- Words Ryan Cahill
The New York musician talks near death experiences, trippy dreams and The Last Airbender.
Amber Mark has been quietly rising up the ranks. In 2017, she released her game-changing album 3:33am which included the sensation tracks “Lose my Cool” and “Moonsoon”, and this year returned with an ever stronger follow-up EP, the incredible Conexão. Creating emotive R&B, Mark often uses writing as an emotional outlet after losing her mother at a young age. Her music seeks to unite those that have undergone a similar experience. It’s raw and relatable with a voice and lyricism much older than years, and she’s very much on our radar.
Many sites are hailing her as “One to Watch”, expecting that she’s going to enjoy huge success by this time next year, so as she gears up for what is sure to be an explosive 2019, we catch up with the NYC musician to talk all about
Do you remember your dreams? Tell us about a recent dream you’ve had….
Funny this question is being asked because I JUST woke up from a pretty funny & realistic nightmare. Normally my dreams are a bit more creative. I had a dream I started hostessing at my godparent’s restaurant again. My sister was training me which made me feel a little better about it but it was equally as stressful as it was the last time I worked as a hostess there (in real life). All these bad things kept happening like a family was eating in the garden & the grandmother requested a pillow for her chair as it was to firm. It was extremely busy & the whole dream ended up me trying to find the perfect pillow for this woman as well as seat people, answer the phone & deal with people who guaranteed the garden even though we make it very clear the garden isn’t guaranteed. I know none of this really sounds like a nightmare, but if you’re in the service industry/ grown up around it’s a disaster. Apologies for the basic dream, I just woke up & its very fresh in my mind.
What is the closest you’ve ever come to death?
I’m sure there are many moments in life where I’ve come very close to death & I’m just not aware of them. When I was around 10 years old I was biking with my family upstate. None of us were wearing helmets because we were only biking to a neighbours house. I was pretty far behind my sister because my godmother & I had stopped to look at some bunnies or something. My sister yelled something directional back at us & of course me being the reckless prankster that I was, I decided it would be fun to pretend like I didn’t hear her & have her repeat herself till I was right behind her so I could say “ why are you yelling I’m right behind you”( I know 10 year old Amber pranks are POINTLESS). So I began to pedal really really fast continuously yelling “WHAT?!” every time she repeated herself till I was right behind her. Thats when I noticed that if I didn’t stop short really quick I would either ram right into her or drive straight into lots of traffic. I quickly pressed the front break really hard and went flying off my bike hitting my head on the pavement. Bike went flying over me. There was lots of blood as I had a use gash right above my temple and shoulder. I was winded & then crying hysterically when I could finally breath. And then I had to be hospitalised. It was horrible & I still have a scar.
Tell us, what is your first memory of music?
I think my memory of music Is my mom blasting her bob Marley, Michael Jackson & Earth, Wind & Fire cassette tapes in the car & how much she would move to them.
What’s your star sign? Does your personality match your star sign?
I’m a Capricorn and I don’t really know because I don’t know much about my sign. I hear from a lot of people that Capricorns are ambitious, but I feel like people say that about every sign. I also know that where and what time you were born is also very important.
When was the first time you had your heart broken?
Ugh! The worst feeling EVER! I’ve had my heart broken before but nothing this intense, This really felt like the first heart break for me because I felt like I ended a relationship with my best friend. It was not too long ago actually. I was super depressed, to be honest thinking about it still makes me sad. I have a very hard time letting go. I still don’t feel like I’m over it. Sometimes I wish I was one of those people that was emotionally hard as a rock, but I definitely had days where I was crying all day unable to move, staring out the window imagining a life without him & how we wouldn’t do everything together, how he would find someone else to do these things with & thats what got me.
Who was your first celebrity crush?
I was never the girl had to grow into like boys & until then just thought they were gross. I always had crushes on boys. I think the first one I can remember was The Hanson brothers when I was in first grade.
"Put You On" by Amber Mark ft. DRAM
Tell us one thing nobody / not many people know about you.
I live for ramen & Star Wars.
What would your biography be called?
Daughterhood of the traveling Mother
Child of the world
“Were your parents in the military?”, “ Nope, My mother was an artist”.
What was the first song you ever wrote?
The first song I ever wrote on my own was “Can You hear Me?” It was much slower when I first made it.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
There’s been so much good advice given to me. I just have a hard time listening to it.
What has been your biggest achievement?
Connecting with other people that have dealt with loss through my music.
Which fictional character do you most relate to and why?
I always wanted to be Katara from avatar The Last Airbender. There isn’t much relation between us but we both love water, we both have a brother as well as chosen family & both our mothers passed away.
How was High School?
Didn’t love school in general. High School was very much like a high school we had all the sports teams & after school programs. Our school colours were red & white.
Who is the most famous person in your DMs?
Most recent one where I was fan-girling was Questlove
Describe your own personal idea of hell…
Having a cheeto as president… oh, wait! And being stuck on a plane for eternity. It’s so dry up there!
What’s a lie you’ve told and what was the fall out?
When I was around 11 years old there were two bathing suits I was obese seed with at a store my family and I went to on vacation. Upon leaving the store I was told I could get one, but was given extra money because my god parents didn’t know how much it was. They ended up giving me enough for the two I wanted and I came back saying the 1 bathing suit wasn’t on sale after all & I had to pay full price for it. My godmother of course didn’t believe but knew I would feel guilty in the end so she how disappointed in the store clerk she was for playing me like that. And that we would go back and complain. I completely caved started crying and told the truth. Learned my lesson for sure & she let me keep both bathing suits in the end.
Which super power would you most like to have, and why?
To be able to teleport myself wherever I wanted within seconds that way I wouldn’t miss important family memories nor would I miss important career moves.
What is one album that totally changed your life?
Theres so many hard to name one, sometime’s I come back to ones I loved like right now. It is an EP By Gabriel Garzon-Montano called Bishounè: Alma Del Huila.
When was the last time you cried and why?
Last week… I missed my mom.
Where/what will you be doing at the end of the world?
Eating anything and everything I love, hopefully on a tropical beach somewhere surrounded by the people I love & thankful for life I’ve been given.
