The Madrid-based artist AMORE’s debut does what it says on the tin. The record is called Top Hits, Ballads, etc… Over a tight 12-song, 30-minute runtime, the album presents a sparkling Spanish pop vision, cognizant of tradition but not afraid of outside inputs, throwing everything from dream pop to trip hop to contemporary rap production techniques into the mix. Everything is dusted with a delicate melodic sensibility. It’s an effervescent record, and we wanted to learn more about it. Read our interview with AMORE, and listen to Top Hits, Ballads, etc…, below.
Tell us about the new record.
AMORE: Top Hits, Ballads, etc… is my debut album. It captures the sound that’s been defining this latest chapter of my career, and it’s basically a home for any song that fits the vibe stylistically. I see it as a kind of tribute to this period of my life, that’s where the title comes from, ha ha.
How did your collaborations with LeChatelier and Loukeman come about?
Both collaborations happened really naturally, from a genuine personal and musical connection. I met LeChatelier because we live in the same city, we got together to make music one day and it just worked so well. Loukeman was in Madrid for a few days and that song, which became the intro of the album, came out in like 15 minutes. It all felt very easy and real.
Where do you see yourself fitting in within a larger lineage of Spanish pop music?
I see myself as part of a generation that is deeply rooted in the legacy of Spanish pop, but also looking forward. I have a lot of respect for the classic pop formulas and try to learn from them, but I’m also very driven by the sounds and emotions of today.
How do you approach working on pop songs? How do you know when a chorus is hitting right?
I just listen to a lot of pop music, and when I'm working on a chorus, I kinda imagine people vibing to it, singing along in a concert or a girl singing it out loud in front of the mirror. When I can picture it, I know it’s hitting right.
What kind of music is on your sonic moodboard at the moment?
90s music like Madonna at her trip-hop peak, Kate Bush, Björk, everything from the 4AD label, 2000s divas like Fergie, Nicki Minaj ... Current sounds like Arca, Loukeman’s productions, and Latin American music like Santiago Motorizado, Julieta Venegas, Javiera Mena, Shakira ... Always One Direction, and also Spanish music with big, well-written songs like Rocío Jurado, Los Chunguitos, Cecilia, Rebe, Bebe.
Could you tell us a bit about the scene in Madrid right now?
Over the past few years in Madrid I’ve noticed that there’s been a big increase in the number of artists paying attention to what's happening internationally, working to refine their sound and find their own style. But recently, I’ve also sensed a kind of rediscovery of classic Spanish songs from the 20th century and 2000s Spanish pop. It feels like there’s a renewed interest in creating timeless music, maybe more than in chasing an ultra-avant-garde or futuristic sound like we saw in recent years.
How have you seen yourself develop as an artist over the past few years?
I think I’ve been really focused on building my own aesthetic universe and sound, creating a space where I feel at home and comfortable. I’ve always tried to write my songs and direct my videos in a way that stays true to my desires, and I think the natural result of that is that my project is still independent. It’s the best way I’ve found to preserve that freedom. Honestly, all I want is to make a living from my project, doing what I love, without chasing anything too big.
Do you have any dream collaborations?
Mica Levi.
