Amyra León

Born: New York, NY / Living: London, UK

Interview by Philo Cohen in Speciwomen Issue 1: First Interviews — Fall 2018

Philo Cohen: A lot has changed since we last talked. How has your practice evolved in the last few years? 

Amyra León: Seeking new ways in which art can be used to ignite action and strengthen communities is essential to my practice. My focus has expanded dramatically to include several new mediums of expression. I am constantly following where words take me and am very excited and proud of all the doors that have opened in the last few years. I am writing childrens books which I never imagined doing but it has been very fulfilling focusing on the rising generation.

PC: How is your practice as a musician fed by other art influences? 

AL: I am easily fascinated and inspired, I love that about myself. I have recently discovered that I have synesthesia. I hear music when I see certain colors so my musical expression has been heavily influenced by visual art. I spend a lot of my free time going to museums and painting. The Whitney, Brooklyn Museum, DIA in Detroit, NOMA, The Picasso Museum in Barcelona and the Tate Modern are my favorites. Carrie Mae Weems is a stunning photographer and poet who has also inspired me a lot in the last few years. 

PC: Your work has been shaped around your identity as a woman of color. What would be a message you’d like to transmit to younger voices who are trying to shape their sound around their identity? 

AL: I urge you to fall in love with yourself. The parts you are drawn to, the parts you avoid - despise even. Live in honesty and invite others to do the same. Do not let anyone dictate your capabilities or call you out of your name. Make sure you have a solid support system around you to hold you accountable. Society thrives on us believing that we are insignificant so I dare you to take up SPACE & when taking up space is difficult or you are merely exhausted - turn to your community. Ask for help. Scream, cry, focus on the breath. If there is breath, there is room for change, room for the miracle to find you. Know that, keep that, and create with audacity. 

PC: You have lived in New York City and London. Why did you choose these two cities? What did they each bring to your practice?

AL: New York City was Gods doing - born & raised in the concrete city of dreams. Harlem lined my veins with hustle and an undeniable sense of melody. Whether it was a block party or a funeral, there was always bomba in the streets. Harlem taught me the miracle of loyalty and forgiveness. As an artist my work is fueled by the unapologetic person Harlem raised me to be.

London has embraced me and all of my audacity. I have spent the last 25 years living in New York so getting to know the ebb and flow of a new city has been a wonderful adventure. The air is crisp, there is more green space and the nature of artist communities seem to be less fueled by competition and more celebratory of the process of creating. The energy here has made space for a lot of my thoughts to materialize and has invited me to delight in more travel.

PC: What has been your favorite project to work on so far?

AL: I’ve spent the last year working on music with my dear friend and producer ATELLER and it has been an absolute dream. It is not often that you find yourself in kinship with someone who not only delights your spirit but shares your melodic language. We made a stunning EP together called Witness. I can NOT wait for people to digest this musical representation of who I am. I am excited about the insane amount of other projects I am working on as well but this EP is truly sacred.

PC: Do you feel more comfortable on stage or in the studio?

AL: I am the most comfortable, most at peace, most aligned with myself and my ancestry, most joyous, most hopeful, most free when I am performing live. I live for it. It is such an honor to fill my days sharing the wonder of breath and vibration with people all over the world. 

PC: What is in the works?

AL: A LOT. 2018 has been the year of bloom and I could not be more excited. Witness, my sophomore EP will be released this summer. The first single drops in a few weeks! I’ll be celebrating with a sold out show at the historic Apollo Theatre in Harlem which is a childhood dream come true. Then I’ll be touring Italy and tackling a few music festivals this summer. Darling, my first childrens book will soon be released via Walker Books & I am in the process of writing two more. Vaseline, my first play is also in the works and will be making a London premiere in the spring of 2019. I am also working on two exhibits, Obeast, which is an intimate series of interviews looking at obesity & A Thousand Suns, which focuses on nature and mental health. For updates holla at my website: amyleon.com