Today we’d like to introduce you to Amir Abdallah.
Hi Amir, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I am a 20-year-old singer-songwriter and dancer-choreographer from Temple City, CA. The performing arts has always been a huge part of my life and impacted the artist I am today. I have been singing since I was a little boy, singing in church and performing in elementary school talent shows.
I was raised by a single mother of 4 kids and life was full of hardships for various reasons. Whether it was drug abuse and mental illness within the family, growing up within a low-income status, or witnessing the deportation process of my father; I quickly found the arts to be my biggest escape from the harsh realities at home. I was extremely involved in performing art programs throughout my educational journey, being a member of the cheerleading, dance, choir, and musical theatre programs. This allowed me to explore the multifaceted nature that I always possessed and now embrace as an artist. My mother always encouraged me to never limit myself and to do anything I put my mind to. If I wanted to sing and dance, I should be able to do both and work hard towards those dreams. So I did exactly that. I see myself as a multifaceted talent, which I am grateful for because if one talent takes a toll, I always have another to lean on. I sing, I write songs, I dance, I choreograph and teach dance, and I model. I think being multifaceted is extremely beneficial in this type of industry.
I also learned to channel all of the struggles I’ve been through and have incorporated those lessons into my work. It takes a lot to be vulnerable and it takes a lot to be willing to share these different stories with people, especially online where people have the ability to say or judge however they would like. But, I had to learn how to shift the narrative from fear to impact. Being someone who is gay, a person of color, Christian, and from a low-income household with family members struggling in drug abuse and mental illness; I realized that all of these experiences play a key role in how relatable I get to be for listeners and viewers. I’ve always wanted to be a voice for others and have always wanted to make an impact in people’s lives through my art, but you can’t really do that unless you can understand where these people are coming from. This is something I aim to include in all of my creative processes, especially within my songwriting for future projects.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’ve had a lot of personal hardships in my life, which had a great impact on the music I make today.
I was raised by a single mother of 4 kids in a low-income household. My father was in and out of prison my entire life and was deported from the country during my sophomore year of high school. I’ve had family members struggle with drug abuse and mental illness, my older brother being one of them. This may all sound pretty crazy to the average person, but to me it is necessary to have these experiences to be relatable to so many different people.
A huge battle I’ve dealt with is my self-love and identity, being someone who is Gay and Christian. The idea of being Gay and Christian is so mind-blowing to many people, and people tend to project much hate towards the idea that someone who is Gay can have a relationship with God. This topic is something that is involved in a lot of my future work and I prioritize speaking up about this topic. So much trauma stems from the church for so many people in the LGBTQIA community, and I had to learn how to differentiate people’s voices and God’s voices. People are the ones that spread hate and tell me that I can’t have a relationship with God while being Gay, but God’s voice has only ever made me feel loved and accepted for who I am and who I can be. That is the message I hope to keep spreading in my work. A journey of healing, self-discovery, and growth. Even if people don’t agree with my process.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am an independent singer-songwriter who has been releasing music for over 2 years now. My music and lyrical influences heavily draw from my life experiences and personal struggles I have dealt with, especially getting into my early 20s. What I feel really sets my music apart from other artists is that I am willing to speak on topics that may seem uncomfortable to many. From my struggles in the “hook up culture” heavily advertised in the Gay community to losing lifelong friends in my journey for self-reflection, growth and healing. I have never thought twice about sharing my stories with the public. I prioritize my truth in my music because that’s the only way to truly make an impact.
I spent so long trying to create this pop star persona and make music that I thought would be listenable and enjoyable to people. By doing this, I realized I was advertising a fake version of myself and not being authentic to the person and artist I really was. The person I aim to be. I decided that moving forward, I would really tune into the craft of songwriting, in order to paint the image I hope to portray in my music. Music that touches people and allows them to have a glimpse into my experiences and hardships. A glimpse into the memories of my love and loss. A glimpse into the person I am growing to be. This is where the true connection from artist to listener stems from.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/heyy_amir?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=6b8dca2d-4da7-41e1-aae8-f07ed8ed83fc
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyy_amir/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtbYsJ8tWxgj-eiVWcJDiMA
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@heyy_amir
Image Credits
All photos captured by: Paige Nehmzow
