Tuesday’s end is setting in, which means an evening spent curled up on the sofa, wine glass firmly grasped, is beckoning. And, we couldn’t think of a better track to accompany a blissful night such as the one described than Amy Steele’s “Smoke Castles”. A soul-baring and stripped-back cut at its core, synthy production and acoustic instrumentation are abandoned here to make room for the heavenly tone Steele serves up, resulting in a soulful cut sure to enchant.

“‘Smoke Castles’ comes from a place of recognition that a relationship that was built on something insubstantial can’t provide shelter,” divulges the London-based artist when discussing her latest release. “Living inside, that is suffering. That’s why the song sounds quite mournful.”

Upon the release of her melancholic new cut, the artist sat down with Wonderland to talk the powerful women of music that have inspired her, how unfulfilled love informed the heart of her new track and what is coming next. Head below to enjoy our chat with Amy Steele…

Amy! How are you today? What was the first thing that you did this morning?
Good thanks! I actually woke up from a call from my manager about a change in my schedule. After that, there were some negotiations between myself and I about how much longer I could stay in bed.

Growing up, what type of music did you listen to?
Growing up I feel like, before streaming, we listened to what our parents listened to. So, for me, it was a lot of Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Aliyah, Sade, Janet Jackson, Barbra Streisand, Kate Bush and Celine Dion. I’ve never actually thought about it, but they were all powerful female singers.

You are based in London, how would you say that the city has influenced your sound? Do your surroundings inspire your creative process?
Yes, I’m London based. London is really diverse which means there are so many rich cultures and influences to draw from. But I think in the internet age everything is so much more global so it’s possible to draw inspiration internationally and even work with people across the world. I don’t think my surroundings directly inspire my creativity – I think it’s more mood and energy, as long as I’m in an open state of mind I think I can create anywhere.

Talk to us about “Smoke Castles”! What inspired the track?
“Smoke Castles” comes from a place of recognition that a relationship that was built on something insubstantial can’t provide shelter. Living inside that is suffering, that’s why the song sounds quite mournful.

It is very stripped-back! What was it like being this exposed on a track with minimal backing? Is this something you are used to, or are we seeing a more vulnerable side to you here?
I love a stripped-back track, where you can hear the vocals. I felt like the emotion of the song was so important to the message – so I wanted to give the space for it to be heard.

Is there a particular message you wanted to relay to listeners with the track?
I didn’t write the song to be didactic or to tell people what to do in a difficult relationship. It’s more just to share the feeling of what it’s like to be in a relationship that lacked substance or communication, and how hard that can feel.

If you could collaborate with one artist in the world, who would it be and why?
Labrinth – I feel like we could make something amazing.

Aside from all of the exciting things we have discussed today, what else have you got planned for 2022 that you are looking forward to?
I’ve got some live shows coming up, I’m really excited to announce them on my socials in a few days!