Born in Rwanda, Amery was raised for many years by his grandmother, surrounded by women in a very strict and religious environment where pop culture was seen as an enemy of traditional values. It didn’t stop him from falling in love with music after discovering Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean video on MTV, a passion that the matriarch of the family eventually accepted and nurtured, exposing him to drums and piano from a very young age. But while showcasing his gift, another voice was always resonating in his head: the one whispering that he was different.
Following his arrival in Belgium at 12, the singer discovered new cultures and communities, and found more ways to express himself. Determined to find a home for his talent, he actively reached out to recording studios and production companies before crossing paths with the record label Weird !s Good, where he got a chance to develop as an artist surrounded by a passionate and understanding team. The connection with producer James Lowland was immediate. Together, they worked on a series of pop gems infused with some urban and exotic flavours that Amery started to release in 2017.
Gathering more than 2,5 millions of streams in total on Spotify, his first singles received many accolades from national radios but also from Sir Elton John on Beats 1 and worldwide publications such as ELLE France, PopCrush, Popjustice, EARMILK, OkayAfrica and Buzzfeed. Named an Artist to Watch both by Belgian and British press, the 22-year-old spent a big part of 2018 on the road, performing in festivals and at the renowned venue Ancienne Belgique, but also returning to his roots in Rwanda where he hadn’t set foot in 10 years. Reconnecting with his family, his past and his culture led him to a better understanding of self. After feeling like an outsider for most of his life, in a black community where men are expected to act tough, he decided it was time for him to learn to accept his singularity and embrace his feminine side.
With his new single Never Growing Older, Amery aims to finally get this off his chest. Produced and arranged by James Lowland, the track is a conversation with himself, debating with his thoughts, his fears and all the society rules that can hypnotize and restrain. It’s about these urges in your head that won’t grow older, no matter what people say: they’re within you because they’re a part of you and they’re here to stay. You should therefore embrace them with love and pride. “This song is about me taking back control after battling with myself, and my fears, for so long. I wrote it while having a rough time trying to figure out who I am, burying and changing some parts of me. I came to the conclusion that I could never change who I am.
All the things I have been through, the struggles and the achievements, make me who I am today. I’m that shy, young man who loves a good falsetto, ‘80s funk, pop culture, and androgynous fashion. I’m sensitive and have a strong female energy. I can’t escape these parts of me: they’ll be with me forever. These are not weaknesses but strengths. These don’t make me weird but beautifully unique. Embracing that gives me the confidence I need, which doesn’t always come naturally to me. I hope I can inspire others to not be afraid to be themselves in return and to undergo their own journey of self-acceptance.””
