Today we’d like to introduce you to Amani Villa.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was born in Manhattan, went to school in the Bronx, stayed in Brooklyn on the weekends, and Long Island for the summer. I am what you call, a “true New Yorker.” My father owned his owned label and worked out of the apartment we lived in in the Bronx.
My mother was/is corporate, so she handled a lot of behind the scenes in that world. I was raised around music for this reason. There were stacks of CD’s & records like mountains at my house and grandmother (my dad’s mom) apartment in Brooklyn as well. That’s where my ear for music was created. My father taught me the piano and how to read the letters on the keys by drawing them in. My father would send me to school with his label’s folders, pencils, everything lol. What a memory…
My father also had me deep into the creative world since… I don’t even know… maybe three? He would buy easels and paint and have me help, he’d draw cartoons (he’s obsessed with Marvel) and teach me how to draw bodies, he’d watch show’s like Zoom and Bob the painter with me so I can always be learning something. I absolutely loved it, every second of it. I would draw cartoons, comics, clothing lines, anime, everything you could think of by the age of 7/8. I say that to say, my creativity is through the roof because of that upbringing, I will never forget it. In Long Island, in the summer, I’d be with my little cousin, aunt, and uncle by marriage.
It was a Bronx kid’s dream because you have more space out there to run and ride bikes and roll in the grass! I even friended the neighborhood’s kids and went to summer camps! One day, my little cousin’s school was having a talent show, and I was asked to join as well. I was so nervous, but I did it because even then I didn’t want to be a punk. So, I did it… I sang Aaliyah – Care 4 U. I know it was the worst because of my nerves, but it was my first performance… never did I think I’d be back on stages again after that.
You see, I was blessed to be born into a creative family because my aunt was an extension of my dad. She wouldn’t even let us go outside unless our reading for the day was done, or the activities that she’d pull from the internet. She always encouraged and made me feel amazing for the accolades I reached, no matter how big or small. She spoke confidence into me every chance she had, and I thank her for that until this day. Those words shielded me from the world’s harsh jealous ways that can rip someone to their grave… So grateful.
In Brooklyn, I was with my grandma (I call her mama), one of my favorite cousin’s Lynnette, and my Auntie Ann. My father would bring me because I was too young to ride by myself. There, I was able to eat good and be spoiled and chastised by mama. She loves me so much, and that love helped mold me as well. She spoke confidence into me and never bit her tongue about anything. She taught me so much, and I knew she was the woman who raised my father and Auntie Val.
Schooling, I did pre k-2nd grade at P.S. 96 in the Bronx, and 3-7th at a private school called OSL & Church. After I saw Sister Act 2, I was convinced that my school inspired that movie lol. That is exactly how it was, down to spitballs on the ceilings and us giving the preachers a migraine every two seconds. Yet, it was one of the best experiences of my life, and I wouldn’t change it for anything. Being around your own people truly is a gift, it’s the culture. They’d bang on the lockers and rap down the hallways, they’d have chants at lunchtime… it was so much fun! Now, I wasn’t the best student at all, but we all have our stories.
When we moved to Atlanta, I was sick because I couldn’t believe I was leaving. A lot happened, and my mom was forced to just… leave & flip to a new chapter. I had no choice but to leave with her, so I had to kiss all my sweet memories that New York gave me behind… all the friends I was raised with… gone. I was livid and unforgiving for a long time which caused me to act out a bit here too. So, my mom hears word of mouth about a program that talent develops kids and she signs me up for it. Mind you, this is outside of school, so no one knows that I’m doing this and I didn’t want them to either.
This program was a supernova to my vacant nights. It made me think, hmm, maybe I was supposed to leave New York so I can get access to this… They had me performing in amazing Black History plays, we’d perform Beyonce, Destiny’s Child, Michael Jackson, New Edition, etc. Even a High School Musical in a remixed way and I was the lead character… It was everything I could want & need. Not everything is perfect, but positively speaking, it gave me the perfect clarity on what goals I wanted to hit while in this new state.
I was performing almost every weekend, I had rehearsals non-stop, I was being trained at 14 how to perform and be strong & confident at it. Yet, my family had taught me confidence, so I now had a place to sit it! Outside of that, I was dealing with school, and I wasn’t the best. I couldn’t find myself, and I wasn’t around the best people that helped me unwrap who I could be. When I wasn’t at rehearsals, I was back to my normal self, and it was a tough bag to swallow.
