Between Amber Malone’s lines

Raw passion for music is gradually getting hard to come across in times where the music industry could be profitable. There are many independent artists who create great music and blend many genres together, each creating their own flare and immersive world for listeners to dive into. I have discovered a very diverse, creative, personal, genre-bending artist performing at an open mic and was awed at her soothing voice and piercing lyrics. The way she is able to sing a slower melodic song and a hyper-pop song whilst still having her identity shining through is impressive. If you need a fresh playlist, then Amber Malone has a catalog that will serve.

Since Amber is fluid in multiple genres such as Hyper-pop, Acoustic and RnB, I wondered ‘are each genres reserved for specific emotions and lyrics?’ So naturally, I started listening beyond the instrumental and tuned into her mind; Her state of mind when writing these songs. 1st January 2026, Amber released a single, ‘Care 4 U’, an upbeat RnB song with heavy lyrics describing a past relationship, exploring themes of personal hurt, self-worth and growth. This song impacted me because I can hear both pain and understanding in the lyrics and feel the honesty of being at a crossroad mentally. She poured out her heart on this track. This is my favourite song from her. I had the pleasure of interviewing Amber about herself as an artist, her process behind creating her hits and (ofc) diving behind the lyrics and straight to her thoughts when making Care 4 U. Read onto what Amber has to say:

When did your passion for music and songwriting begin ?

I really can’t remember a time where I wasn’t passionate about it. I used to write songs on the back of my school books. I used to come downstairs as a toddler and perform ridiculous songs and dances to my family. It’s just sort of always been there for me. I guess it’s just how my brain operates.

When you songwrite, do you write before finding the ideal instrumental or the other way around?

Almost always beat first. I freestyle predominantly. I like to let the music speak to my subconscious. To properly feel the music and then go from there. There’s no right or wrong way of doing it when people ask me my process especially when they are new to making music I always make it so clear that it’s literally whatever feels most natural to you personally.

Do you have specific creative period in your day to songwrite?

It completely depends on what’s going on in my life. Even the season impacts it. I could wake up on a hot sunny day and just feel completely creative and productive. Typically in the winter it tends to be evening just because I don’t want to waste the sunlight and it just usually takes me longer to feel that motivation. So a lot of factors go into it to be honest. But overall I’m always freestyling. Always romanticising and I don’t find it hard to find inspiration everywhere.

Do you write based on your life experiences?

Yes, always ! I like to portray the emotion through either past experience or through connection. Everyone has multiple versions within themselves and I really like to play around with that notion. Sometimes writing through someone else’s eyes. I mean you’re a bad guy in someone’s story just as much as you are the centre of someone else’s life.

I noticed you paint and make beautiful art, could you describe your art style and does it connect to your style of music ?

I love any art form to be honest and like most creatives I’ve never been one to box in my internal creativity. Whether it’s writing, painting, music, dance, directing, editing. I feel like creativity is a ball inside of you that builds up and needs a release. I think each avenue has a different form of that. It’s hard to put my self in a particular box for what the style is because it’s genuinely just what I’m feeling when I look at a canvas. Or when I hear a beat.

Care 4 U came out 1st Jan, the song mainly reflects on personal hurt as well as self-worth, love and growth, would you say that those themes are going to be highlighted throughout more songs later this year ?

Conscious thoughts and way of thinking to me is ever evolving. It’s like shape shifting it just never stays the same. At the time I wrote care 4 u I was painfully aware of hearing what you want to hear from someone rather than what they are actually giving you. Almost filling in the blanks to create a picture that saves you from hurt. I went downstairs to my producers room and woke him up at 5am like what beats do you have I need to talk about this. It was something I realised heavily about a situation I was in and everything sort of clicked in to place. I can’t necessarily say it will or won’t come up again. It depends whether that’s a topic that resurfaces within my life or not.

There’s a big power shift in your lyrics between your last single, ‘Feel Nothing’, and ‘Care 4 U’, what was your thought process when moving from one song to the other?

Again there wasn’t really a thought process behind it. It’s more just different versions of my character or rather different phases of the processing stage. One being more vulnerable and numb and the other being slightly more aware. But I have 100s of unreleased songs and feel nothing was made ages ago but it felt right last summer as that feeling resurfaced as I think it does for a lot of young people. Almost feeling directionless and hurt.

You included a short spoken word section in Care 4 U, would you include more sections like that in the future and/or would you create short films based around your music?

