Amarie, the multi-faceted artist

Hunter Pratt, Staff Writer

“Made to f**k the game up” are five simple words in an Instagram bio, which refer to this artist’s own plans—this is Amarie, and she is one to watch. 

Few artists announce themselves with the kind of audacity that Amarie does. “Made to f**k the game up” isn’t a boast, however, but a prophecy in progress. 

“As a kid…I always knew I’d be singing on a stage,” the artist says. “I feel like that comes from leading some sort of rebellion.” Here, Amarie is speaking her aspirations into existence in ways as simple as changing her Instagram bio to words of confidence.

Although she is relatively new to putting out singles, with only three currently in her artist catalog, her other choices of art are what make her a multi-faceted creator. 

Amarie is not limited to just music—she dabbles in painting, clothing design and pole dancing. The music, she says, is the artform that requires the most delicacy. 

“I would say (music) has challenged me. I think music is one of the only artforms, in my experience, that requires some sort of perfectionism,” says Amarie.

How does music challenge the artist framework Amarie has built for herself? 

With respect to the creation process, she says that “there are certain rules you have to follow, and that has been challenging for me as an artist. When I create other stuff like clothes, I leave the seams raw and I leave the strings hanging, because the need for perfectionism when I started making clothes is what stopped me from making clothes.” 

Although music may challenge Amarie to strive for excellence, it nonetheless helps her achieve a different sense of identity. 

“I really think it’s helped me become who I’m supposed to be,” she says.

And, whether you believe in fate or birthright, it’s safe to say that Amarie got it from her mama. She is not the only one in her family with a creative side, as she gives credit to her mother and father for pushing her towards creativity. 

Her parents both have a strong background in music, with her mother being a band teacher and her father being a singer-songwriter, it’s natural that Amarie would tap into her musical side. 

“I’m very lucky my parents always let me do what was coming towards me…they always knew I was an artist,” she says 

Amarie began her journey as an artist in the fourth grade, letting her poetry mold her art into the shape of songs. At just 17, it dawned on her that her poetry didn’t have to stay on the page. It could live and breathe as music. 

At that time, Amarie’s brother was making music too, and he let her jump on one of his songs.

“Ever since then, it was like home, and I’ve just kept going with it,” she says.

Fueled by ardor and persistence, Amarie’s current discography is a steady stream of art pieces that weave stories through both her songs and their accompanying visuals. Her most recent release, “DIAL IN,” provides an added element to her sound with the aesthetic visuals, building onto the Amarie brand. 

Being able to have creative freedom is what makes Amarie’s work unique to herself. She explains that the marketing aspect of her art is part of what makes it enjoyable. 

“You add a whole different element to the music itself when you think of the branding of a particular song…personally, I think it’s fun and I think I would get bored if I was only limited to the sound of the art,” says the artist. 

With Amarie considering herself to be a multifaceted artist, it’s clear that her visuals would hold the same amount of importance as the songs themselves, thus deepening her identity as a well-rounded artist. 

Amarie’s art is a catalyst to a broader perspective of how others will interpret it. A big reason she cherishes her art dearly is the worth she finds within it and the connection she hopes it will create with listeners.

“A goal of mine when I sit down to write a song is to bring value to the people that are going to listen to it,” she says. 

She also comments on the importance of being real in your music, and how she sees value being lost through lackluster entertainers. 

“I feel like it’s getting kind of diluted where people are talking about the same things over and over again and it’s not for a real reason.” 

Amarie’s intentions are bonafide. Not only does she call herself “Made to f**k the game up,” but she plans to do so by being true to her values and her art.

With the confidence, vision and drive that Amarie possesses, there is no sense in keeping her in your peripheral as it’s only a matter of time before she’s in your line of sight.