Liverpool’s own Amber Jay has released her new single Equal, a slice of totally infectious pop that got us bouncing around the Sun 13 offices without really trying.
Equal is that most impressive of things, a pop song that has more going on under the surface than a first glance would indicate. Personally I love this kind of thing, a serious message tied up in a pretty parcel, a record that keeps on giving the more you listen to it.
Amber Jay says of the record Equal is about feeling inferior because of who you are but being frustrated at the fact, you know you only think that through consuming societal norms your entire life.
This then affects your opinion of yourself, which I think is so sad and one of humankind’s biggest failings. Within this shared frustration across so many minorities is power.
Equal also encompasses a feeling of unity and hope that between us we can at least find power within each other.”
You can see what we mean, to cram all of this into four minutes of post Billie Eilish alt-pop is no mean feat. You can listen to the single below – see if you agree with us.
Amber Jay takes to the road in support of Equal. Our advice would be to catch her now so you can boast to your friends later.
Before all this kicks off, Sun 13 asked Amber Jay 13 Questions. Read on to find out more about drunk breakfasts, genius one-liners and being ranked below the dog.
1. Where are you and what are you doing? How is that working out?
Amber Jay: “I’m currently at home sat on the couch. I’ve torn my cartilage playing football so I’ve got my leg up with a bag of peas on it. To be honest it sounds worse than it is. I’ve eaten loads of toast and spent time with the dogs.”
2. When did you last make yourself do something you didn’t want to?
AJ: “I was really ill a few weeks ago after a gig in London. I felt super nauseous and the last thing I wanted to do was get on one of those swingidy swangy pendalino trains for 2 hours. I’ve never been so happy to see Lime Street station in my life.”
3. When was the last time you laughed until you cried?
AJ: “The other night we were watching Schitts Creek and the scene where Moira does the wine commercial.”
4. When did you last get into an argument?
AJ: “I’m really bad at arguments. In the moment I freeze up and then all my genius one liners come to me the next day where I’m like ‘I should have said that!’”
5. What’s your favourite food?
AJ: “Muesli. I love the stuff. The only thing that gets me out of bed is the thought of breakfast and my overwhelming sense of feeling like I need to be productive.”
6. When did you last consider quitting social media?
AJ: “Every day. I hate it. Honestly it makes my head feel like it’s melting under a really hot lamp.”
7. What’s the best night out you’ve ever had?
AJ: “Probably back when I was in the Everyman Youth Theatre. We’d do a show and then go out drinking until the early morning. You knew it had been a good night if you wound up in a café putting away a full English still wellied at 10am.”
8. Vinyl, CD, MP3 or Streaming?
AJ: “Streaming for the convenience but I love buying the vinyl for those special records that I know every word to. The ones where you want to have a physical piece of the world the artist has created.”
9. When did you last shout at the TV?
AJ: “I was watching Vigil and Suranne Jones was trapped in a torpedo tube. It was hard seeing a national treasure in distress like that.”
10. When were you last told off?
AJ: “The other day the dog stole and ran off with my Croc and so I told her off and then my mum told me off for telling the dog off. Says a lot about where I rank in the family.”
11. What is your favourite decade for music?
AJ: “Hmm I wish I could be really cool and say something like the ’60s or ’70s but honestly it’s gotta be the ’10s for me. It’s just the music I have all those nostalgic teenage memories attached to. Not to mention I was a Belieber. All four bedroom walls were covered to the point where I had to cut a hole out for the light switch.”
12. Tell us a secret…
AJ: “I eat the crusts off my bread before I toast it. Out of impatience more than anything.”
13. Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions. Is there anything else you’d like to say?
AJ: “Thanks for having me! My new single Equal is out on now. Check it out, it’s a funky one.”
Amber Jay tour dates are:
- November 4th – Green Note London, Supporting ME & Deboe
- November 9th – EBGS Liverpool, Supporting Black Marble
- November 13th – Thornton Hough Village Club Wirral, Supporting ME & Deboe
- November 27th – Kazmier Stockroom Liverpool, Supporting Mollie Coddled
Sun 13 