“You are youngHeartache to heartache we standNo promisesNo demandsLove is a battlefield”
This is an interview with the angelic Mexican songwriter and artist Amanda Acevedo. I had never heard her name until I found out that legendary ex-Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds guitarist Mick Harvey was touring last year, with Amanda Acevedo as his ‘co-host’ and creative partner (muse?). Both created and continue to create remarkably morose, poignant, and beautiful visions to visionary tune, with a spark and electricity rarely seen in modern music.
Here, we delve into Amanda’s journey—exploring the moments that shaped her, the vision that drives her forward, and her collaboration with the iconic Mick Harvey. Join us as we get a glimpse into the mind of Amanda Acevedo and her true nature, her evolution, and formidable artistry.
Amanda, it’s an obvious question first as it’s how I discovered your music. How did you come to be making music with Mick Harvey? What’s the backstory, how did you both come together to make an album and tour, etc?
Well, it all happened after we met in 2017, when he performed in Mexico with PJ Harvey. We kept in touch and became friends, so years later we had an established communication going on. The Pandemic put both of us in a position where we couldn’t do much, he was not touring and I was at home scared of the outside world, so we started talking even more and I decided to ask for advice and artistic guidance, which changed the dynamic and eventually, organically, we realized that we had several ideas of songs we could do together and how they made sense as a project, He slowly started to give me more and more responsibilities and trust, first it was sending him recordings from my house, then we met in real life to record everything properly with some of his friends. He then asked me to guest in a couple of shows to see how the songs worked live (this happened before the album was released) and after that, it kept going and going. I’m grateful for that. It has been an amazing journey.
Have you always been a fan of Mick and the Bad Seeds and was it strange to be making music with such a legendary veteran?
I have been a fan of the Seeds for around 10 years now, which is not much compared to people who have been following them for 40 years, but I have been an active fan and I tried my best to properly learn their history, influences, and ideology. Most Bad Seeds fans are really smart, creative, and unique people. Being a fan brought me closer to people and made me grow as a person and artist. I never thought I would end up working with someone with such an amazing career and background. It’s been humbling and amazing, but not difficult at all. We connected so beautifully, I don’t think I have ever connected like that with anyone else. He comes from an environment where artists are raw and so different from one another, they all had to struggle so much to get where they are. He sees me and my ideas and sees the potential in them. He understands how ideas can be developed into greater things and the most important thing for him is that I’m being serious about them, respectful, and constantly creative. He doesn’t expect me to be something I’m not, like a trained artist with everything figured out. He appreciates what I bring to the table and he knows I deeply admire what he does and value all this time together and all the knowledge I’m getting. We also have a lot of fun.
How long can your musical relationship last – is this a long-term thing?
Mick is someone who likes doing things when they feel right without forcing them. So it’s hard to give an exact answer but according to our current discussions and the way things are, it seems like it will be going for a while. We have many crazy ideas we want to try.
What does working with a musician like Mick teach you–what do you learn from the process to take forward?
Musicians have a deep respect for music but also they have a lot of fun while working on it. The main difference I noticed between musicians who are starting up and people like Mick and his peers who have been working for many years, is that when they are starting they seem so stressed about making things sound perfect while seasoned musicians seem to enjoy the process, see where it goes and they seem to respect the contributions of everyone involved. Which sets the bar high for me and the expectations I will have for future projects. I won’t settle for less when it comes to respect, at least. Even though it is a treasure and not an easy thing to find.
Were you ever daunted?
All the time, there are many challenges that people would lopsidedly imagine, most related to my lack of experience and insecurities. But I have been surrounded by supportive people, including Mick, my close family, friends, and people I found along the way.
What does your genre of music teach you about life? Or does life dictate your genre of music?
Both really, music is a collection of people’s feelings, knowledge, desires, and experiences, so, when you listen closely you can learn a lot, especially if you are into songwriters who truly devote their life and soul to their craft. The music that truly matters can be challenging because it makes you question your beliefs and unlocks new ideas that you wouldn’t have otherwise. The music I listen to has dramatically separated me from society and the expectations that people would automatically have for me, not always easy, but thanks to that, I have had meaningful experiences and truly lived life.
Sadness makes you uncomfortable, you want to move, and it doesn’t allow you to be a conformist. Poetry makes you more sensitive, open-hearted, and empathetic to others. The sounds that the musicians I admire create make your imagination develop to grow into scary places where reality is not real anymore. I love it. So I can only hope my work starts following their steps and be a challenging thing as well.
I saw you play in Glasgow last year–it was unbelievable. ‘Love is a Battlefield’ is a remarkable tune that stood out for me. Do you write alone?
Thanks, that song was a funny choice. Emma, a friend of Mick (and now my friend also), suggested this song to him. The original song by Pat Benatar was great but different from what we were doing, so I was not sure if it would work for us. Then it became one of my favorite songs from the album. What Mick noticed is that the original is so extravagant that the music distracts you so much from the lyrics and when we adapted it, Mick arranged that could enhance the meaning of the lyrics and we realized they were beautiful and heartbreaking. In response to your other question, so far we have mostly done interpretations of other people’s songs and the 3 original songs we added were written mostly separately, but currently, we are writing together (and separated) for one of our next projects.