I’m a sucker for voicemails, samples, talking etc I think it adds a layer of texture but obviously it’s balance. It’s not right for a lot of songs. But when I feel it is I’m on that straight away. Yes yes and yes I love reading and writing that’s a proper passion of mine and I’ve already started working on some stuff surrounding short films but I won’t speak on that too much yet !

When you write, do you have an elaborate plan per song? like do you create a world around the release or do you let the music speak for itself?

This is a super hard question because I think it’s almost a bit of both and completely dependent on the listener. I could write something that means something to me and someone can listen and mold it to a personal experience that wasn’t how I necessarily intended, I mean that’s the beauty of art I think. I definitely naturally promote the song in the style I see it. So if it’s sad and vulnerable it’s gonna be geared more towards nature shots or solo shots representing that lonely feeling. But I mean you can find loneliness everywhere so even filming in a busy street in London singing emotionlessly can portray that image equally. So yeah I think it’s just a bit of both.

Are you interested in creating concept music?

I think concept music is incredible and again I love to try everything. I’ve made a few unreleased eps that have a complete concept running through the whole thing. However I’m not at a place in my career yet where people are going to fully tap in to that how I’d want them too. So I think timing is a massive element. Right now I’m almost under audition for people. Dropping singles and aiming to catch people who one day will be familiar enough with me that they trust the music enough to really sit and understand a tape.

Inside The ‘DAM Bar!

Amsterdam is known for many other privileges where you can laugh, dance, drink, relax; but down a slim side street near the Centraal Station, will lead you to the whispers of a Jazz Bar.

The secrecy of a Jazz Bar feels like luxury, a bar-sized bite of heaven. Jazz flows the same across all countries, each soul connected to each note, adding flare, almost electric to the touch.

Well I felt electrified, after I stumbled in the Jazz Cafe Alto expecting nothing but a great night!

Jazz is the only genre that stands firm despite the amount of audience. I’d personally feel comfortable when listening to Jazz no matter how big/small the audience, because Jazz takes you to it’s world. A world of expression, freedom, chaos, softness and rapid; where it’s just you and Jazz. The less the people, the sweeter it sounds, the more the people, the sweeter it feels. Jazz Cafe Alto had the perfect balance. Walking into the bar was an experience close to the 1940’s, everyone is welcoming and feeling some sort of love.

A stage was set, intermissions in between sets allowed for like-minded people to easily slip into conversations. The music was mesmerising, always leaving you wondering where the next note jumps to. Some Jazz players and even Jazz bars maintain a levelled atmosphere, enchanting the audience with soothing, smooth blues and soul, occasionally sprinkling a few funky highlights throughout the piece. BUT the musicians at Jazz Cafe Alto were experimental geniuses! The silent conversation between each musician’s eyes was satisfying to watch, as they led us on a wild journey through their minds, syncing as one, feeling as though I was riding a rollercoaster.

I loved how within each set, every musician had a moment to freestyle and add their own jazz to the piece. Jazz is a free flowing genre, unlike other genres, the time structures/signatures are widely flexible which means that instrumental breaks usually have an extended amount of freestyles. Song structures are also loosened opposed to the rigid Chorus-Verse-Pre-chorus-Bridge song form.

A singer performed a set with the live band, gaining each listening ear in the room. Scatting away; harmonic sounds and positive frequencies running through my body, influencing me and my cocktail. Encouraging, warmth emotions, persuading me to open and connect with musicians and the surrounding audience members!

The drinks were kept classic on the menu, as the music was the speciale. I wouldn’t have thought that a Monday night would be vibrant and lively! The experience of raw passion and talent is drawing, regardless of the night’s presence.

I always aim to find a piece of my heart in every city I travel to, and today, Jazz Cafe Alto has called me in!

To reflect

• When you travel, what helps you feel truly connected to a city—its people, its hidden corners, or the moments you never planned to find?

• How do shared experiences, like live music, shape the way you connect with strangers in unfamiliar places?

  Music is the universal language, filtering throughout every step of your walk, slightly adjusting your tune everyday. To read more about it, check into our blog ‘Music: The Universal Language Of The World’ written by Elizabeth Estell.

Blog written by Shaquilla 20/01/26

‘Off-Stage Cues’-Africa Blagrove

Stage management is one of the most important but quietest jobs within theatre. The role requires responsibilities that pulls the amazing theatre show that you all watch!

