One of New York’s many multi-faceted creative spirits, Amrit Tietz shares her musings on philosophy, life, art and travel through a multitude of mediums, but you most likely know her from her podcast ‘Unhinged’ and her international DJ sets. Here, we discuss the things that inspire and ground her inner artist, as well as the moments that have shaped her creative journey.
A.L.C.: What’s the most surprising/unique thing you to do to get into a creative mindset?
Amrit: Doing nothing! Finding time to be still, which is surprisingly a difficult thing to do with a 17 month old and in a busy city like New York. I find that I get my best ideas when my mind has the space to wander and isn't being overstimulated by the noise.
A.L.C.: Was there a specific moment that, or person who, ignited your passion for music?
Amrit: I took a lot of jazz classes at school and that really opened me up to a new world of possibility in sound. I would say that most of my musical heroes orbit that genre— Nina Simone, Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, Coltrane, Max Roach, Duke Ellington, Dexter Godon, Chet Baker. Some modern musicians who inhabit that space are Esperanza Spalding, D'Angelo and Robert Glasper.
A.L.C.: What are the top 5 places you look to for inspiration?
Amrit: The Guggenheim, Brooklyn Botanical Garden, my personal library (I am an avid book collector), the New York Public Library and City Hall. I like watching people get married, there is something so wholesome about witnessing an act of pure love.
A.L.C.: What was the moment you were most proud of as an artist?
Amrit: Touring the world with friends to sold out shows in places throughout Asia, Europe and America. Playing festivals like Pitchfork Paris and Sonar Barcelona, DJing a fashion show at NYFW and PFW, or playing iconic venues like Berghain or the Guggenheim. Also getting my music synced on TV shows and movies—I've had my work synced on networks like HBO, Apple Tv+ and Disney—that's always a pinch me moment.
A.L.C.: Can you share an experience that challenged you as an artist and how you navigated it?
Amrit: I found touring really tough. You're away from the people you love and you have no sense of home, you're living out of a bag and the time zone is changing constantly. It can be very destabilizing. Now that I'm a new mother I've limited my travel to the really important stuff, but I find having a good routine that stays with you in any environment—whether it's a yoga practice, meditation or having a ritual as simple as having a coffee and reading/ writing in a journal for 10 minutes a day—can really ground me.
A.L.C.: What is your favorite TV show or movie about the music industry and why?
Amrit: That Thing You Do starring a young Liv Tyler is a favorite of mine, it came out in the ‘90s but is set in the 1960’s era of rock and roll and the story follows a band in a small town that rises to fame. The TV show Entourage, while it's not so music specific, feels to me like an accurate reflection of the entertainment industry.
A.L.C.: What does having a platform mean to you and what is the most important message you would like your community to take away from your work?
Amrit: I think that being true to yourself and always advocating for some type of positive change, whether that's as an artist or giving back to the community in some way is the social responsibility we have for occupying this earth. That can be something as simple as volunteering your time in a space you feel passionate about whether it's in the environmental or political space, to speaking up about an underserved issue. I think apathy is the least desirable quality in a human. I think especially as an artist, I want to spend my days feeling and caring deeply.
A.L.C.: What is your go-to song or musical genre that gets you in your creative element?
Amrit: Music Sounds Better With You by Stardust—works every time.
