Disney Amykaa piecing passion and purpose together
SHE IS no enigmatologist, but New York City-based recording artiste Disney Amyka is piecing together a musical puzzle, which she says will create one large picture that tells a story designed to make people feel good.
The Hawthorne Foundation (formerly the Margaret Chapman School), which was established in 1968 and has grown to serve more than 500 children and adults with autism and other intellectual disabilities in New York, was so enthralled by the artiste’s willpower and passion for lighting up a room after she performed for them last year that she is now signed on as an ambassador for its charity.
This, she told The Gleaner, is only piece of the puzzle. Disney Amyka shared that her voice is central to her taking part as a responsible citizen and contributing to the world, as many of the individuals the foundation serves do not have a voice.
“It is a wonderful charity organisation; I have chosen to support them after seeing the amazing work they are doing for children with developmental issues, in particular autism. It’s really important that I bring awareness to their work, not that I have any personal experiences, but I have the responsibility of assisting people, and having a voice – I can help to let people know about them,” she said. “For me, I started singing before I was talking. I used to listen to old-school music and gravitated to different things, and would turn things into microphones so that I could express myself. These things are significant to a child’s upbringing, but there are those who exist that don’t understand those feel-good experiences.”
Feel Good is actually the title she chose for her latest single, a R&Breggae fusion. The official music video was released on October 26.
“My single, Feel Good, does just that; it’s designed to make people feel good. I grew up around a lot of strong women, strong people who know how to put on a brave face, walk through with our head held high and feel good, even when we face adversity. Especially Caribbean people; you know we have such an energy about us that we carry, and it was the motivation behind the song. For the video, I wanted to go somewhere with the sun beaming and similar atmosphere, so we went to Florida,” she shared.
Christened Moniefa Amyka Grant, the singer-songwriter said her name was given to her by her grandparents before she came into the world. She was nicknamed ‘Disney’, as it was believed she would be larger than the cult classic attraction Disney World. She grew up in Bronx, New York, and spent a lot of time in Kingston, Jamaica, with them and her uncle, popular Billboard-charting producer Rohan ‘Jah Snowcone’ Fuller, where her reggae and dancehall influences come from.
“I got to be a fly on the wall to so many different artistes who were coming in and out of our household, and I saw the music being created first-hand. I was exposed to the business from a young age. That whole experience of being a young girl and being able to watch the amount of artistes that I did – come in and out – and working tirelessly with my uncle, seeing what they do, [and do] what they love to do … to have that freedom to create,” played an integral role in her not only wanting to pursue music as a career, but also tell her story, she said.
She remembers seeing the likes of Nadine Sutherland, Spragga Benz and Wayne Wonder record and interact with Jah Snowcone and is eager to create a legacy of her own. Already, the 24-year-old’s zeal has afforded her the opportunity to team up with music executive Joseph Conrad Robinson, a master vocal coach who boasts clientele such as Alicia Keys and H.E.R., and has worked with and developed artistes from Warner Brothers, Sony and Universal.
“As of right this minute, I’m not too sure where the next piece of it is; I’m busy rehearsing and preparing myself for the next performance, wherever that may be. Conrad is my manager; he actually donates to the foundation annually, and I thought it important I get involved too. I hope to be in Jamaica very soon, where I can share more information with the world about the Hawthorne Foundation, too,” Disney Amyka stated.
“We are currently working on my EP, which is a R&B-reggae fusion compilation. The phase we are in is choosing the songs. I will possibly release another single before the complete project. I’m super eager to collaborate in the future with the likes of Spice and Shenseea; I love what these women are doing, and Dexta Daps. His songs, Call Me If and Shabba Madda Pot, are my favourites … . What they are all doing for the culture is huge. I’m going after everything and will find every piece I need to get it together,” she continued.