Amy Peters
Following up her Cinematic project released in 2018, singer/songwriter/producer Amy Peters is back with a brand new single titled “Salt”.
Co-written by Peters and Starstruck artist Caroline Kole, and produced by Peters and Sam Martinez, the new single is a promising pop record showcasing a big chorus with unforgettable melodies.
“I was going through a lot last year, and I met a boy who was a good distraction. It was simple and entertaining until I fell in love with him. This song came to life when I was caught in between having fun and having feelings,” explains Peters.
Catchy, fun and well-produced, the new single introduces Amy Peters as a bright pop artist and producer.
The 22 year old artist is an advocate for mental health awareness, and encourages aspiring female musicians through her YouTube series “Real Boss Chicks”. Currently working with producer David Kalmusky (Shawn Mendes, Meghan Trainor), the Nashville-based artist will be revealing her debut album this fall.
“Salt” is now available worldwide.
Photo credit: Jessica Amerson
Introduce yourself - where are you from?
Hey! I’m Amy Peters, and I’m a 22-year-old artist/producer from Chesapeake, Virginia.
What's your story?
I’ve been in the industry since I was a kid, and I happen to have the perfect parents for it—one works in sound production, and one is an accountant. I have a younger sister who has more logic in her ring finger than I have in my entire body. We grew up watching Disney and taking dance lessons and making short films on our Panasonic camcorder. All of these factors shaped me into who I am: a hopeless romantic, a dreamer, and a storyteller.
Could you describe us your childhood a little bit? Any favorite memories?
I was raised just outside of Virginia Beach, which is home to so many music makers that I idolize. My dad shared a studio with Pharrell before I was born. One of my best friends lived across the street from Missy Elliot, who we referred to as “that famous lady”. My fifth grade boyfriend’s dad mixed my favorite Justin Timberlake record. I’m so grateful that I was raised without a phone, and had the chance to be naive about the world around me. I spent most of my time playing Shania Twain’s Come On Over and dreaming about mermaids and rock stars.
How would you describe yourself today?
I still have that same whimsical attitude about life, even though I may have a few more chips on my shoulder now. I am learning to embrace my strengths, because being soft-spoken does not mean you are weak, and being introverted does not mean you are lame.
When did your love for art and music begin?
My dad is a live sound engineer, so I grew up around music and was always encouraged to be creative. In elementary school, I got into voice acting, and did radio commercials for brands like Walmart and Subway. So much of my comfort in the studio now stems from those early days of talking into a mic about sandwiches.
When did you start writing songs?
I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. There’s a video somewhere of me at age 3 singing a song I wrote about a watering can.
When did you start producing your own music? Do you remember the biggest challenge when your first started?
I built my first track on GarageBand when I was probably 7 or 8 years old. I would come home from school every day, drop my backpack, and run to my computer to cut more vocal parts. When I moved to Nashville to attend audio engineering school, I actually stopped producing for a couple years, because I was so intimidated by the level of talent in this city. I thought, if someone else can do a better job, why would I waste my time? The hardest part was getting past my own insecurities. Luckily, I have friends in the industry who called me out and pushed me to keep honing my craft. And now, after years of hard work, I am finally at a point where I can listen to a song I’ve produced and think, wow, this is badass.
Who was the first person to ever believe in you?
The first person who put everything on the line for me and my professional career would have to be my mentor and co-producer, David Kalmusky. We met almost five years ago. I emailed him pretending I was looking for an internship, when in reality, I just wanted to hang at his studio and be his friend. It worked!
How would you define Amy Peters the artist?
She is a lot more confident than I am in real life. She says things that I am afraid to say. In order to really take risks with my art, I had to separate my anxieties from my artist persona, but ultimately, it’s still an extension of me. I love getting to play the role of artist Amy in all of her dramatic glory.
"Salt" is your new single. What's the story behind this song?
I was going through a lot last year, and I met a boy who was a good distraction. It was simple and entertaining until I fell in love with him. This song came to life when I was caught in between having fun and having feelings.
You worked with Caroline Kole and Sam Martinez on this song. Could you describe us the songwriting/production process? How was it like to work with them?
Caroline is a melody monster. I brought the song to her because I knew it needed a giant chorus, and she is the writer you call when you need a giant chorus. We wrote it in her bedroom while eating Wendy’s. After that, I started working on a track for it, and called Sam to help me take it across the finish line. We had worked on a few songs together already, and I knew he would be a great fit for it. I had such a blast working with both of them and creating something that we are all really proud of.
When did you start working on "Salt"?
Last August. I got the idea in the shower. (Classic, right?) I remember mumbling the lyrics, “nothing right, nothing real, I can’t lie, I still feel,” and then frantically running out to get my phone and record it.
What do you like the most about this song?
It’s fun! I can take life too seriously sometimes, and I think I needed to write a song about being young and dancing and making out. It was good for my soul.
When did you know "Salt" had to be a single?
This story is kind of crazy, actually. I had written the verses for “Salt”, but it had no chorus. I remember going into the studio to play it for David and telling him, “This is special and I want it to be the single.” I just had a feeling about it, even when it was still a fragment of an idea.
What can you tell us about your upcoming album? Who did you work with?
This album is an ode to my subconscious. I’ve always wanted to write songs that were loosely based on my dreams, because I feel like they’re always bizarre and bright and meaningful. Sam and I went to breakfast last year to discuss my album and potentially working on it together, and I straight up told him, “I want to produce songs that feel like my dreams.” I knew he was the right guy for the job when he simply responded, “Okay, we can totally do that.” No hesitation, no “you’re crazy!”—just acceptance. I’m so lucky to have worked with him on this project along with David and the production duo LTM Music.
How would you describe your music?
It’s honest, high-energy synthpop. Sometimes it’ll make you sweat, and sometimes it’ll makes you cry, but no matter what, I hope it makes you feel sparkly.
What message do you want to give to anyone suffering from mental illness?
The hardest lesson I had to learn (and am still learning) is that it is impossible to be at the top of your game all the time. I get anxious. I get lonely. I get depressed. I used to push my fears down and cover them with a fake smile, but that only made me feel worse. I think that if you can look your demons in the eye and say, “I see you, and I want to understand you,” it helps them to quiet down faster.
How do you want to be remembered for?
I guess I’d like to be remembered for showing love during a time when hate is so loud.
In your opinion, what would make the world a better place?
I would love to see Instagram eliminate the space that shows how many likes your photo has. I heard a rumor that it may be happening at some point. I just think that we have enough to compare ourselves to in realtime, and eliminating that component would be a small but very healthy step forward for social media.
What biggest life lessons have you learned so far?
Always trust your gut, and don’t eat dairy. In that order.
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