to allow others in to help. Keeping it to yourself will only make you feel worse.
Lightning Round
What’s your favorite ice cream?
Vanilla. It’s a classic and you can always cover it in sprinkles.
Dream vehicle?
Teleportation device.
Sailing yacht, catamaran, bass boat, or kayak?
Catamaran
Place on Earth you must visit some day
Morocco! I want to see those spice towers at street markets!!
Batman or Spiderman?
Batman because it’s DC… But I’d otherwise choose Supergirl or Powergirl.
James Bond or Jason Borne?
James Bond.
Bugs Bunny or Anime?
Anime- that’s an entire world!
Favorite beer or beverage of pleasure?
Venti soy green tea latte, hold the syrup, from Starbucks. Can you tell I’ve ordered that a few too many times
Movie or book quote you are liable to drop at the wrong moment?
“If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball”
Left with a choice of one instrument, which would you keep?
My voice.
Any last thoughts? Shout outs? Words of wisdom?
Never give up, ever, no really… Ever.
