The Skinny On... AMUNDA
Singer, songwriter and pop producer extraordinaire, Amandah Wilkinson, aka AMUNDA, takes on this month's Q&A, and accidentally lets us in on more than one secret
What’s your favourite place to visit?
Lisbon, Portugal. The people are super friendly, it’s a wonderful city to discover and the food is amazing.
What's your favourite food?
Vietnamese beef phở – it’s warming for the tummy, the depth of flavour is rich but still fresh and noodles are the best.
What's your favourite colour?
Green. It’s the colour of nature, plants and the outdoors. For me it signifies fresh and new.
Who was your hero growing up?
Young me: Macaulay Culkin – 'cause he beat the bad guys! And teen years: Courtney Love. She was the reason I picked up a guitar tbh.
Whose work inspires you now?
There are so many! In general I love how magical the Ghibli world is, I like to get lost in fantasy and have my head in the clouds. Anything and everything that Yukimi from Little Dragon top-lines/touches – she’s an incredible top-liner, singer and songwriter. And my amazing friends! I feel like I have so many incredibly talented pals who make music and art – some of those include Elijah Kashmir, Anaïs and Maria Lewis.
What three people would you invite to your dinner party and what are you cooking?
The lead character in Mac and Me, the one that goes flying off the cliff (for those that don’t know Mac and Me is a rip off of E.T. and totally amazing), Lady Matwara from FBOY Island and Fever Ray (in full character, obv). I’d take them to Yadgar in Govanhill instead of cooking tho, because that’s the best food I’ve ever eaten.
What’s your all time favourite album?
The Knife – Deep Cuts. When I first heard it, it was like nothing I’d ever heard before – not only the production, but the vocals as well. It started my obsession with cold, expansive tones and with Swedish musicians, songwriters and producers.
What’s the worst film you’ve ever seen?
The Age of Adeline. The male love interest was every cliché and just a terrible dickhead tbh and the whole premise of the movie was also hilarious, but I was stoned when I saw it so think that added to it.
What book would you take to a desert island?
I think I’d want some kind of happy picture book tbh or like a survival guide etc ya know?
Who’s the worst?
People that wait right outside the door of the bus/train and don’t move when you need to get out.
When did you last cry?
Today when I watched a video of a baby penguin with no mother be accepted by another penguin family.
What are you most scared of?
Feeling lost in life – cause it brings everything you don’t want to face to the surface.
When did you last vomit?
The last time I had a dinner party with John and Ollie from Bossy Love. Ollie is an amazing storyteller and was telling a funny story and I laughed so hard that I threw up. Was gross and I can’t believe I told you.
Tell us a secret?
The last one was kind of secret, but also Eric from The Little Mermaid was my first crush.
Which celebrity could you take in a fight?
Oh my god, I don’t know.
If you could be reincarnated as an animal, which animal would it be?
A panda, solitary creature, likes to chill in the forest and snack on bamboo.
As AMUNDA, you have an EP on the way – what can we expect from that?
It’s an EP full of love songs, I’m in my love song era. So expect big bouncy drums and basslines as usual, sparkly synths and lots of sweet somethings.
You’re playing at Kelburn Garden Party this summer. What are you most looking forward to about returning to our stage this year?
I’m excited to soak up the atmosphere again, I feel like it’s the most welcoming crowd at this festival, so I am exciting to do a sing whilst the sun is going down.
Finally, in honour of this being our Pop issue: What's your most favourite moment in pop history?
When Blu Cantrell had her moment, those were some hits. ALSO, that entire era of pop was incredible, the 2000s, and every video looked like it was filmed inside a cheese grater and was future Y2K vibes. Also Sisqo’s one magical note 'yeaaah ehhh yeah' – you know the one!
What’s your favourite pop breakup song?
Call Your Girlfriend by Robyn. It just hurts so good.
AMUNDA plays Kelburn Garden Party, Kelburn Castle, nr Largs, 1 Jul
Follow AMUNDA on bandcamp and Instagram