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Stronger
STRONGER is the 3rd professional studio album by AMANDALA. It rocks more than her previous albums.
My intention with this 7-song EP was to write songs that make one feel more empowered; stronger, more connected, songs that encourage, that reflect. Something that opens the door inwards. Just as water does not have a form, but it takes the form of its container, so my music does not sit in one specific genre, but rather capture a fluid mood which is different from song to song and album to album. The EP “STRONGER” began at EARWIG STUDIO in Seattle, Washington, before continuing its journey in Stellenbosch, South Africa at SUNSET RECORDING STUDIO. Coming full circle, the songs were mastered by Ed Brooks from RESONANT MASTERING in Seattle.
SONGLIST:
NOTHING (Cape Town Version) - A remake of one of my favorite songs with a stronger vibe.
HOLD MY GLASS - Song about leaving a relationship to start on a new path. This song has a “The Cure” guitar vibe solo. Don Farwell owner of Earwig Studio, plays guitar and drums for this song.
LET’S NOT LEAVE THIS LIFE BROKEN - I released a video for this song on 8/28/20. “Let’s Not Leave This Life Broken” is the heart of the album and is a request for wholeness, universal unity and friendship.
UNTIL - Is the most singer song-writer vibe on the album. It has a beautiful duet featuring vocals by local Seattle singer Cebron Hansen.
OCEAN - Is a song I love to perform live but never recorded professionally in English. It wanted to be on this EP. Ocean is the most fluid song on this album. It has a "Game of Thrones" type of femme power to it. It’s a close-to-your-ear, spoken-vocals, emotional, oceanic, watery journey on the piano. For the yogi it describes the meditation journey inwards.
FLOW - Is a musical sketch of a river building till it finally reaches the ocean, so the vocals are sparse and it doesn’t follow cookie cutter song structures.
STRONGER - Is the gentlest song on this EP (as power doesn’t always have to roar). The song builds in a vocal chant with soaring vocals, cellos and drums, and has a classical, almost fantasy feel to it. I also explored singing within a wider vocal range. For me, being stronger also means being braver with my singing.
Thank you sooooooo much for listening.
Far & Wide
In 2016 AMANDALA teamed-up with producer and co-owner of London Bridge Studio, Jonathan Plum to co-write her first professional studio album “Far and Wide”. The album was recorded and produced by Jonathan Plum at London Bridge Studio and mastered by Glenn Schick. Andrew Joslyn violinist for Macklemore and Davey Brozowski traveling drummer for Modest Mouse played on her album. “Far and Wide” was release with a music video “Nothing” and a CD released show at Seattle’s Triple Door. Trey Gun former member of King Crimson opened the evening playing his war guitar.
North West Music Scene album review
Alles Wat Jy Lief Het
In 2016 AMANDALA wrote her first ever Afrikaans Album “Alles Wat Jy Lief Het“. The Afrikaans album “Alles Wat Jy Lief Het“ was recorded at both Earwig Studios, Seattle USA working with studio owner Don Farwell and at Sunset Recording Studios in Stellenbosch, South Africa working with producer Jürgen Von Wechmar.
“Two albums on Two Continents in Three studios in One year” became the tagline for a 5-month music promotion trip to South African October 2016 - March 2017.
AMANDALA was featured Nationwide on two television music shows “JAM” and “ChatNOU” for the South African Television Station KYKNet.
The single “Jeffreysbaai” received radio play on several South African radio stations.