MTV News caught up with the up and coming artist Aimery Achai to talk about his upcoming EP and single, his concert in SoHo, and the massive hype his getting. We also get to learn the about Aimery and how he ticks, this is an exclusive access into the making of a superstar.
MTV News:So your fresh off your heels from a big live concert in SoHo which was sponsored by iTunes. Your single is coming out in a week, and you just released info on an EP for a March release. And you've got massive hype around you, do you think you can live up to it?
Aimery: I try not to think about. All that hype I'm getting in a way is good because people get to know me and pick their interest. But, at the end of the day, that hype can hurt. I hate to try and live up to peoples expectations, so I try to shock them by doing something I'm not supposed to do. I mean, I may sing one type of music, but do a 360 for my next album. Everything I do has a reason, and when you look at the big picture it clicks. So if people don't like my new EP, well sorry its not what you like, but there's ten people who do.
MTV News: So you had your first big show in SoHo last week, and it was a big success. How did that come about? And where you nervous?
Aimery: Well, I have yet to release a song, but I had many of my songs on YouTube. They got really popular, and my agent managed to hook me up to perform in SoHO, these shows are sponsored by iTunes always. And the rest is history as they say. I was nervous, really nervous. It was a bigger crowd then what I was used to, and I had doubts that I could do it. But I went on stage, and everything went away. I sang C'est La Vie and the crowd loved it, everyone loved it. And of course my nerves went away.
MTV News: So your debut single "C'est la Vie" will be released in about a week. How did the song come about?
Aimery: Well, C'est la Vie is a French saying which means "That's Life", and I have always been inspired that saying. Everyone takes life for granted at some point, and we don't stop and realize how beautiful it is. We should live every once of it,and just be who we truly are. My parents didn't want me to be an artist, they wanted me to be something more useful as they called it. I hated that. I then ran off, and did my own thing. I wrote that song years ago, it was one of the first songs I ever wrote. So I thought why not record it and release it to the world.
MTV News: You said you ran off when you were younger, can you tell us a little more about that, and how you got started?
Aimery: I really hate to get that personal, but I feel like its a great story anyway. When I was like 16, I wanted to be a rockstar, so I started my own band. We started to get good, and I got real serious about it. My parents hated me doing it, they wanted me to go to college and be a doctor. Well, we got into a big argument, and I ran away and lived with friends. Until I could support myself, I bought a rundown studio apartment in New York City, and started playing shitty gigs in dirty bars. I started posting videos on YouTube, and got into the whole social networking thing. Eventually, the crowds got bigger and bigger and I got noticed by labels. Until, I was contacted by Black Tie Productions. The underground music media got crazy, and I started to get a big underground fan base. And then I was here.
MTV News: So, your upcoming EP is titled "Who's Aimery?" where did that come from? And can you tell us about the tracks on the record?
Aimery: Well I think it speaks for itself, its a little introduction to me. People always tell me stories about hearing about me and going "Who's Aimery Achai?", so why not call my EP that. Its a bit of a humorous and true title. The whole EP is a mix of sounds. There's ska, pop rock, new wave, and soft rock. If I must talk about any tracks its gotta be "I Wish They Knew", its my favorite on the record. Its acoustic, and its political, its basically real life. We all see it, I'll let the track do the rest of the talking. Another one is "Must Be Love" its a ska track, an a simple little love song. Its nice and reminds me of summer, everyone has to have a soft side.
MTV News: What release are you looking most forward to this year?
Aimery: Definitely Miss Vanity, I'm looking forward to her new stuff. There's tons more, it seems like 2012 is going to be a big year for music.
MTV News: Who do you think is going to win Celebrity Big Brother?
Aimery: Eric, the man is funny and everyone loves him. Those who say they don't secretly do.
MTV News: So they is the end of our interview, anything else you'll love to mention?
Aimery: Gee, I'll say that you guys will be in for a show, when you see more of me. You're gonna love it.
