“When I was about three or four, I would play on little pianos, and I've got pictures of me holding microphones. But the first time I heard myself sing, I thought, okay, she has something special. I was around seven years old then.” AMARIA BB's musical journey has been lifelong. She released her debut single ‘Cha$e the Bag’ when she was just 17, and two years later, her breakout single ‘Slow Motion’ followed. Recently, she has been busy establishing a unique sound that is vibrant, flirtatious, and emotionally transparent. The outcome is her third mixtape, ‘9PM IN PARIS’, which she self-released.
“I always find that I gain new influences when I’m in a warm country,” she tells CLASH. It’s a balmy June morning in London when AMARIA BB sits down for a discussion, with her 14-track mixtape being the focal point. She reflects on the mixtape’s creation, a rich, genre-defying project resulting from diving mishaps in Spain, recording sessions in Paris, and the allure of summer – crafting a vivid image for the perfect listening setting. “It has to be warm outside. London is experiencing a bit of a heat wave, so I’m excited about the timing. You need genuine chill vibes, intimate gatherings – a barbecue, a park, or a garden with friends and family,” she explains.
AMARIA BB avoids coldness, both musically and otherwise. The artist from Hackney with Jamaican-Guyanese roots first attracted attention with 2021’s ‘Slow Motion’, a breakout track full of charisma and sun-soaked rhythm. Since then, her success has been marked by millions of streams, sold-out performances, and significant collaborations with artists like Skillibeng and Stonebwoy. However, her latest project feels personal in a different sense.
“France is like a second home to me,” she shares. The mixtape, which she wrote and recorded in France and Spain, combines her signature mix of R&B and dancehall into an even more captivating sound, featuring contributions from some of France's hottest artists: Jungeli, RSKO, Ya Levis, Ronisia, and others.
The vibe surrounding ‘9PM IN PARIS’ is communal, stemming from connection as much as creativity. “In France, everyone’s just helping each other succeed,” she notes. “It’s not a selfish thing. In my experience, they’re all united.” This same close-knit, familial atmosphere defines her ideal listening experience: sunshine, a barbecue, dominoes on the table, with tracks like ‘Officer’ or ‘Map’ providing a perfect summer soundtrack.
AMARIA BB also thrives on spontaneity. “I don’t write anymore,” she casually states, “I just go with whatever comes to mind.” This is how songs like ‘Bonjour’ and her latest single ‘All Of You’ were created. She even recorded some parts of the project in a villa in Barcelona while everyone else was at the beach due to a holiday mishap. “I had water stuck in my ear from diving,” she laughs. “But I was bored, so a few producers sent me beats. I started writing to them and recorded it there without redoing it later. I just sent it to my engineers and enhanced it. It’s very organic.”
AMARIA BB’s mix of instinct and precision flows throughout the entire project. There is also noticeable growth: the raw, unfiltered voice that earned her a MOBO nomination has evolved without losing its distinctive edge. “My earlier music had a lot more swearing and was a bit more explicit,” she admits. “Now, I’m trying to create songs that everyone can enjoy; something suitable to play at a barbecue with your mum or nan around. Still me, just a bit more family and radio-friendly.”
To AMARIA, music should uplift and inspire. “I’m not sad, so I don’t make sad music,” she laughs. “I want people to feel good. I want them to enjoy themselves, which is what I’m singing about; of course, it includes the ladies, but it’s also about wanting them to feel good.”
This empowerment extends to her artistic independence. ‘9PM in Paris’ is not just a passion project but completely self-released. She made the decisions, selected the collaborators, and set the tone. While the process was spontaneous, the outcome is polished. Even collaborations that took a bit longer, like ‘Too Close’ with RSKO, came together smoothly. “He just kept improving his verses. Every time I thought we were finished, he’d come up with something better.”
AMARIA has already built an impressive roster of venues and festival bookings across Europe, along with ventures outside of music, such as Amazon Prime’s ‘Jungle’, yet she remains “booked and busy.” Acting, fashion, and even more transnational collaborations are on the
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"When I was about three or four, I would play on small pianos and there are photos of me holding microphones. However, it was when I heard myself sing that..."