by lilith jaime
Ambre Zamor’s musical journey began at a young age, though she wasn’t really aware of it at the time. It would take several years before she would fully embrace her artistic persona, Bamby. Drawing from her roots in French Guiana and her deep admiration for Whitney Houston, Bamby’s passion, energy, and unique vibe have taken a transformative role in shaping her music, to the point of making it the core of her sound. If it hadn’t been for a supportive friend, who encouraged her to showcase her talent, she might have never played international stages.
Bamby’s music blends dancehall and Caribbean beats, yet her unique ability to sing in both French and English gives her productions a rare, distinguished flavor. Her lyrics, rich in reflections on love, daily life, and the culture of her upbringing, offer listeners a glimpse into her world. These defining traits helped her win the Female Revelation Award in 2017, as well as the title of Best Female Artist of the Year at Guyana's Victoires de la Musique Awards in 2020. Consequently, it’s no surprise that nowadays she’s regarded as one of the most influential artists in French Guiana.
After a series of EPs and singles, Bamby surprised us this year with the release of her album MUSE. While she continues to carve her path in the music industry, each ones of her projects is infused with the pride and love she feels for her essence, traditions, and culture.
What was a turning point in your life that made you realize music was what you wanted to do for a living?
Bamby: “It wasn't me, it was my friend. He said: ‘You have to be a singer because I love your voice and I think that you could be a really great singer if you show your voice to the world.’ And I was like, no, I don't think so. He said yes, you're gonna do it. And I was like, okay, no problem. And now I’m a singer and I'm so proud and so happy I listened to him.”
What are your creative processes like when making songs?
Bamby: “I want to feel the energy in the room at first, and when I feel the energy, I can do everything, every type of song. If the energy is positive, I can create great music. If I'm in a good mood, I can create, and if I'm in a bad mood, I can do so too. But it's all about energy.”
How do you balance the use of different languages in your music?
Bamby: “I don't know, it's just about the feeling. I start with a top line, always the top line first. And when I feel that I have to put Creole to feel the vibes more, I bring Creole into my music. Then I feel that I have to just bring French because of the smooth vibe. And when I follow the rhythm, I bring in English.”
When writing lyrics for your songs, do you first start writing them in one language and then translate them to the one you later sing? Or do you write them according to how you think they would rhyme?
Bamby: “I'm a fast writer because when I feel the music, and I feel the melody, it just comes so naturally. And if it's not natural, I change everything.”
Were you always drawn to dancehall music? Or why did you decide to follow that path?
Bamby: “I love to dance. I love dancing and dancehall music. It's like I can bring, I don't know, my wine in my tongue. I can transfer my wine in lyrics and in the vibes, and I want to see people dancing.”
What’s a unique feature that prevails in your music?
Bamby: “I don't know, maybe my voice, my tone, maybe the fact that they can feel that I'm happy when I'm singing. They can feel that I'm honest with my heart. I think they feel that because when people talk to me, they always say, ‘Bamby, I can feel your energy in your music.’”
To what extent does your culture impact your music and fashion? And how can we see that in your songs and aesthetics?
Bamby: “My grandmother is a fashionista. My mother, my grandmother, my aunties, they all love fashion. And in the house, we always had music on. So they influenced me with the music and fashion I grew up with. I love material, I love nails. I love everything because I grew up with a lot of colors and materials. It's in my skin, you know?”
Can you tell us about your album MUSE?
Bamby: “It’s real energy. All the songs I made, I made them with my whole heart because it was a big journey for me. It was for real. It was like a challenge for me, and an introspective of myself. I wanted people to listen to this album and feel me. They have to feel my energy, my sincerity and hopefully they can hold the love that I bring in this album.”
Aside from music and fashion, is there any other artistic way you like to express yourself?
Bamby: “I love food and I love to cook. I love this because of my grandmother and my mother. They are really great cooks. I love spicy meals, fish, and meat. Everything about food.”
Considering you are influenced by many different things when creating music, what’s something you’ve learned about yourself through your career?
Bamby: “The creative process of the album showed me that I can really bring happiness into the room. I learned that I really am a good person, because I deal with a lot of personalities. I deal with a lot of people, and even when I was tired, even when I was hungry, I had always been positive and brought happiness every time. I'm more confident now because I really know I have a good heart.”
What are your long-term goals as an artist?
Bamby: “I wanna do a collaboration with Beyoncé! Or even just meet her and talk to her. I love her, not just because she's a real singer, but because I love her resilience and I can feel that she's a really hard worker. So sometimes I'm just like, ‘Oh, I'm tired.’ And thern, I'm like, you do not even do one percent of what Beyoncé does. So girl, let's go.”