School reminded me that I wasn’t who I thought I was because if I was, they’d know me, respect me, & automatically like me… I’d be “popular.” Tough huh? What’s worse? I was in & out of debates and arguments because most of them didn’t like that I was from New York, They’d hear my accent and discredit anything I could’ve been to them to what they heard about New Yorkers.
I hated it, so, I acted out here and there. Plus, my bad attitude didn’t help… Performing was my only escape. Performing had become my get away. Performing in front of those crowds was my medicine. Performing gave me a sense of purpose and all the reason to stay on the planet…. deep, but true. Through all my tribe & tribulations in high school (you can but can’t imagine), performing is what kept me together… it is what held me as I was holding on to the chinny chin chin of reality.
My senior year, I had an opportunity to perform in front of the entire school…. this was my night to shine, this was my night to show everyone what I was about! You see, I was in AFJROTC all throughout school, and that’s all they thought of me. Yes, I made a dance team in twelve grade too, but that was with a group of girls… this was my time to shine!
The talent show was coming up, and my team & I was planning out the most BOMB show EVER! We would’ve broken YouTube!… The final week comes after countless rehearsals, skipping some classes and all… and I get in trouble. I let my ex, who wasn’t worth it, drown me into a mental state of puppy love tunnel vision which caused me to get in trouble by the principle and he took me out of the show. Everyone and I mean EVERYONE who knew how amazing this was going to be, hated me. My friend Donovan tried to get a petition signed and everything to let me perform, and my principle didn’t budge.
My principal asked me what’s the one thing I want the most… & that’s the punishment he gave me, taking that away. I couldn’t believe it. No one could… it was the biggest show EVER! So many talented people from that night went on to be amazing people in the industry! The nae-nae boys… Raury who was signed to Columbia Records, JaQuel Knight who choreographs Beyonce! And I was sitting at home, crying my eyes out knowing I was missing what could’ve made me the most popular girl in school FINALLY! I was going to show everyone that I’m an amazing performer… everyone at rehearsals were already impressed and anxious to see the final day!
So, school ended, and I gained more enemies than I could imagine. The worst part? They were the ones that were closest to me. Fighting me wouldn’t have made them lost an inch of sleep… it was horrible. When school was over, I ran out of that school and didn’t care to say bye to anyone! That summer I went to school, Columbus State University. I almost didn’t go to any, but I overheard a schoolmate talk of it and intuition told me to check it out. I was accepted, so there I went. It was perfect, two hours away and no one that I knew went there! I wanted to get as far as I could from Tucker High, Atlanta all together!
It changed my life! I told myself that I was going to turn over a new leaf, and that is what I did. I rebranded myself. I got new clothes, I got new hair, I was setting trends! It was a bit slower than Atlanta, so I was able to be ahead of the curve with fashions, AND they don’t get New Yorkers often! I switched up everything, my attitude, my social skills… idk, I just was blessed to be able to shift myself to a higher mentality and in a more confident space. I was hanging out with an upperclassman on the first day of school! Everyone was trying to figure out how lol.
Then, the one say shifted everything. Downtown (they had two different campuses) campus was having a talent show! You’re able to perform whatever you like, whatever you liked! My heart dropped because I didn’t know if I could do this without everyone who did it with me back in Atlanta… but, I wasn’t going to risk losing a moment like this again. Plus, I was around new people, and I can set the tone I always wanted to…
So, I performed… and I ROCKED THE HOUSE! The crowd went crazy for me! I couldn’t believe it, a standing ovation! I did Beyonce Single Ladies because of all the training we did at my performing arts program! From then on, I was that “IT” girl. I was who I always wanted to be! I was a model coordinator, I was apart of the “popular kids” crew… on BOTH campuses with TWO different crews! If you were around me, it meant you were cool too. I even had a crew OFF campus! Crazy huh?
I was in my first short film there, and danced for an artist performing in front of thousands in addition to going on a tour! I was waking up to what I was truly meant to do… be on stages, in front of cameras! Fast forward, I left after a year & a half. I experienced all that I needed and felt it in my spirit to move on. I took a step on faith, a scary step that not most do. But I sacrificed enough time, I couldn’t go against the grain anymore, and that school wasn’t giving me the next step I needed in connections to move forward.