On the 21st of October, I held an informal interview with Africa whilst she was working on the show ‘Not Your Superwoman’ at The Bush Theatre in Shepard’s Bush as the ASM, (Assistant Stage Manager). This show captured the themes of motherhood, healing, struggle and hope, portrayed by Golda Rosheuvel and Letitia Wright.

Africa Blagrove

Africa Blagrove ventured into the performing arts industry as an actress, later striving as an Assistant Stage Manager professionally. Hints of administration glimmered when we were both in College, preparing for our final show of the year, ‘Annie’ , where the cast were assigned multiple roles in the making & managing of the musical. Africa was at the right hand of the director, cutting the script and managing props. She later scored a work placement with the Bob Marley musical, ‘Get Up!, Stand Up!’ which further sparked her light within Stage Management.

On the 22nd of January 2025, Africa started a TikTok account, sharing content all about BTS as a Stage Manager. This opened doors for many aspiring ASM’s and SM’s to flood to her comments and ask about her journey through the industry. As I have said before, Stage Management and many other BOH professions are often the most quiet roles behind the glitz and glamours of the actors on stage, performing. Africa has shared the insights of life as a Stage Manager and what her responsibilities include such as prop-making.

Many of her audience, including myself, was found fascinated by her creativity when crafting various props across most of her shows! Props are what brings the performance from imagination to life and Africa prides in creating realistic pieces that holds the weight of the message the story proposes. On her TikTok page, she showcases the process behind the finished & polished props from the very beginning, filming how it all started weeks before the show hit the main stage. This is more than just a job, this is love and passion.

Expanding the world of Stage Management, Africa, as well as myself, was invited to a talk panel on creative careers during Black History Month, hosted at/by Reading University. She shed light on her upbringing within the creative industry as well as her hurdles and barrier-breaking as a black woman in the industry. Roles like Stage Management were predominantly filled with white professionals, even on occasions where a play would be written based on ethnic cultures. Africa humbly continues to take up space within these areas and providing access to young creatives, letting them know that they can be who they want to be, it is not impossible and someone has to be the first to break it, so it might as as well be you.

The questions I had prepared for Africa, are some of the questions you may have been pondering yourself :

• Tell me about where we are! Which theatre and what show?

• How are you liking this show?

• What is your favourite show you’ve worked on?

• Could you give us a little tour of your backstage work station?

• Is prop-making a part of a Stage Manager’s duty?

• Can you count how many props you’ve made from the beginning of your career to now?

• I’ve noticed that you document on TikTok about creating props and running shows, can you tell me more about that?

• Would you say you’re a content creator?

• Do you see yourself continuing your profession as Stage Manager in 5 years?

• What is something that is not commonly known about Stage Management?

Africa’s response is up now on our YouTube Channel, as she gives us a tour backstage on the Bush Theatre’s ‘Not Your Superwoman’!

Want to discover more? Visit our ‘Dscver The Magic Within’ page to get to know other inspiring, creative independent artists who have made big movements in their careers this year and are thriving for more next year! Find them on our Artist Highlight.

Artist Highlight!

The year 2025 is almost over and the music industry had some pretty big movements. There has been new artists, artists on the rise and much more flowers to give to the elders of the industry! Let’s give our praises to the women of the UK music industry! They are killing it and raising a sisterhood for female artists to come!

In due of Black History Month, this post is a highlight and sign of encouragement to all the artists out there who are black and POC to keep pushing and the world will notice and appreciate you.

PinkPantheress took the UK electronic scene and ran with it! As she has huge collaboration with various artists, in the UK and overseas. Loved for her soft voice, addictive rhymes and melodies and her overall touch in the music scene, her hit sensation, ‘Boy’s A Liar Pt.2’ featuring Ice Spice, won the Song Of The Year Award at the Rolling Stone UK Award in 2023 and peaked number 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and on the Billboard Global 200! Pink is on a climbing momentum, currently touring North America WITHOUT her handbag! She has grown to be a master of her stage, stunning us with her stage-presence, choreographies made by Luam Ky. Not to mention she has a great sense of humour! Check out her Instagram for unique, quirky and beautiful teasers for her album ‘Fancy Some More?’, a re-imagined version of her previous mixtape called ‘Fancy That’.

