In a Major Way, Singer-Songwriter AMINDI
Photography: Ambar Navarro
Photography Assistance: Maxwell Flick
Styling: Lindsey Hartman
Hair and Makeup: Leticia Llesmin
Shot @ Dusted Beauty
BTS: Natasha Hamilton
Backdrops and Tattoos: Gentle Thrills
Chanel Pearls: Cholas x Chulas
Flowers: Glorimer Flower & Co.
Interview: Isis Nicole
Suit jacket: Malan Breton
Bloomers: Serpenti
Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell
Earrings: NOÄ
Glasses: Bonnie Clyde
Singer-songwriter and YouTube star Amindi started creating her world early when she was an adolescent growing up in Inglewood, California. Roughly eight years later, what began as a countless love for arts and crafts has evolved into an alt-rom-pop music career.
Name: Amindi
Age: 21
Zodiac: Libra
Most known for: My single “Pine & Ginger” (2017), being on a popular YouTube reality show Summer Break, and a few selfies that have gone viral. In that order.
Top and Pants: Animal Crackers
Shoes: JustFab
Earrings: PK Bijoux
Ring: NOÄ
Pet Peeves:
Witnessing unnecessary rudeness, lettuce in anything but a wrap or a salad, having my sleep disturbed, dirty white Air Force 1s, movies with predictable endings, cake with fruit in it, and songs where the artist rhymes a word with the same word—excluding homophones, of course. I’ve definitely done this once or twice.
Favorite memory growing up?
My favorite childhood memory is probably being 12-years-old and figuring out that I could monetize my talents. I started a business called A.B.C., short for Amindi’s Bow Coture. I misspelled couture but that’s fine. After watching a few YouTube videos, I learned how to make hair bows with fabric and a hot glue gun. Bows were very popular at my middle school; we wore uniforms, so any loophole for personal expression was taken advantage of. I’d walk to the Dollar Tree near my house and buy multiple five-pack black elastic headbands, then I’d have my mom take me to a craft store to buy me a bunch of cool, printed fabrics. She was my first investor—a whopping 20 bucks. I sold small hair bows for two dollars and the bigger ones for three dollars. I even marketed them to my male teachers as bowties. It worked! Business was booming for a while. I had a lot of fun getting a prize—money—for doing something that I enjoyed. This new source of serotonin really created a shift in my mind and made me realize I could do this in bigger and better ways. Here’s the Instagram account that my friend & I made for it @bow_coture. I was lowkey ahead of my time.
Favorite distraction:
My favorite distraction is a bomb T.V. show. I’m a binger, I love an intriguing plot, and I love to laugh. Right now, I’m watching The Legend Of Korra. It’s really, really great. Nickelodeon did its thing with the Avatar universe.
What do you love most about creating music?
I love stringing a story together. Making a song rhyme is easy, but making a song rhyme, have a clear topic, and incorporate clever wordplay is where the fun lies for me. I love a good Tweetable-Instagram caption worthy lyric.
What do you want people to keep with them that you give as an artist?
Relatability and resonance. I believe my pocket is making songs about personal but universal topics (“Stimulus Check” produced by Wayne Chapo). I write with the intention that my listeners feel felt. I want people to hear a song and be like, “Wow, did Amindi crawl into my mind and write this about my specific situation?” I want to give reassurance like, “I have been where you are! You’re not alone, and if you ever feel like you are, here’s a song that I made just for you that you can play as much as you want to, whenever you want to.”
How would you describe your life before and after quarantine?
It’s been good throughout. I can’t complain! Just going with the motions and controlling what I can. Before quarantine, I was working at my part-time retail job and living with my mom. I had just been released from the record deal that came from “Pine & Ginger”. During quarantine, I moved into my first apartment, and I’ve spent a lot of time creating the bedroom I’ve always wanted—through whimsical furniture and, of course, DIY crafts. The day I moved in, I signed a new deal with Human Re Sources, and I’ve been doing a lot of plotting and planning for all the new music that’ll be coming out. I get sad sometimes; I’m human, after all. Through everything, I’m grateful for all the ups and downs this year has thrown at me. I’m blessed enough to wake up everyday and I can’t take that for granted.
Collar: Animal Crackers
Skirt: Phlemuns
Earrings: Beads Byaree
Have you adjusted to virtual life as a performer? What do you love or hate most about working from home?
I actually wasn’t doing many shows before quarantine. I had no new releases, and I felt too pressured to exude a specific presence. I just didn’t have it in me after a while, and I’d literally deny live show inquiries if they couldn’t at least pay my car note. Though I haven’t done many, the at-home virtual shows have been super cozy and comfortable. I’ve even done a couple from my bed! I will say this. Since releasing music during this time, I’ve definitely missed performing live and feeling the energies of an audience. Hopefully I get to feel that again soon!
What are looking forward to the most as the world opens back up again?
Honestly, I’m looking forward to the production of my favorite shows resuming. I need new seasons! I need to binge!
What are you working on next?
I have a project coming out through Human Re Sources relatively soon. I’m very excited and super proud of it!
Favorite piece of advice that has gotten you through 2020?
Back in June, in the midst of the protests and riots for Black lives, I came across a James Baldwin quote on Instagram [he says], “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” These words have kept me motivated and hopeful. Shifts are happening; waves are being made. It’s not about me. It’s about us. Until there is justice for my people, until the “for all” in the Pledge of Allegiance doesn’t exclude us, there will be no peace. Period.
Two Piece Set: Sorapol
Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell
Earrings: NOÄ
Originally published in IN #9, FW 2020/21