Amelia Wray – Disappear

By starrymag | January 24, 2023

By: Robert Warren

 

 

Q) What made you decide to go from being an actress on Disney series “Sydney to the Max” to making music?

A) Acting and singing have always taken up the same space in my heart. Growing up, my brother and I were always singing and dancing around my kitchen and we spent all our free time acting in countless musicals and plays. Playing Sophia on “Sydney to the Max” was a very special experience and I was so lucky to experience my actress dreams at such a young age. And music fills my soul, it’s the outlet I can always turn to no matter what. Songwriting allows me to express emotions and relive certain experiences.

 

Q) What inspired you to write the song “Disappear,” in a song about being more than friends but less than lovers when everything suddenly changes?

A) “Disappear” is a song that was born from a personal experience of mine. Journaling is my favorite way to de-stress when I’m in a fog and “Disappear” happened to bloom from one of those. I knew this experience was something authentic and real, so I wanted to create something out of it. When you develop any sort of relationship with someone, you get to know them really well. So, when things don’t work out between you two and you watch them move on and pretend like you don’t exist anymore, it hurts. You feel overwhelmed with questions and emotion. The lyric “I know that you know that I’m still here” is easily the most powerful line. It’s the overall theme I want to share through this song. It’s about the significant other pretending like you don’t exist anymore, even though inside you know them so well to the point you can see they’re faking it. “Tell me what the hell is it you fear” and “Is your conscious clear” are two questions I found myself pondering and the lyrics truly speak for themselves.

 

Q) What was the hardest part about writing that song for you?

A) It kind of forced me to tap into some emotions that I’d been hiding. As I was telling Bill Grainer and Michael Orland (my amazing co-writers) the story, I felt super vulnerable and had to unlock a part in my brain that I had locked up for so long.

 

Q) How might you consider songs- like this one- to be therapeutic in a way that’s engaging to people?

A) “Disappear” is a fight song. It’s about fighting to be heard, letting them know that the relationship mattered, and it will not be erased or forgotten. It’s about constantly having to face their social media, which let’s face it, is hard not to do these days! He might need to pretend you vanished into thin air so he can move on with someone else, but we all know that’s easier said than done. The truth is there’s no wrong or right amount of time to cope with heartbreak. Things do get better with time, but even though they say “time heals everything” – there’s always going to be questions that go unanswered. Those are the questions that are asked in “Disappear.” And even though sometimes we don’t get all the answers we want or need…eventually that’s what makes us really get to know ourselves.

 

Q) What was your experience like working with Michael Orland from “American Idol” as he helped co-write the song?

A) Michael has been my voice coach for so many years, but we’d never explored writing together. “Disappear” allowed us to do that, and I feel like it really bonded us together in a new way…we’re not just teacher and student, we’re co-writers! When I brought up the idea for the song, Michael brought in Bill Grainer (who writes with legends like Jennifer Hudson) and we started creating. The three of us instantly hit it off as a writing team – we had chemistry right away. We kept writing and writing and eventually “Disappear” was born. When we felt it was time to get it produced, we brought in the brilliant Miklos Malek who’s worked with people like Jennifer Lopez and the song became perfect!

 

Q) What is it about songs like “Disappear” that you think connects people that otherwise might not be connected? 

A) Everyone at some point has or will experience a situation like the one in Disappear, it’s something that lets you know you’re not alone – etc., etc.

I think it’s really important to understand that everyone deals with heartbreak in their own way. Things are not always going to be equal between two people, that’s just life. One person might take a really long time to heal, while the other might move on in a day, or at least they pretend like it. But it’s okay to take time to process heartbreak…in fact take as much time as you need! We all heal differently, and you need to allow yourself to feel the pain. Heartbreak only makes you stronger.

 

Q) What do you feel when you sing this song?

A) Wow! I love this question. I feel vulnerable and empowered at the same time. Like I’m speaking my truth. I feel confident in my own skin when I’m singing it, especially because it’s been a minute since this all happened, so revisiting it feels like I’m coming back to him but as different, stronger more confident person. It’s amazing.

 

Q) When might we expect to see the untitled EP that “Disappear” is a part of? 

A) Soon…stay tuned and get excited!

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who are fans and supporters of the work you do – whether it is music or acting? 

A) I just want to say thank you all so, so much for all the support you have given me over the years and especially on this release! Keep streaming and listening and sharing “Disappear” — show your friends a great new song, add it to a playlist, listen to it while you’re on a “hot girl walk”…do your thing and also there is so much more to come, and the best way to keep up on the latest is by following me on Instagram @ameliawray and on TikTok @ameliawrayy.