Natanya is coming up hot this year! Building a strong fanbase called ‘Felines’ (I believe), she is the most captivating on stage, inspired by Greats Of All Times such as Michael Jackson, D’Angelo and more. You can hear those influences with her alt-pop, RnB flow with a honeyed, velvety voice and her irresistible dance moves! Natanya’s music videos are captivating as she takes the listeners on a whirl inside of that song. She is fully present within her craft, you can hear it and see it! She has been on tour with girl group FLO, PinkPantheress, Mereba and soon with Ravyn Lenae, leaving a mark in the audience’s mind, craving for her climb from opener to headliner. She knows who she is and what she came to serve. Watch out for her and join into her world, she has 3 projects released: 'Sorrow At Sunrise’, and two-part ‘Feline’s Return’.

Krystal Lotus is an upcoming artist who is smooth in the genres of soul, ballad, RnB, a very dynamic and versatile singer/songwriter. She has unique tone and melisma, in her 2025 single, ‘Toxic Masculinity’ she has beautiful layers that are angelic and soft and often would have a slight slide crescendo whilst singing lyrics that are contradictory to how she sounds! Krystal’s texture in this songs resembles Solange’s vocal textures, in my opinion. Soft and sharp in a beautiful, admirable way. Krystal Lotus pans to Jazz seamlessly in her song ‘Push Over’ with a band with a more firm chest voice, in a staccato melody, showing off her riffs, runs and scale climbs and simply just how great she is! She slides up into a higher register after her chorus where her elegant melismas flows through, taking the listener on a journey. Listen to this song with your eyes closed and feel the journey she takes you on. I specifically love when she allows the band’ s mystic and enchanting instrumental to take over, adding hints of bongos throughout those bars, giving that Caribbean element. Speaking of Caribbean, Krystal Lotus is a Jamaican woman! (periodt) she showcases that side of her on songs like ‘Don’t Criticize it’, a head-bopping reggae self-liberating song filled with Krystal’s voice in a radio-esc, hypnotising chest and head voice. She is awesome! Take some time to put on some Krystal Lotus, she will cater to you!

FLO! The most popping girl group out right now! Flo is going world wide with their incredible music and stage performances! They are the essence of RnB, from the music production, to their vocals, to their style, to their lyrics, to their public appearances, they are always on brand! They are currently on their ‘Access All Areas’ tour that they started earlier this year in April, where they toured the US and now Europe. Access All Areas is a storyline that is in the perspective of a musician who is on a journey of love with someone from beginning to its unfortunate end. Each song has a fresh vibe and feeling, showcasing all of the member’s vocal acrobatic layers and runs. Each song from this album has a very full round sound where you leave astonished each time. From Renee’s beautiful lower-chest voice and textured head/mix voice with her sleek dance moves to Stella’s flowy, sensual, strong vocals and her feminine and sharp moves and ending at Jorja, a powerhouse with her grand and graceful vocals! She has an excellent range and belts with ease. All of the ladies are phenomenal and gorgeous and I cannot wait to hear more of them! Their voices are ear-candy and irresistible to praise. I would like to see a different side to them, maybe alternative themes that may be more personal.

9Days is making her way up through (but not limited to) the Neo-soul music scene. She is magical with her music with graceful tones and complex, groovy layers, sending the listeners through a medley of sonic thoughts as she faces the variety of life. 9Days recently opened up to us about her experiences in living within the world’s standards and perceptions on African women and POC women. Her debut album, ‘African Girls Do Cry’ explores the themes of healing, defiance, femininity, honesty and liberation. She has unique melismas that you’ll catch yourself humming, she incorporates her soft, rhythmic, twangy, smooth chest and mixed vocals into the instrumental, taking control of the melody, enhancing the listening experience. 9Days is a joy to watch when she performs. She always share sweet, personal stories that are behind her well-known songs and she is always laughing and telling jokes!

Raye is finally reaping her flowers after 11 years in the industry! She has fully settled into her niche which resembles the essence of Amy Winehouse with flares of Ella Fitzgerald. Raye’s success and creativity blossomed after she became independent, following her debut album ‘My 21st Century Blues’ which gained viral success after the world fell in love with her hit song ‘Escapism’. This song became her first UK no.1 single and she then entered on the U.S Billboard Hot 100. In March 2024, Raye made history at the BRIT Awards, winning six awards including album of the year, songwriter of the year and best song for ‘Escapism’. Raye is simply FANTASTIC! She has an extensive vocal range and has a unique twang that perfectly suits for Jazz and she always adds a lil more of her modern touch of RnB to her songs, catering to a wide audience who enjoys both genres. Her newly popular single, ‘Where is My Husband!’ has been released a month ago, capturing everyone’s attention to her catchy dance, her tongue-twister lyrics and to the amazing, intricate production of her vocal acrobatics. I am excited to see her go further, I am also interested to see her scat on her songs!

