Operator Please

Talent aplenty; lashings of creativity; a knack for writing catchy hooks; with a heart of gold… OPERATOR PLEASE frontwoman AMANDAH is one special lady. I first met Amandah a few years back through a mutual friend who had recorded demos for the band. On hearing those raw unmastered demos I gained an appreciation for both her work, talent and unlimited potential. Love Operator Please or hate Operator Please there’s no denying that they’re worked hard and are deserving of all their success!

What is one of your favourite sounds and what does it mean to you?

My favourite sound would have to be the sound of rain falling on your roof top at night. When rain falls it washes things away and I always associate that with washing away of the unnecessary stress & worries that I might have.

Tell me about one of your most cherished records and why it is important to you?

My most cherished record would have to The Lauryn Hill MTV Unplugged Sessions. It was a live recording of all of her songs and some songs she had done with The Fugees – just alternative versions. At the time it was said that Lauryn was going through some difficult times in her life and these recordings definitely show that. They are quiet and vulnerable which makes it amazingly beautiful and something that you can really connect with. There is so much heart in these recordings that it can move you in so many aspects of your emotions. This record I believe is the perfect representation of a “document in time” it documents completely what she was going through at the time and shows without any masking AND not to mention her voice!

Tell me about your musical history. When and how did you first become acquainted with music? When did you first pick up a guitar?

I had always loved performing as a child but grew out of it by the age of 13. I had first picked up a guitar at 12 and was learning until I came to a point where I thought that making music as a career was unattainable and something that should be tucked back into my mind. Music really hit me as something that I could indeed do when I realised there were no rules or limitations to the music you could create. It was around the age of 15 that I really started to delve in and write & record every little idea that sprung to mind. It was in this time that I had a lot of practice with writing and was making lo-fi recordings. Growing and growing through these stages I learnt so much about myself and what I could essentially what I was capable of.

You’ve toured the world! What are some of the tactile memories you have of being on tour? What are some of the sounds, smells, sights or feelings you’ve experienced while on tour?

The most memorable times on tour for me was sitting in the tour bus and staring out the window and watching scenery go by. Whilst playing the festivals and getting the opportunity to do so – the times when it hit me the most at how amazing this all was, was when I had the time to think about what was going on. Staring outside the window while driving through the country side of France is probably my favourite memory. How green, lush and bright everything was. The feeling of the sun coming through the windows and still being slightly chilled, the overwhelming sense of wonder of where it could all take you. Being relaxed and having quiet thoughts to yourself whilst looking out on a perfect landscape, knowing that in a couple of hours you will arrive in a totally different environment that is filled with people and noise.

What hopes and aspirations did you have when you first started Operator Please?

Ultimately it was about making songs and music that people other than ourselves might someday hear. We had no idea that it would take us to the places we’ve been but I think somewhere in the back of my mind it was always something that I wanted to happen. I think that since the beginning of the band until the end of the first album cycle – I had a goal to achieve and being a stubborn 18 year old I thought I knew exactly what I wanted. When I came home and realised I had attained that goal, I had to really sit down and think about what I wanted next.

After being on tour for such a long time you lose a part of yourself in it and when you get back home there is a sense of emptiness, I then came to the conclusion that I inevitably wanted something more and craved it and that is what helped me churn out the 2nd album. It’s all about being able to share the music that you love to make with people, to have people appreciate and enjoy it is a huge bonus but a bonus that will enable me to keep making music.

What do you love most about your band?

I love that we are always ourselves, I love how we are all nerds and how we get on with what’s ahead and focus. I love that we are like a family unit and I love the people that my band mates have grown to be. I also love that we just do our thing without worrying about what people might think.

You were around 17 when you first started OP, what’s it been like growing as both an artist and person in the public spotlight/under public scrutiny?

It is difficult in the beginning. You have to get to people sharing their opinions when they weren’t asked to, you have to get used to the people knowing who you are when you don’t know them. At first it was difficult but you get used to it. Ultimately you make the music you make, that is your art you don’t have time to worry about what the public think or what the public are saying. I know who I am; I don’t need anybody to tell me what I am and what I’m not.

How do you feel about your new album, Gloves?

Unbelievably happy. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I feel like we’ve accomplished everything we wanted to accomplish on this record.

What’s your favourite thing about it?

The songs. I feel like these songs are some of the best I’ve ever written. I also love how I’ve documented the moments where I’ve finally felt comfortable to show a certain vulnerability. I pushed myself to a place where I was at first extremely uncomfortable with and grew into being comfortable with it.

Tell me about the songwriting process for you this time around.

The songwriting process was completely different to the first time around. The first record was bedroom demos and written by myself in my room and then brought forward to the band when I had finished the structures, had the main parts written, the lyrics & melody completely finished. They were pretty much complete songs waiting for the finishing touches.

This time around Tim & I collaborated on the record and I broke down the wall of myself that I never did before. I used to be such a selfish writer and Tim & a couple of my close friends helped me get over that. When writing with another person it’s the most nerve wracking thing ever. Here you are in a room face to face, wearing everything on your sleeves for them to see/hear. I found I really grew as a writer when I was able to step out of my own head and bounce ideas off another person. We’d usually have pieces of ideas and we’d work out a structure to them until we had a “shell” of a song. Once we experimented with filling them out – it came time to find a melody.

We had shells of songs and I would ad lib all my melodies over the top of them, by going into a room and listening to them really loud and singing gibberish over the top of them. I’d do 10 – 15 different melodies and the ones that I didn’t find stuck in my head or singing myself I would instantly discard.

