Check Out Aminah Pope’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Aminah Pope.

Hi Aminah, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Growing up, I have always been interested in singing. It started from my mom putting me in my first musical “Princess and the Frog” at The Pullum Center and from then I fell in love with music. I continued to do musicals mostly throughout my childhood, as well as singing performances on the side where I’d sing often at church. Once covid happened, I didn’t sing as much. That was until my school introduced choir in my 10th grade year. From then, I regained my passion for music and conquered my anxieties with singing. I met the most amazing people and even did my first performance of a song I wrote on the guitar. Over the last year, I have picked up producing and after working on my project for a year I was finally able to release my first single ‘Would I?’.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Growing up within American society, I had felt pressured to conform to European beauty standards. It wasn’t always like this though. I was constantly taught by my mom to love my blackness. To love my caramel colored skin, my thick curly hair. However, I could not be shielded from what the world viewed of me. Within middle school is where I began to realize that. People would make comments saying that “my hair was too short” or “my hair looked like a bush”. I’ve even been mistaken for a boy due to the length of my hair. It felt as if due to being a black girl, my femininity was being stripped from me. Everyday I would walk through the halls comparing myself to everyone. Comparing my skin, my nose, the length of my hair. I constantly felt unworthy of any love. Even transitioning into high school I kept that same mindset. I felt as if my blackness was not worthy of being loved. Especially during covid, with beauty standards online going through the roof, I felt I would only feel beautiful if I was white. Thankfully, I have grown out of this toxic mindset, however it is something I can occasionally struggle with. Sometimes I do wish I had long flowy hair and I didn’t deal with shrinkage. But then I remember how unique my beauty is. How beautiful each and every individual curl on my head is. How gorgeous my caramel skin is. It can be hard growing up as a black girl within this society, but within music I want to remind black girls/women how beautiful and capable they are.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a producer, singer/songwriter, and a guitarist. I am mostly known for being a singer due to it being a staple within my life. I would always sing whether at school events, church, or just within my own space. I have always felt a burning passion for becoming a singer. I picked up the guitar within my freshman year of high school and within so, I have been able to craft many of my own personal songs. Last year I picked up producing and started working on my current single around a year ago. Firstly, within singing, I am most proud of getting out of my comfort zone. Before I started singing within my school choir, I had quit music due to insecurity and feeling as if I was not good enough. However, joining choir allowed me to get out of my comfort zone and regain my passion. Within the choir, I attained multiple choir solos and fought through my fear of being on stage every time. Within producing, I am most proud of my most recent single. Before making this song, I had never produced despite having written songs for 5 years now. I’ve been wanting to record my music for so long and I finally did it. What originally started out as a school project turned into my first staple as an independent artist. Since I originally only completed my song for school, I wasn’t planning on releasing it however, one experience changed my mind. Within my school I took Media Production and made a music video for my senior project. Since it won “Best Music Award” it was screened to my entire graduating class. After it was screened, multiple black girls within my class had come up to me expressing how powerful my song was. One even saying “Everyone heard the song, but us black girls heard it on a deeper level” which really stuck with me. Hearing all the positive words from my classmates really drove me to release my music. It reminded me why I create music, to give voice to those who need to be heard. Another one of my proudest moments is being able to pursue my biggest passion of music and film by studying at UC Berkeley. So that is what I am most proud of within my work.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
One of my first mentors is God. I feel that growing up within the church I was able to find my voice and all my blessings and opportunity within music is provided by God. All the times I’ve been tempted to give up, or back out of performances, God has given me the strength to get through and to pursue my biggest passions.

I would say my family is another one of my biggest help. At 10’clock at night I’d be knocking on their doors asking for feedback about my music and they would always support me and provide. My mom has always encouraged me to pursue music and has been one of my biggest supports within my music journey. My little brother was also a really huge help. All the scenes I couldn’t film on my own within my music video, he was there to help me and I will forever appreciate that.

Another one of my biggest mentors would be my Media Production teacher Mr. Clarke. Within my song, I filmed the majority of my music video, so he was a big help in providing support for this project and giving me amazing feedback. He encouraged me to get out of my comfort zone and to create something I have never done before. Without his class, I wouldn’t have had the courage to craft my music video so I am very grateful.

Lastly, my choir teacher Mr. Paraschos as well. He was an incredible mentor and always challenged me to be the best version of myself. Within the choir, he provided many amazing opportunities and I’m so glad to have had him as a teacher.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linkin.bio/minaaamusic/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/minaaa.music/
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/CeveSu_lKXU?si=sdb8Sv3QPu-BHsXM
• Other: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/mna10/would-i

Image Credits
2Nice Photography by Tracey Blackwell
Stacee Lianna Photography