Back in Atlanta I joined businesses, learned how to network, learned how to break fears by being around elites and money people at 19. I learned wisdom (spirituality shifts) from outside events at the school in Columbus, so I was putting everything together into one while young. My life was at a whole new level. I joined a girl group, but it didn’t last long. I was the only one who continued to pursue music. I knew I wanted to perform, but I knew I wanted to have control, so the only way was to make my own music to perform to. And that I did.
It wasn’t easy… I meant great industry people who could’ve got me signed on the spot but, things happen, and we make decisions that seem to suit us best at that time. So, I kept hustling. I had a few more business people come my way, even managers but, it didn’t feel right… any of it. Yet, I knew to keep pushing! There was no way I’ve been creating since a child and performing on stages for so long for anything! I kept praying and kept a vision boards around me. I kept anything around me that was rumored to keep the dream alive!
Here I am currently… I can say that it is my time. It has been two years since I started my “I am choosing to be an artist” journey and though my sound is still manifesting, knowing who I AM has manifested. If I explained everything in detail, it’ll end up being a book lol. But know, I am at an amazing space, and my talks with Most High are manifesting on me as we speak. Everything has its perfect timing, and I am a believer in no coincidences. My mental is ready now! I am mentally ready for this.
I am a pop/hip-hop artist that is kissing reggae, but diving into the new genre of “culture.” I call it culture because I will be touching sounds of reggae, reggaeton, Bollywood, Asian instrumentals, just CULTURE. Being raised in New York, you experience so much of it, I want that experience to be projected into the art that I produce. That black girl who did it all, besides, they say it all came from us anyway right? I went from Ammunra to Queen Ashera, to now Amani Villa.
Amani is my real name, I was named after Giorgio Armani. Villa came from me loving the luxury that is associated with it and the branding that former hip-hop artist such as Biggie, Foxy Brown, Lil Kim have used in their raps. Amani means desires, aspirations, wishes.. in Swahili, it is harmony and peace. Villa is the rural or suburban residence of a wealthy person. I am the personification of all these things plus more.
Yet, I’m going to eventually be cammunraalled just “VILLA.” My music inspirations are Foxy Brown, the culture of Lil Kim, Nicki Minaj, Beyonce, Rihanna, Ashanti, Jlo, Amerie, Janet Jackson, Ciara, & Drake. But I’m super weird, like Kanye West creative weird, so my own sound conjures from that as well. I was an artist(painter/drawer) first, then a writer, dancer, actress, and now an artist. I’ve helped with production on some I have cooking up, so let’s add that to the bank too, lol.
Through my connections, I have accomplished so much in such a short time, and I am more than thankful for is here and what is manifesting currently as we speak! I am grateful for everything that has come, and that is here, and that is on its way! I am grateful to be typing this to you all (which has me tripping through nostalgia and tears and happiness), and for my prayers being answered right now! My current single that I just dropped (& the music video) is called COCA, and it is available on all music platforms.
It is a pop reggae track that makes my women feel sexy and makes men bob their head in wanting a woman that is their COCA too. What does “I’m the new Coca, I’m the new Cocaine” mean? I’m saying that black women are the new drug, we’re the new addiction of all! Not new as in, we were never in, it is just being recognized across the globe right now at the same time, and I had to contribute to this shift!
To currently fit the “drug” wave, I wanted to explain it in a way that’ll catch people’s attention. Since yall want to be so addicted and high off drugs, HERE, have this kind! The NEW new! But so new, it never left! It has been since day one, it just has evolved. *sexy side eye wink*
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
No, but that is what makes the strong stronger. I was almost flown out to a meeting that could’ve had me signed to Dr. Dre’s label, that didn’t work out unfortunately due to business and personal issues.
My fear of becoming who I AM meant to be was a major block due to not enough positive affirmations after I moved to Atlanta like I had from family in New York & the discouragements of my peers from high school. Insecurities once social media started to boom, and I realized I wasn’t as pretty as my “competition.”
Getting into trouble in school and not being able to perform at my high school’s talent show. It was a huge step into showing my peers how great I was at performing from my out school activities, & I ruined it by not being responsible about my actions. An opportunity could’ve risen from that, you never know who’s in the crowd.
