Meet Ampora Yazdani | GM/A&R and Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ampora Yazdani and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ampora, what role has risk played in your life or career?
When the fork in the road has asked me to choose, I have followed my heart, my passion, and purpose. I think in terms of risk these are the questions we must ask ourselves, do I love it, am I motivated to accomplish the task at hand, and am I serving just my needs or is there a larger community benefiting from my work? The 1st time I remember taking a risk was in my senior year at Fordham University. I had been interning first at Bad Boy Records in Puff’s office, then I was recruited to be apart of the start up team at J records, headed by Clive Davis. Although I was an intern the learning curve was immense and the opportunity for growth vast. However, I had run out of money to complete my Fordham University Education and I was faced with a decision. I had to leave Fordham regardless, for a few months, either to get a job so that I could save money and finish my education or to throw myself fully into my internship at J records and make a career for myself from the bottom up. My family said I should obviously quit the internship, get a job, and get my degree, It was the sensible thing to do. I didn’t know how I was going to support myself without the help of my family and continue the internship. But I knew I loved music. I also knew from the hours I already worked at the internship that I was motivated to succeed. And lastly, I knew that I wanted to help artists, songwriters and producers make great music in order to save lives, I knew personally the impact of a great song, because it had once saved my own.

The second time I remember taking a big risk was nearly 7 years later. I had accomplished all my music industry dreams. I was an A&R Executive at Sony after working my way up from Bad Boy, to J Records, Interscope and finally getting my opportunity to shine under the leadership of Kawan Prather and Lisa Ellis. Sony had a major restructuring in leadership and everyone including most of my department was let go. Sony had resigned my contract, then unexpectedly let me go a month later. I had a year’s salary at my disposal and I was faced with continuing in a business that I had loved and grown in or go to LA and pursue my dreams of being a screenwriter/writer. I again, risked what was familiar and solid for a new life chasing my dreams.

This time things didn’t turnout at all how I expected. Within a year of moving to Los Angeles, I met my someone that changed everything. The love of my life, Farhad Yazdani. We fell in love, and started a business and family. Over the next 13 years we would grow our general contracting business Clockwork Contractors, Inc and our family. We now have a 12 year old son, Obi, a 7 year old girl, Farrah, and a 4 year old girl, Soraya. However, I did wind up writing the story that I moved to LA to write, however, it turned out as a novel, that I self-published in 2018, called T.O.R.N; There’s Only Right Now.

The last and most recent time I took a major risk was in accepting the post as General Manager and A&R for a new boutique publishing company, Artist Songs Publishing. Again, my life was in a wonderful place. We have a thriving business, a beautiful family, and a budding writing career which all take an immense amount of energy to maintain. Everything was as it should be, then Jay Hennessy Washington, an old friend and colleague from my music business days called and presented an opportunity that I didn’t know I wanted in my life. However, when I looked at the risk, once again I knew I could pour my heart into this venture. Artists, songwriters, and producers have always had a special place with me. And although my plate is already full, I’m now completely fulfilled in doing this work as I take care of my family and continue to write. Sometimes to have it all, we must risk it all, but the pay off is greater than we can imagine, as long as we are acting from heart, passion, and purpose.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I think my goal as a writer is to highlight the intersection between science and spirit. I’ve had a tremendous amount of loss in my life, losing both my parents by 15. I lost the surviving member of my nuclear family 6 years ago, my baby brother, tragically and It has taught me that the stuff that connects us is far more powerful than the stuff that makes us feel alone. I want my stories to illustrate this connection.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My favorite places in LA are at or around the beach. I’d start by taking them to Zuma for sunrise. Then down to the Malibu Market for Lunch at Cafe Habana. More rest and relaxation at Surf Rider’s Beach until finally we go sit at the bar Nobu Malibu and enjoy great libations and sushi all while the ocean serenades us with the sounds of waves crashing,

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to shoutout the philosopher Neville Goddard. His book The Power Awareness and his work on the power of imagination have had a great impact on my life.

Instagram: @yazdanimami @yazdaniworks