Meet Aimee deBeer | Musician

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

Hi Aimee, why did you pursue a creative career?
I was a bit of a wonky child- or, at least I felt very much that way. After my family moved from South Africa to Texas, I had a hard time fitting in. In order to cope with the feelings of being a loner, I found a sense of home and solace within worlds of sound. I had a walkman and would find old cd’s at the local used bookstore and listen to them over and over again. Tori Amos, Dolly Parton, Simon and Garfunkel, and Fleetwood Mac were some of my favorites at that time. Once it was apparent that my passion for music had gotten the better of me, I was incredibly lucky to have my parents enroll me in piano and voice lessons. Later, as a teenager, I sought to create little worlds of sound myself; spaces I wanted to explore and spaces I wanted to invite others into. I feel as though my lifetime interests have been the fragile, the tender, the unknown, and the possibility.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
This is a tricky question. I believe a great deal of music comes from a place of personal rumination however, I’d like to think that my personal rumination, in particular, taps into the feeling of being alien. This can be traced back to my experience as an outsider during childhood and being called quite literally “an alien” by the U.S. Government. In the songs, you can hear samples from alien conspiracy videos as well as NASA planetary recordings.

I’m honestly most excited when a person reaches out to let me know that the little songs I make have moved them! I believe we all have alien parts to ourselves and, this way, I selfishly get to feel a sense of connection and community.

Sadly, it has not always been an easy path. Unless you have generational wealth and/or family members who are influential in the entertainment industry, the financial aspects as well as the over saturation of the music industry as it is today can feel debilitating. At a point I felt as though I had to choose between making music that’s honest to me or attempting to fit into what others saw as trendy. Ultimately, I chose to follow my instincts and take on the occasional part time job for survival. This was a huge leap of faith that, fortunately, was met by remarkable collaborators. I believe existential thoughts have helped me hone in on what’s important. Perhaps it sounds morbid, but thinking about death helps me recognize that this life thing and this music thing are about the exploration of what it means to be in awe.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I feel as though I’m out of practice due to covid. Also, so many of my favorite little spots have closed in the past years! Of the places I know that haven’t closed, I’m a fan of Melody Lounge in Chinatown and I have my own secret spot in Elysian Park that I like to venture to. I enjoy wandering around Angelino Heights and envisioning a future where I’m a homeowner in an old Victorian residence. I’m also a fan of the fish tacos from Playita Mariscos. The Museum of Jurassic Technology is important!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My parents and the strangeness of life itself! I’m also so incredibly grateful to those who have supported and championed my musical vision- especially Sean Cook and Nathan Wing. Special thank you to Grant Carey for recommending that Shoutout LA interview me 🙂

Instagram: aimeedebeer

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxrBV9_blbM

Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3c3FUUJYZOv8Le1htg2Gl6?si=TBkex1UWTTOhZP3vpMdrKQ

Image Credits
Michael Walrond, Ian Maddox, Devin Arnold