Falling in love too early knowing it was the wrong person. It caused a lot of blockage from connections that were being nurtured because of jealousy & me allowing it.
Dealing with managers that were connected in the industry but it didn’t work out because I couldn’t point out if they were meant for me or not. I was dealing with a lot on my own at a young age and wasn’t skilled with being able to point out who was for me or not. I believe I would’ve been further if I just went with faith and not fear.
Lack of home balance… It’s not easy maneuvering through a road to your journey if your mind isn’t even clear before you get into the car. My ego, you are your own worst enemy. I allowed things to go further than they should’ve all because I wanted what I wanted when I wanted it. Lack of wisdom & knowledge is the result of that.
That leads to, lack of spirituality… not having a set boundary on what is cool and not. I use to be a rebel without care. Of course, that stems from tunnels deep within us that we try to avoid from childhood. Lacking a team. I didn’t have anyone to speak for me in this industry, so I had to learn things the hard way which always takes longer.
Not knowing where my roots stem from. I recently bought a DNA kit so I can at least attempt to see what could be running through these veins. I know we’re all from one & who started this… but I want to know in this lifetime where did my roots stem from. I am all about culture, and though I love all, I want to know what is mine.
This lead to me feeling lost a lot, especially while living in New York where majority knows where they’re from. I adopted Dominican because I look like them, but enough of play, I want to KNOW. Understanding that I cannot do everything on my own.
We’d love to hear more about what you do.
I am a creator. The category we will speak in that today though is being an artist. I am known for my performances as an artist, my acting, and my dancing. I am an entertainer, and it is my passion. I also write my own songs, and I help with production a lot because I have a cultured ear and I always want my music to have an origin.
From my show set from my recent show (“the Drake Tribute 6ix Tapes), I created that show set myself & others. I am 98% of the time ahead of my photoshoot ideas (which are mostly fantasy). When I hear my production and add my two cents, the producers love my sound even more. I love to be apart of the choreo of my routines for shows because I am a dancer, I love stage presence and skits. I am great at styling myself because I have been drawing clothes since I was eight.
I am a New York artist in ATL that is bringing the cultured feel from up top, to down here as a black girl. I am determined, I am motivated, I am spiritual, I am a workaholic, I am never stopping, & I can see my destination as it manifests itself here. I am a reader to understand people better, so I have great people skills as well. I have several talents up my sleeve. The world sees my face and chants my name regardless of which talent gets discovered first.
I am proud of how far I’ve come, that I never stopped, and that I am now being recognized for my talents after ten years in the making behind the scenes. I am proud that this is all a result of me following my intuition. I am proud of MYSELF because without me walking out on faith, I’d be following a generational curse. I AM FREE!
What were you like growing up?
Growing up I was the spicy Leo I am. Yet, I am a moon and rising Virgo, so I had a lot of ground mixed in. I have VHS tapes of me dancing at BBQ’s with my cousin’s and brother Harlem shaking when I was about five. I was deep into creating, so I was always drawing, painting, origami, writing scripts and short stories, dancing, and talking!
I even use to sell knitted wristbands and plastic bag purses to my peers in the 5th grade. Boy did I love to talk! My mom thought I was going to be a preacher lol. I was a hot head, but I come from two fire sign parents. All together we were Aries, Sagittarius, and Leo. Mind you, they were almost cusp of Taurus & Capricorn meaning they had some Earth elements, and I had some in me as well. IT WAS NEVER a dull moment in that house!
All New Yorkers are “rude” but after moving, I now know I just had a smart mouth and was extremely loud. I wasn’t as full of hospitality as I am now, it got in where you fit in & go in. I was always in front of groups of people doing whatever, not caring… in the middle.
Diva? Definitely. My family always tell the story of me visiting South, and I got sand in my shoes, and I was walking on my heels because of the way it felt. I was walking like I was disgusted with everything hahaha. I was around, three maybe.
Contact Info:
- Email: bookamanivilla@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanivilla_/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmaniVilla1/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/amanivilla
- Other: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YblGr7RkI-w
Image Credit:
Preston Cousins, Paul Thomas, Pink Maxwell, Nijon Crews, Artis Point of View
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