Hunter Blair Ambrose – Scorpio Season

By starrymag | August 15, 2021

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

 

A) I would describe my sound as combining my influences of dark pop, contemporary R&B and some synth-pop. I try to explore those soundscapes while exploring themes of sexuality, female empowerment, mental health, relationships and self-discovery through my own life experiences.

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

 

A) My vocal influences are Lady Gaga, The Weeknd, Ariana Grande, Michael Jackson and Kim Petras. Production-wise, I pull from artists like Kanye West, Noah Shebib (40), Victoria Monet and Max Martin.

 

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Baby Goodbye.”

 

A) “Baby Goodbye” was written by me in my hotel room while I was out in Los Angeles doing recording and production sessions for my upcoming album Scorpio Season. It was inspired by all of the post-breakup bitterness and cynicism I was very much feeling at the time. My ex was in and out of my life for years after we ended things and without warning, he disappeared from my life for good seemingly. I was in a tailspin emotionally from that and the COVID-19 lockdown because those two events coincided with each other, so I was undoubtedly in a bad place emotionally. It was inspired by all of the mind games that ensued from that situation and the emotional torment that I endured. It also references finding escapism through your vices to escape your pain – in my case, smoking and drinking. But there is also a message of empowerment to be found just in the title and the hook – “Baby Goodbye” at its core it pretty self-explanatory – it’s time to say goodbye and I’ll be better off for it.

 

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

 

A) I think my fans and listeners can definitely relate to feeling hopeless and in pain from a failed relationship or heartbreak of some kind. I know that we all have our own vices in life that we turn to in order to find an escape from a tough life situation or experience – especially during the time of the pandemic.

 

Q) How does the video for the track play into the message behind it?

 

A) In the music video for “Baby Goodbye,” my creative director and I really tried to play on the empowerment found through saying goodbye to a tempting, but toxic relationship. I included visual references of the sex, vices and temptations that I sing about in the lyrics. Something that I always try to play off of for my visuals, no matter what, are references to the zodiac sign of Scorpio because of the album title (Scorpio Season) and its era. So, expect lots of Scorpio vibes throughout.

 

Q) What is your songwriting process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?

 

A) It’s quite the opposite! I’m a very verbal person. I talk a lot. I always have something to say. So, I think it is very natural to me that I tend to complete at least a full form of lyrics first before any music or composition comes into play. I tend to write in a loose-form, poetry style first, with a rhyme scheme in mind or a cadence that I plan to apply to the lyrical content. After that, if I at least have a concrete idea for a verse and chorus, I can go to my piano and start to let my creativity and musicality go wild. I find that at least having a lyrical theme or story I’m writing first helps determine how the music will actually sound later.

 

Q) How much of hand do you have in the production of your music?

 

A) I am always in the room sitting with my producers explaining what I’m looking for and what sounds and styles are inspiring me in the moment. My long-time collaborator, producer and co-writer, Jason Strong, has been an instrumental component of my artistry over the last three years. He has taught me so much about production, songwriting, the technical sides of creating music and just upped my game as a musician so much. From that experience I have really been able to flourish as an artist.  Going forward, I really want to have a heavier hand as a co-producer on future projects and possibly explore that side of the industry as an addition to my repertoire as a musician.  It really has inspired me seeing firsthand what the experience of creating a song is, from the ground up, watching him work and working with all of my collaborators on all of my projects.

 

Q) Will there be a full album or EP coming in the near future? 

 

A) I have my debut full-length album dropping later this year. It’s called Scorpio Season. It features all of the highlights of my career so far and is seventeen tracks in total. I’m so proud of it.

 

Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?

 

A) I love performing anywhere in New York City. That’s my home so I feel very welcomed and supported every time I get on stage in that city. I have a saying, “I love New York because New York loves me.” I’m also planning my first tour so I’m sure my answer to this will change.

 

Q) We loved your collab with Ye Ali! Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future? 

 

A) Thank you! “Skin Deep” with Ye Ali was a personal favorite song of mine that I’ve cut. I would love to collaborate with The Weeknd. He has such a visual and referential approach to his music, videos and visuals, I think he and I would have a blast creating art together. I think Lady Gaga, and my voice would sound amazing together. She has been an influence for me since I was thirteen years old, so that would be incredible and a dream come true.

 

Q) What can you tease about your upcoming documentary?

 

A) It’s going to take people on a journey of what it was like creating my EP and my upcoming album from 2018 til now.

 

Q) By the age of seventeen you’d already worked with Grammy-award-winning musicians. How were you able to balance being a regular teenager with your music career?

 

A) I had a lot of my peers in high school and people around me who didn’t understand my life in the industry, and who still don’t. It was a very sudden move to go from a regular high school student to flying out to California every month to do studio work and sessions. I didn’t go to a performing arts high school. I went to a very rigorous and academically strict, private high school with little to no students who wanted to pursue a career in entertainment. It was very hard to balance a strict academic life and a life outside of school that I knew was my life’s passion. But it ended up paying off and once I got to college at Berklee College of Music in Boston, the pieces slowly started to come together for me.

 

Q) What advice would you give to up-and-coming musicians?

 

A) My advice to up-and-coming musicians would be to quite literally take every opportunity you can to perform, write and collaborate. It all comes from experience and the more you practice, inevitably, the better and more comfortable you will become. And also, discipline and dedication in this industry are key. If you do not make an effort to put as much time, energy and effort into this career as you possibly can, that’s a number one mistake. Passion takes discipline and time. But it is worth it once you see your art come to fruition and out into the world.

 

Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them? 

 

A) For the last year, I have been utterly obsessed with the album After Hours by The Weeknd. I was absolutely entranced by the combination of his signature alt-R&B sound with retro synth-pop and disco styles. It very much inspired certain songs on Scorpio Season and my sophomore album, which I have just begun working on. I’m also listening to other artists who have explored 80s synth-pop and disco in their music such as Victoria Monet, Zara Larsson, Dua Lipa and Daft Punk.

 

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

 

A) Social media has been such a great method for me to connect with people around the world! I have met so many people on my team who I work with today just by connecting on social media! Also, being able to talk to my fans all over the world is such a privilege and is only made possible by use of my social media platforms!

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

 

A) I want to say thank you for supporting me on this incredible journey through my career. There have been some ups and downs, but I am so grateful for each and every one of my fans and I know you all are going to love Scorpio Season. It is an album that is very ambitious and very much worth the wait.