With her album SHIFT, Amara Fe, a new and growing voice in Mission, Texas, exemplifies how ambition and artistry can live freely and fully. The project consists of 24 tracks, and it is an album, and more than an album, but a comprehensive experience crafted with ambition and energy while respecting sound.
Pop is at the heart of SHIFT, but there are vast possibilities to Amara's approach to pop. One can feel the infectious melodies and playful hooks, rhythms that feel familiar and exciting, in every song. The record is a release that invites a party, thoughtfulness, and joy regardless of an individual's taste. Sustaining momentum for 24 tracks is no easy task, and Amara uses her creative approach and stylistic versatility to maintain interest throughout the album.
Amara pulls inspiration more from music as something living than from uniquely identifiable artists. I'm inspired by music in general. I love writing and love sounds and instruments, she explains. This openness is evident in the music, which feels experimental; yet, the album connects harmoniously, feeling both welcoming and risky at the same time.
Amara's family has a musical past, which she is happy to carry on in SHIFT. On her father's side, she can trace family ties all the way back to Charlie Wilson and his brother, who were part of establishing the group The Gap Band. On her mother's side, as related to Minnie Riperton's catalog. That blend of funk, soul, and artistry resonates weakly back into some of Amara's work, though not as imitation. It is an inheritance of rhythm and storytelling, hearkening back to family from decades before.
SHIFT was recorded in Texas, within a space Amara calls her "creative love." SHIFT means both hard work and freedom in its creation. The album's length alone suggests that dedication, with its emphasis on two dozen tracks meant to be enjoyed by any ear. For Amara Fe, the message is clear: stay creative, stay calm, and create your own lane. SHIFT embodies that message in an album that entertains, inspires, and prepares an artist on a pathway for continuance.