A conversation with Aimee Iris about “Rely On Me”
Q: Hi! How did your journey in music begin, and who were your earliest influences that shaped the artist you are today?
A: Hi, I have always had a love for music. I started on stage at the age of 5 in a pantomime and haven’t really got off stage since! I trained in musical theatre for a long time and loved it but the singing side of it was always my favourite. Artists such as Sara Bareilles and Ben Platt have been some of my biggest influences and they were the ones that gave me the confidence to jump from MT to pop.
Q: The themes of confidence and self-reliance are prominent in “Rely On Me.” How do you believe these themes resonate with your audience, especially in today’s world?
A: In today’s world it’s so important to be self reliant because if there’s anything that you want you have to be willing to get it yourself. I think in the past it was always assumed that women relied on men for everything and we are so far past that now which is why the message of this track is so important to me. From growing up in the musical theatre road I was always taught that confidence is the key to everything, my main motto was ‘wrong and strong’ which has really seemed to find its way into both my music and my lyrics!
Q: Your music blends elements from different genres, including pop and musical theatre. What challenges and opportunities does this fusion present in your songwriting and production processes?
A: There are lots of contrasts between the two styles as they are made for different consumers but it’s the storytelling element of Musical Theater that is really prominent for me. This can make it difficult when writing a track for the pop world because it’s hard to draw the line between building up a story and writing a radio read pop piece. Much to the delight of my band, ‘Rely on me’ contains a tempo change after the first verse. This is a common feature of MT and felt very natural to me, but the band and my producer took a little more convincing!
Q: The music industry is constantly evolving. How do you stay ahead of trends while ensuring your music remains authentic to who you are as an artist?
A: Although trends constantly change, human emotion stays the same and so I think regardless of what’s popular or whats trending, if the lyrics and the melodies connect with people and stay with them then you have a successful song. It is important to stay up to date with what’s current, especially with HOW people are consuming their music, but I think a well written song is a well written song, regardless of what’s popular; it’s why we still listen to artists from the past.
Q: Collaboration can play a significant role in an artist’s development. Are there any artists or producers you dream of working with, and why?
A: It would be my absolute dream to work with Sara Bareillies one day. She is my biggest influence and role model, I love her work and I believe we could create something wonderful!
Q: Performing live can be a transformative experience for both the artist and the audience. Can you share a memorable moment from one of your live performances?
A: I love performing live, having an audience to react with makes playing so much fun. There’s one track that I play at the end of every gig called ‘Meet me in the middle’ the chorus is call and response and it’s such a laugh getting everyone involved. I played this with my band at the end of our set at The Secret Garden Party and it was fantastic to have a whole festival tent singing my track back to me! I loved it so much I released the live version from that festival so that anyone can hear it!
Q: Your music has been featured on platforms like BBC Introducing and Radio Reverb. How important are these platforms for emerging artists, and how have they impacted your career?
A: This kind of support is so important for upcoming artists, being featured on BBC introducing in particular feels like a stamp of approval that makes people take you seriously. John at Radio Reverb couldn’t be more supportive of local artists and it really does make a huge difference when radios take the time to listen to new music and give it a chance as there’s so much music in the world that it’s so easy for new tracks to get lost in the crowd.
Q: Mental and physical health can significantly impact creative output. How do you take care of yourself to stay creative and motivated in your music career?
A: The music industry contains a lot of rejection and a lot of negativity which can be very difficult to battle with and can do a lot of damage to people’s mental health. However there is also so much support and positivity if you look in the right places, I’ve found this particularly from other artists. With regards to physical health, you do get ill, colds, flu, etc and this does affect how well you can do your job but vocal exercises and some hot water with honey and lemon help a lot! I usually find that when my body or my mind are having a tough time, that’s when it’s time to take a break and reset so that I can come back and work on something even better.
Q: Social media has become an essential tool for artists to connect with their audience. How do you approach your online presence, and what do you think is key to engaging with your fans effectively?
A: Social media is an incredible way to reach lots of people very quickly, but as an artist, it’s a lot like having another job! The rate at which we all consume content online is so rapid that it can be difficult to keep up with it all and stay relevant. However, having a platform that can connect people to artists that they will enjoy is wonderful and it has allowed me to have listeners all around the world in countries that I’ve never even been to!
Q: Looking forward, what goals do you have for your music career, both short-term and long-term, and how do you plan to achieve them?
A: I would love to release an album by the end of 2024! I have 3 tracks ready to go and 2 more that are written and ready to record so it seems doable at the moment but we’ll see! A more long term goal would be to go on tour, firstly in the UK and then in America too.