Immerse in the world of BINA. who opens up about her raw, truthful, painful, beautiful, soothing, navigations through life as a black woman. She mixes Neo-soul, Alt RnB, Jazz to create a wonderful, layered fusion. Starting out in 2019 with her debut EP, ‘Humble Abode’, BINA. has a beautiful and detailed way of portraying the sub-layers of her songs through visuals and music videos. She has a buttery, smooth, deep, sultry voice that reveals gorgeous harmonies and relatable lyrics for like-minded people who are upon the same journey. Her songs are a virtual hug. Her latest EP, ‘Chaos Is Her Name’ is a year old but forever fresh and palatable. BINA. explores themes of self-discovery, self-validating, self-medication through her own music. She presents herself back to her past self or inner self with pride, to prove how much she has survived and how much she has achieved! BINA.’s discography is very real and vulnerable. Every project is another layer of her ingenious, creative mind. Did I mention that she is currently on tour with Little Simz?! It is an experience, a journey, a world. Keep your eyes on her, she is here to stay!

KWN. Incapable of making a bad song. She has flooded the UK RnB scene with her sensual, vivid, bedtime jams, rising towards fame with her (one of many) hit song, ‘Worst Behaviour’. Kwn is a super talented producer, singer and songwriter who pours her heart out on every track. She has a smooth and articulate voice and has beautiful range on her riffs and runs. Kwn possesses the ability to make us sit at the edge of the seat, eager to hear next snippet of a new release or for more teasers like the flirtatious music video performed with Kehlani for ‘Worst Behaviour’ ft Kehlani, leading up to their steamy kiss! Kwn has been on tour with Kehlani which then struck off her own tour later down this year! Kwn shares the same classic RnB essence that Tory Lanes, Kehlani, Leon Thomas III has, making listeners fall in love with her unique and satisfying melismas and ad-libs. She is also super cool, her style is streetwear, a little 90’s coded and that London flare. Kwn dabbled into moody soul with her single ‘Lord I’ve Tried’, opening up a different, personal side to her. The song is about struggles she may have had with glimmers of hope in carrying on. Kwn is fantastic and will continue to shine within the music industry !

QUILLA. is a force to not be underestimated! Starting her music career in 2023 with her RnB single, ‘Alone’, a moody head-bopping self-declaration, that is the catalyst of her career. Since ‘Alone’, QUILLA. changed directions with the genre and themes she wanted to pursue. From sad RnB and melodic rap to high-vibrational Neo-soul and Psychedelic Jazz, she aims to use music as an outlet to express her wants, manifest, to self-praise and show-off her confidence to herself as a way of healing. Her debut EP, ‘ReBirth’ explores themes of love, in different ways, ranging from self-love to romantic love to love of nature and the world we all live in. QUILLA. has a soft yet powerful voice that resonates within her chest-voice, often teasing her wispy falsettos. With every release, she presents her world of theatre. She creatively pairs the vibe of her debut EP with historic time periods, relating to the women who shares the same emotional feelings. “For ReBirth, I was inspired by the roaring 20’s where women fought back after complying with the standards that society forced upon them for an unacceptable amount of time. Such as racism for being a black woman, control over our bodies in which I felt compromised and used with mine, undermined to be default and a lot more. I adored how they rebelled, smoked, drank, dressed as they liked and had the most beautiful aura from it. They broke what seemed impossible for women today and I’m here to break those even further. I discovered that music is the most valuable connection to myself, my full self where I am able to hug and soothe and critique myself and my life whilst healing my inner-child. I make songs that I know I can rely on when times are rough or don’t seem possible. My songs are letters to my past self and an echo to my future self.” QUILLA.’s path shines in a different light to a conventional musician. She extends her message from more than music and into entrepreneurship, creating a music blog website called InbetweenTheirLines! (here!) She created this business to shed light onto other upcoming independent musicians as the music industry faces rapid changes with additions of modern technology. She welcomed music lovers and musicians to this music haven to ‘yap’ about music, authentically, no drama (unless it’s in the music). She is really cool and innovative, keep your eye on her!