Promising Pop Singer-Songwriter AMANDA JONES Discusses Her Debut EP, Working With Boys Like Girls And More!

“My Goodbye” is the newest single released by the 21 year-old pop singer-songwriter, Amanda Jones. It can found on her most recent EP, “Brand New Day.” Based in Portland, Oregon, her debut EP was recorded with members of Boys Like Girls.

Follow Amanda here:

• amandajonesmusic(YouTube)

• itsamandajones(Twitter)

• itsamandajones(Instagram)

• itsamandajones(Snapchat)

• http://AmandaJonesOfficial.com

Learn more about Amanda in the following All Access interview:

Thanks for your time! How’s 2016 treating you so far?

2016 is going great! I’ve been staying busy and creating a lot of YouTube content over the past few months.

How’s your summer been going?

I can’t believe it’s already summer! It’s off to a great start so far, I have a few trips planned to shoot more music videos and I’m ready to get to work!

What were some of the highlights of 2015 for you?

Releasing my first EP, opening for a band called The Tragic Thrills (formerly Allstar Weekend aka my favorite band since I was 15) and opening for Cimorelli! Those were definitely stand out moments for me.

Growing up, did you always want to be a musician? Can you recall your earliest musical memory?

It’s kind of funny, because up until 1st grade I didn’t really talk, let alone sing! I had an amazing first grade teacher, who really helped get me out of my shell. I started writing poetry and doing poetry readings at coffee shops that year, and once i saw the movie “Annie” for the first time–every word from there on out was sung!

How do you think being from Portland has influenced you as a musician?

It’s really great because Portland has such a diverse music scene. It’s made me gain a ton of respect for every genre of music, and helped me figure out exactly what target audience/ music style I wanted to pursue.

What was the inspiration for your music video for “Wait For Me Tonight”?

We went back and forth on ideas for a little while, and then my video producer Milan Cook was just like “what if we tell a story through pictures taken with disposable cameras?” and the video was born!

How did you get to work with members of Boys Like Girls? What was that collaboration like?

Morgan and John have a side project away from Boys Like Girls called “Best of Friends” that did an acoustic tour a couple of years ago. Long story short, I got to open for them in Portland and Morgan walked in on my soundcheck, and liked what he heard! That turned into me going to LA and working with them, which was such a cool experience. Working with professional musicians who have accomplished so much in the industry was nerve wracking, exciting, and such a learning experience for me.

How do you think you’ve grown as an artist over the years?

I’m so much more confident with who I am as a songwriter and artist than I was say, four years ago. I’ve interacted with thousands of different people through promoting my music/ playing shows, which has totally changed me from being on the introverted side to being extremely outgoing.

How has your songwriting changed?

I’m not afraid to say exactly what is on my mind with my songs now. I used to have my guard up, and was extremely self conscious of every song. Now I can let my ideas flow without judging myself as hardcore.

Who are some of your favorite artists? What artists continue to inspire you?

I love Carly Rae Jepsen’s pop style. Her songs are well written, and her stage performance blows me away. I also love Taylor Swift, but who doesn’t? I also find inspiration from the bands Parachute and The Maine- great voices, great lyrics, great songs.

Who would you love to work with in the future?

Will from Parachute and Nick Jonas (a girl can dream, right?!)

At the end of the day, what do you hope is the message of your music? What do you hope listeners take away from your songs?

I want to send an uplifting message, that no matter what you may be going through, tomorrow is a new day and anything is possible.

How do you hope to be a good role to your young fans?

I carry myself pretty well online and would never curse or post anything inappropriate. My audience is definitely younger and I’m so appreciative of them and their support (and it’s cool seeing all the moms at my shows, too!) I strive to always be a good example.