Was it challenging? (they always say writing your sophomore album can be hard as your first album usually comes from years worth of material/ideas whereas the second album is newer material/ideas). Did you feel any pressure in light of the previous success OP has had?

It was unbelievably challenging. Blood, sweat, tears and many breakdowns went into this record. We wanted to better ourselves, the last thing we wanted to do was make Yes Yes Vindictive part 2. I only really felt pressure when I thought of how the new songs were different to the last, once I eliminated the idea of people already knowing our material – the writing began to flow. I’ve learnt that we need to look at our writing as separate pieces of work, pushing forward without thinking too much about what we have previously done.

How have you felt you’ve evolved as a songwriter in the past few years?

I think I am probably more open with writing about emotions this time around. On the first record and early material I would really try and disguise my emotion and at times hide what I was really wanting to say. I think this time around I have stripped a little bit of that back, whilst I am not ready or not fully comfortable to bear all and be completely emotionally upfront in my songs just yet I have shown a little bit more of myself on this record.

I am no longer scared to let people see the vulnerable side to my writing nor am I scared to get to the point. I think that I have become a little bit more literal but not to the point that I have left no imagination for the listener. Ultimately you want to be able to have music that can connect on different levels and something that someone can associate how they feel with it or interpret it the way they want to. I think I’ve left enough blanks for someone to fill but have also steered the songs to a place where people will be able to identify the emotion without getting confused.

Do you write on the road?

I’ve never written on the road. I have written ideas but not fully fleshed out songs. I find that I need to be in a settled place to write, I need to feel comfortable in the environment and calm so I can get chaotic. I find that when on tour I need to focus on the days at hand and focus on the execution of the material but who’s to say that, that won’t change? You never really know -there are times when you find a new place you are comfortable with I just don’t think I’ve experienced that yet.

From all your travels which has been one of your favourite places to visit (and why)? Has any country had a big impact on you?

For me probably Holland. There is something super familiar about the place and I feel close to the ground (in a good way of course/in touch) I feel like I belong there when I’m there, my family used to live there when I was a child and I associate some of my happiest memories with Holland. I think because of how calm and free everyone seems to be, I don’t feel out of place there.

How long did it take you to “find your voice”, or at least be relatively comfortable on the mic?

A little while I guess in the earlier years of my performing experience. I was always a little scared of the “what if” but once you get into the swing of performing you have to really own it – otherwise you can never grow and move forward. I am always nervous, shy and a little bit stressed to say the least but when I get onstage it’s like a different element.

Do you decorate your vocal booth in the studio?

We do. Mainly with mood lighting. Fairy lights are the best to have, simple yet so enchanting. It’s like you’re in a magical place!

Who are your (current) top 5 favourite music artists and what is it you love about them?

Prince – Such a prolific song writer, not afraid to push boundaries, confused people not only lyrically but with imagery, is controversial and totally owned it. Not only writes some of the most amazing songs but self produces and performs nearly every instrument on his record himself.

Lauryn Hill – A voice like no other, someone that is capable of being vulnerable and can flick a switch and become sassy and full of attitude. Songs that can make you cry and songs that can make you dance. She has a lot of heart.

Kelis – Is the badass of female RnB that actually charts. She’s different, she has a lot of attitude and always does things a little bit left of centre.

Lisa Lisa & The Cult Jam – I love the beats of all of these songs and I really admire the fact that Lisa Lisa doesn’t mess around when it comes to vocal delivery. She holds a solid melody and doesn’t need to “trill” and do vocal acrobatics to make herself seem “impressive” – it’s all about the melodies within the songs, the melodies combined with her cool vocal delivery are strong enough to stand up on their own without anything getting too fancy.

Janet Jackson – The super low tones of her voice are my favourite. Her songs when she sings in unusual rythyms is the most interesting & appealing to me. Her low tones full of attitude, sass and slight anger without being scary or too over the top with emotion. Again another minimalist approach in the sense she doesn’t need to do vocal acrobatics to deliver something solid.

I think a lot of my love of these artists also has to do with the production as well.

Who are the people in your life that inspire you most?

My band mates, friends, family & people around me that create/have good hearts and souls. The relationships I’ve built, the ones I have and the ones I’ve lost.

I know that your sister Elvira has created art for OP releases, tell me about the relationship you have with your sister and what’s it like to work with her?

My sister is my everything. She is my best friend and to have her close is normal and natural. Working with her is very rewarding as she is so talented. She is one of the most talented people I know and I want everyone to see. Her work is done with care and comes from the heart. It’s about her being able to have a creative output without being frustrated and having to stick to guidelines which can occur when you are in a line of work that doesn’t allow your creative mind to breathe and run free. Working together allows her to do that I think. She knows us all too well to produce something that we wouldn’t be comfortable with and we all trust her completely.

What are the things that really matter to you? What are the things that make you really, really happy?

I think being a good person matters to me, being able to be myself and create what I want to create matters to me. Having people around you that are loving, supportive and have hearts of gold matters. Treating people the way you want to be treated matters. It makes me really happy when the people you love & care about are happy.

What’s one of the best pieces of advice you’ve ever received about the music industry and who gave it to you?

Always trust yourself, go with what feels right and don’t do anything for the wrong reasons, don’t let anything cloud your judgement. A good friend of mine who is also a musician. I’m not going to name them as I’ll get teary.

http://www.myspace.com/operatorplease