Amanda Reifer is making 2022 her year, and she’s making sure it’ll be your year too. Infusing affirmations and good energy into her upbeat music, her songs are the perfect soundtrack for manifesting your goals. Her latest single “Bag,” her first release with Republic Records, is a vibrant pop song that combines a variety of genres, and it’s the perfect song to kick off your new year.
I got a chance to hop on a phone call with Amanda, and talk about all things “Bag,” her partnership with Republic, and where her career is headed from here. Even through the phone, her kindness and positivity was undeniably infectious.
Brigid Young: Hi! Thanks so much for taking the time to hop on this call with me!
Amanda Reifer: Of course! Thanks for taking the time to talk to me! The feeling is mutual.
BY: So congratulations, first of all, on your release!
AR: Thank you!
BY: This is your first release since “Shitty Day,” which was back in 2020. How does it feel to have put out a new single?
AR: I’m really excited. I’m really excited, too, that it’s with the Republic partnership. It makes me feel like I’m moving forward after working for so long as an independent artist. It’s nice to have that support, and it’s a good start for me in terms of what’s to come for the rest of the year. Just super excited about it all.
BY: Totally, it’s a great way to kick off the new year for sure. Before we get into talking about “Bag,” I wanted to ask a bit about your background in music. You started off your career as a member of Cover Drive, how do you feel your creative process is different, now as a solo artist versus being a member of a group?
AR: It’s hugely different. You know, when I was writing for the group I was writing as a voice for four. It wasn’t just my perspective as a young woman in the world, it was the perspective of the group, and the energy that we carried, and what we were trying to do. At the time we were very young, and we were just trying to write music that made you feel good. As you grow, and as you start to mature into womanhood, there are things you want to talk about that are not necessarily easily expressed within a group of guys. So, my writing process definitely evolved since starting on solo projects, and working on my own material. I feel like it gave me the avenue to really open up without having to censor much. I get to really talk about topics that are of meaning to me as a woman, and as a woman outside of the context of 3 guys.
BY: Do you feel like you have sort of a different goal or mission now with your music, since becoming a solo musician?
AR: Oh, for sure. In exploring my voice as a solo artist, I’ve found a lot of power and a lot of strength in expressing my womanhood so openly. My music gave me that experience of expressing myself without worrying if it resonated with the group members, and it gave me that power. I really want to share that feeling. When I write my songs, I want them to empower the listener. Definitely women listening, but also men! I want you to feel like there’s nothing you’re incapable of doing. That’s the energy I want to give. I also want people to understand the importance of expressing, not just the strength and the power, but also the vulnerability and softness, and the power that’s in acknowledging those parts of yourself. So for me, it’s just about pure expression, and the power behind that. I want people to be able to feel that.
BY: Definitely. Do you feel like it’s sort of therapeutic, in a way? To be able to write so authentically?
AR: Yes! Definitely. I’ve been working on this now, as a solo artist, for a few years, and being able to express myself through song in the way that I have has really helped me to grow as an individual, and to grow as a woman, and I love that, you know? I definitely feel it’s a lot more… you get a release from it when you talk from your own experience.
BY: For sure. So, “Rich Bitch Juice” was your first track to really blow up, and like you’ve said, you’ve been a solo musician for a few years now, so how did it feel to see that success after working so hard at your craft for a while?
AR: It feels great! I love that people enjoy the song as much as I do, like that song is a vision board for my life, really. It’s like an audio vision board, so to speak. It was me speaking into existence: the mood, the energy that I wanted to carry through. I love that it resonated with so many people. If someone turns it on in the morning and it gets them started in the right way, and gets them going after things they want in life, then I’ve done my job! I love that, it makes me very happy.
BY: That’s awesome! You have a really interesting sound to your music, it’s sort of a fusion of many genres. Who are some of your inspirations, when it comes to music?
AR: This is a tough question because I’m inspired by so many different things! I love old reggae artists, like Bob Marley. I’m also inspired by Gwen Stefani, in her earlier projects. I have a broad source of inspiration! I have an eclectic taste, so I pull from a lot of different things. It’s interesting, it’s not just musical artists that inspire me, it’s also films, characters in movies that I resonate with, there’s different things like that. I pull from those things. That’s just to name a few.
BY: For sure. So, let’s talk a little bit about “Bag!” Can you tell me a bit about the writing process?
AR: Yeah! So “Bag” was like a no pressure record, you know, when you’re in the studio, just vibing and not really necessarily thinking about what you’re going to write. The producer played this track and I was like, “What is that?! This sounds dope!” I don’t know where it came from, but I just kept saying this line over and over: “that bitch fuckin’ with your bag.” I loved the playfulness of the tone, it was really just me talking at first. We turned that into the hook, and then I started to craft the concept around it. I sat on it for a minute, honestly, and I came back to it and I co-wrote the verses and kind of came up with this concept of, “what does being in your bag really mean?” It’s not really just about money, it’s about being in your zone. Living your best life. Going after things you want, and feeling good about yourself. We crafted the song around that concept, to encourage people to stay in situations, in environments, and around people that help you stay in your bag.
BY: It’s a great anthem to go into 2022 with.
AR: I hope you’re in your bag!
BY: I’m in my second semester of my senior year of college, so this is definitely the time to be in my bag!
AR: Oh, perfect! You gotta get your manifestations, and your playlists, you gotta be having the best 2022!
BY: You get me! I also wanted to ask about your partnership with Republic Records, how did that come about?
AR: Well that’s really exciting too, because, you know, being with the band I was also signed with the band, and I’ve been an artist for a very long time. So for me, it wasn’t just about just getting a deal for the deal’s sake, I really wanted to partner with the right people and the right team who understood the vision. People who could create what I see for my career, you know? Long story short, I started working with Title 9, they’re amazing, and it was through Sam and Wendy at Republic that we kind of decided that Republic was the right fit. It just made sense. They got the vision, they understood the nature of the partnership, and we decided to do that.
BY: That’s amazing! So, you just put out this awesome song, the new year just started, you’ve got this partnership, what’s next for you? If you can give any spoilers, that is.
AR: (laughs) I’m actually in Miami right now shooting a video for “Bag!”
BY: Oh, no way!
AR: Yeah, we literally just landed this morning, that’s what I’m doing right now. I’m working on my album, I’m really excited about it. I’m gonna say… it’s almost finished! There’s some surprises there with that as well, I’m really looking forward to sharing. I definitely want to put my album out this year, I’m really excited about that body of work that I’ve been working on.
BY: It sounds like this is the year you’re going to be in your bag, no doubts.
AR: Girl, you know! We’re doing what we came to do this year. We’re doing the things that feed our soul, that light us up, the things that make us feel good about our life here, you know? That’s 2022.
BY: I totally agree! Well, that’s all I’ve got for you Amanda, thank you again for taking the time out of your busy day to talk with me, this was awesome and I’m super pumped for all your future projects.
AR: It was nice talking to you too! Good luck with everything you’re doing, I wish you all the best in everything you do going forward.
