Our Play Irish Artist of the Week on Beat Breakfast is Aimée with her new single 'Just A Phase'.
Having tucked herself away over the past year and a half, the talented singer songwriter took time to reflect on her journey and successes to date, while also taking a deep dive into her next wave of creative aspirations. With this in mind, Aimée teased ideas with long-time collaborator Richey McCourt and decided a fusion of Irish-Swedish influence would be the magic ingredient for their next creation, and Swedish writer Nick Jarl was the perfect fit.
Aimée says “Working on ‘just a phase’ was a completely different experience for me. In the past I had felt a need to identify myself through my lyrics, to establish who I am with the listener. Which I think we did effectively, especially with the last EP. But I felt this time round I needed to be free enough to write in a more fun, sensual, and light way. I adore that late 90s sound of Britney, NSYNC – the pure unadulterated pop of it all. So, it made perfect sense to work with a Swedish writer on this song. Myself and Richey McCourt, who I co-wrote the last EP with, wanted a very no nonsense, pop focused writer in on this one with us. There’s something very ambitious about how Swedish pop writers write, and Nick (Jarl) was the perfect person to bring that magic. I love that this unique Irish / Swedish collaboration has resulted in what I feel is my most determined & focused sound yet. The song is all about that intense, charged stage of any romance, where it feels almost obsessive and all consuming, despite your best efforts to not let it take over.”
“It feels like a fresh start coming back with new music at this particular point in time. I feel I’ve gained a maturity as a writer and as a woman through what was a trying time globally, and personally too. All I want to do ultimately is entertain. That might sound like a cliché, but pop music should do that – it has the ability to cut through the noise and just transport the listener for 3 minutes. The music I’m writing now feels like me embracing all that I love about pop music and it’s place both in the world, and in my personal history.”
Not one to stay creatively idle, Aimée teamed up with and featured on, international Grammy nominated DJ, Sonny Alven’s Summer release, Shut Up And Dance last June. She also remained very active with the incredibly successful Irish Women In Harmony from conception in 2020 right through to their last release of a stunningly reimagined ‘Only A Woman’, just last July.
