Following the release of her latest single 'Hurt Like Hell' we catch up with Irish Pop Star & Songwriter Aimée....
After a momentous 2022, which saw Irish pop star and songwriter Aimée become the most played Irish female artist on radio, she is back with an empowering new single ‘Hurt Like Hell’. We caught up with her to chat about her early musical memories, her fabulous team and future musical plans, read on for more….
You’re called Aimée, you’re a Dublin native, you’re a vegan, fitness fanatic who loves to dance and create incredibly catchy songs, tell me something about you that not many people know….
Ooh, that’s a great question. I’m such an open book to be honest that I feel like I have definitely let my audience into my life, and what I love. But I doubt that many people know that I adore The Big Bang Theory! Totally random, but it is 100% a comfort watch for me, I’m obsessed!
Please describe your music using just three words….
FULL ON POP
Tell me about your early musical memories….
I’ve never felt like I have had a choice with music, it’s always been something I have felt compelled to do. It is my true passion. We were not a family of musicians, but there was always music and dance at home. As far back as I can remember, I was singing, dancing and writing music. So being a creative is just in my DNA. I’ve shared home videos of me singing ‘My Heart Will Go On’ when I was about three on social media – and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. I always made my family watch me perform!! Deciding to move from just singing in my bedroom to actually having the courage to pursue a recording career took some time however. But really from my teenage years onwards, I was chasing this goal. And I feel so grateful to be a working artist
If you had to choose 3 acts that influenced you to become a singer-songwriter, who would you choose and why?
Britney Spears – for her star power and performance
Christina Aguilera – for her vocals and ability to experiment
Max Martin – for delivering that perfect pop sound that’s been inspiring me since day one.
2022 saw you become the most played Irish female artist on radio, how did you feel when you heard this amazing news?
I made my team send me the data! I was in shock!! It’s really validating to hear that type of news, as it can be hard to keep the faith when you’re an artist. And we definitely experienced some delays in getting the follow up track to Nobody Else released. So to know that this juggernaut of a song had achieved that for me was insane, and a testament to the results you can get when- collectively- radio back you.
Your latest track ‘Hurt Like Hell’ is a song about loving yourself enough to leave a bad relationship, was this written from a personal experience?
Yes and no! Let’s face it when everything’s going well in your life and there’s no drama, it’s not usually when artists feel at their most inspired or creative. As a songwriter I’ve really started to lean into storytelling, and putting not just parts of my own life – but of others in my life – into my music. That’s definitely the case with this song.
You co-wrote the track with some amazing people who have worked with the likes of Westlife, Loreen, Will Young, TINI, Zara Larsson and Avicii, sounds like a proper ‘dream team’ to me, how did you manage to get them all involved?
Writing this song was one of the best experiences I have had so far. We wrote this in Sweden and had this great balance of two Irish writers including myself, and two Swedish writers. My longterm producer & co-writer Richey McCourt has worked with Swedish writers and teams for years, and he opened the door to working with Nick Jarl. Nick brought in Joakim and we just had this spark instantly. We knew we wanted to write a break up song, but one that wasn’t too melancholic. There is something about writing and recording in Stockholm that brings magic when you’re a pop artist. We wrote this the day after I had spent some time with Max Martin, having him listen to my demo’s and offer me some tips and advice at his home studio in Stockholm. I think you can feel his influence across this song.
You regularly travel between Sweden and Los Angeles to write and record your music, tell me three things that people should do in each place?
I wish I had more time to be a tourist in these places but I am always in writing sessions, so very much studio based! However, I would recommend- Sweden: Fika, the ABBA museum & try the Swedish vegan meatballs in Stockholm. LA: Malibu Pier, shopping in Beverly Hills & the Griffith Observatory.
What three things can you not live without whilst travelling?
Comfortable clothes, lots of water and moisturiser!
I saw on Spotify that you also recorded ‘Hurt Like Hell’ in Swedish, how is your fanbase there and are you planning on doing the same for future tracks?
We’re really just beginning to build the Swedish audience, but we could see that I was building this listenership and with me spending so much time writing there, it felt like the natural next step. My label (Universal) have been really supportive, and the international team in Stockholm have been super excited to start working with the track. I’m really hoping it connects and opens up a new audience for the music, by delivering it in their language.
You appeared on The Late Late Show as part of Irish Women in Harmony, where you performed a beautiful cover of The Cranberries’ ‘Dreams’, are you still part of the group and if so, any future plans to release more material?
I’m so proud to be a part of the group, and one of it’s founding members. We’ve all started talking recently about next steps as there seems to be such an appetite for the project, so watch this space! Ruth Anne Cunningham – who is one of Ireland’s most successful songwriters – brought together more than 30 Irish female artists at the start of lockdown to record a cover of the Cranberries hit ‘Dreams’ to raise funds for Safe Ireland. Her vision for the collective was very much to build a community and support system for Irish female artists. And to highlight the range and depth of female talent we have here in Ireland. None of us knew how successful it would become, and it’s been one of the greatest privileges of my career to be a founding member. I cherish the relationships that have come from it, and Ruth Anne has become a real mentor to me too.
You are a champion for Irish women’s voices in an industry dominated by men, what can people do in order to try and strike a better balance in the industry going forwards?
It’s a question that I get asked a lot, and having become Ireland’s most played Irish female artist last year, I can see why. Truthfully, I was thrilled with the result we achieved at radio for ‘Nobody Else’, and have been lucky enough to have had huge support from radio in Ireland since my first release. Do I think that globally the music industry could be doing more to support female artists, writers and producers? Yes. Do I think it’s fair to expect female artists to have all of the answers for why and how the landscape looks like it currently does? No. This question is so rarely asked of men, and I think that in itself should be examined.
Are you seeing more females becoming involved in production, engineering and management within the industry now?
Gradually, certainly in management. I’ve been working with a female manager for 5 years now and I know in Ireland we have a large number of female managers. There’s a fantastic directory called ‘We’ve Only Just Begun’ which lists female and non binary music creatives and professionals. And it really helps you find the talent. We are out there but we need to hire one another and work with one another.
What advice would you offer to an aspiring artist who wants to get their music heard?
Try to find your cheerleaders, and surround yourself with a team who can help you develop as an artist. Music is still about audience discovery so make sure you build that connection slowly and steadily. And know who your gatekeepers are from an industry perspective.
You’re hosting a dinner party, what can your guests look forward to? (Starter, main and dessert)
Super green soup to start, vegan poke bowl for main and no-bake vegan peanut butter slices for dessert!
Talking of dinner party guests, you have 3 spare seats at the table, who is joining you? (Can be dead or alive)
Beyoncé, Max Martin & my Mamma!
Can you share any future music plans with us? (New tracks, gigs, festival appearances?)
Yes! We have some amazing festivals already announced and more to come, and I’m playing the beautiful Olympia in Dublin in May with an amazing line up, to raise funds for Focus Ireland. I’m also showcasing in Brighton at the Great Escape festival!
Social media is a JUNGLE, where are the best places to keep up to date with your musical whereabouts?
Follow me @aimeemusictiktok on TikTok ;-)
Lastly, there are MILLIONS of acts out there, please share a few with us that you are currently grooving to?
I’m listening to a lot of Post Malone lately! I love Mimi Webb, and got to support her in Dublin last year. And there are so many amazing Irish & Swedish artists on my playlist – including Erica-Cody, LOVA & Moncrieff.
We’d like to thank Aimée for sparing her time to chat to us and we wish her all the very best for the future. If you’re heading to The Great Escape Festival, make sure you keep an eye out for Aimee as she’ll be performing there! For everything else, her socials are below.