I recently came across A.M. Kidd after he was strongly recommended by one of you readers (we read/listen to your comments!) and have started to check out his material. But for the rest of you, old and new fans alike, you can learn a little more about him simply by checking out this recent interval he did with IAAM, a teen focused site. Head on over to their site or catch it in full after the jump.
“When people tell you that you can’t make it, they’re just scared that you will.” – AMKidd
AMKidd is our first featured artist! He’s an original Hip-Hop singer/songwriter. He overcame a lot of challenges in his teen years. iaam caught up with him to find out how he got into the niche of acoustic rap.
iaam: When did you first fall in love with music?
AMKidd: When I was a child, I watched my dad playing electric guitar, with his amp cranked all the way up, strumming chords and picking notes. He would occasionally play songs, but mostly just patterns he came up with. His face would crunch up with each note and he would look at me and say, “Did you hear that? That sounds beautiful.” I watched him play and could feel his emotions run through him and I connected with him. That’s the first time I felt that feeling.iaam: What were you like as a teenager?
AMKidd: I was a really bad kid. Especially in my high school years, I was hanging out with the wrong crowds, never attending class, and rebelling against my parent’s house rules. I was pretty much the black sheep of my family. With all the “wrong” in those years, I was an emotional wreck. I needed to find an outlet. Rather than drugs, I turned to music and writing. I can honestly say that music saved my life.iaam: What process do you go through when making a song?
AMKidd: When it comes to writing, I can’t sit down with a piece of paper and pen and just start writing. I have to be inspired. My inspiration comes from my own personal experience and reflection, and also from my friends who go through their own problems. Sometimes it takes me months to write a song because through that time of writing, I’m finding myself through that process. So when I finish a song, It means that I’ve come to a full realization of what’s going on.iaam: Is there any advice you would give to aspiring musicians?
AMKidd: I would tell them to never to stop dreaming. I started from nothing and made something of myself. Despite all of the “haters” and all of the things that can possibly work against me, I never let it take me down. Instead, I used it as a fuel for the fire. “When people tell you that you can’t make it, they’re just scared that you will.”iaam: Are there any musicians you like to listen to in your spare time?
AMKidd: I listen to a lot of artists and bands in all genres. I love music in general and I know when people are making good music and I’ve learned to appreciate it. Some of the hip-hop artists I listen to are Nas, 2pac, and a local artist named Viddy. Bands I listen to include The Killers, Postal Service, and Coldplay.iaam: Name a song you would tell new fans to listen to first. Why should they check it out?
AMKidd: I would tell my new fans to listen to “Love Rain”. It’s my most lyrical track and the beat I produced opened up a whole new creative side to my music. It’s a love song but you won’t hear any cheesy lines in there. If you could show the most beautiful person a song that would describe them in every way, physically and mentally, “Love Rain” would be it.iaam: What are some of your upcoming plans?
AMKidd: I’ve been doing a lot of acoustic YouTube videos lately with me performing my songs with just a piano behind it. I wanted to make an acoustic album, something entirely different from what most rap artists are bringing to the table. I always strive to be unique while still following what’s “hot.” I plan on playing shows on a more acoustic level rather than the conventional club scene.
a-Tunes 