Do you ever struggle to be ‘successful’ when touring constantly? – what do you do to get in the mood to go on stage each night?
Definitely, this has been my greatest struggle, as I didn’t really know what I needed to deliver a performance first. A trial-and-error thing for me. Going back to videos from the first performances I did with Mick I can see how I have changed so much and still, I don’t have it all figured out. Successful musicians get used to certain things and distractions and they manage to play anyway, for me, these things have been new and overwhelming. For example, the last show we did in Pula went badly for me because two women were laughing loudly constantly in the front row. I was annoyed and distracted and I let my attention go there instead of enjoying the show.
I also struggled to find the right volume to sing to compete with the volume of the other instruments. Sometimes I will get nervous or not feel that i look enough that day, all these ideas and challenges truly were reflected in the way I have performed. Which I am fully aware of and I am constantly working on, but the audience deserves the best possible performance. Now I have developed my stage presence a bit more and I manage to enjoy most of the performances, Mick trusts me, and most of the time we play with other musicians who also give positive feedback. I’m getting there.
How did you decide on which ‘covers’ to use for the last record?
At first, we chose songs that were meaningful to us, I chose my favorite tracks from some of my favorite songwriters. Then we realized the songs had a recurring theme, so we started selecting songs with a similar theme. Most deal with mythological creatures, loss, and love.
How did you start out?
I have a lot of successful musicians in my family, so I grew up hearing their stories and dreaming of having a similar career as a singer. I loved music because my parents would play and share many things with me that differed from what people my age were mostly into. So when I turned 6 I joined the school choir and participated in a few contests with them. Years later I joined the “Musical theater” class in Middle school and I performed there for four years. I had a big six-year gap without singing live or performing at all, which was frustrating, but I will record songs for myself every once in a while and write down ideas. Then I showed Mick some of those and started working with him in 2020.
Do you plan to get back into filmmaking? I’m not familiar with your work in that field at all…
Well, I was studying filmmaking at a university in my hometown, which didn’t go well because of the pandemic and other factors. But I love editing, directing, and writing. I have mostly done it for personal projects and some of the music videos for the album with Mick. I don’t know if I would necessarily expect to work as a filmmaker but for sure I’m looking forward to using my knowledge for music videos and any artistic opportunity that comes along and feels right, plus learning more about it.
What makes you thrive?
Being in an environment where I feel valued and where I am exposed to creativity.
What made you move (as a Mexican) to Australia?
Well, I haven’t moved officially, I’m here with a student visa, to study a graphic design course that will hopefully help me be better at it as I’m currently working on artwork and posters all the time with little experience. Mostly I’m here to work on new projects with Mick. Even though I love it here and hopefully I can stay longer, it’s not the easiest thing with the way migration works, so I will see how that keeps evolving. Australia, especially Melbourne, is a place full of creativity where I have found a loving community and many adventures that have made me happy and I’m grateful for the moments I get to spend here. I won’t take them for granted.
How has your relationship with music changed over the years?
Music has always been there, it’s been the main fuel of my life. When I was little my dad would show me everything in his collection and I would hear music discussions going on between the adults in the family. I learned English by translating songs that I liked that I really wanted to understand. Then when I was in school and I struggled to connect with people I would be listening to music and exploring the work of new artists instead of being social. Music now helped me find my place in the world. I listen to it less now, because my relationship with it became more serious. I have too much respect and love for it so I can’t see it as entertainment. It’s always a bit like praying or meditating, that space where you go to, to be alone and understand your surroundings and inner world better. So it takes a specific mood and time to engage with it.
I don’t mean to be an analyst – but the music I’ve heard seems despondent, melancholic, morose (which I love btw). How do you feel about those terms about creativity and general art making?
I love that Mick and I joke all the time about the album being “Slow and Depressing”. Like I said before, I believe uncomfortable feelings are challenging and beautiful and even tho everyone has them, the ability to convey them in a way that truly has an impact you need to take it a step further and that’s what many artists I admire are doing and that would be my greatest aspiration even tho I’m starting so there is a lot of work to be done. But definitely, these feelings keep me creative and I will keep working with them in mind and as main muses of whatever that’s happening.
What are you currently working on–what’s next for you?
Mick and I are currently finishing our second album, a selection of songs by Jackson C. Frank. This album, with the working title “Golden Mirrors” will be out sometime next year but we see it as a side project and might be a limited edition thing with a digital release. We are also starting to work on the next main project, which would be the continuation of “Phantasmagoria in Blue” but mostly done with original songs, so that’s exciting and we will be working on that for a while.
Amanda, thank you for accepting my invitation and talking to Feltenshaum INK!
My pleasure, thanks for being interested in me and for your time.
Keep up to date with Amanda’s work on her Instagram and listen to ‘Phantasmagoria in Blue’.
