Amanda Blank interview
HUCK catches up with Philadelphia rapper Amanda Blank to find out the truth about singing karaoke with Bjork, taking part in drug studies and spitting blood onstage.
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HUCK: Your debut album has had some mixed reviews. Does that bother you?
Amanda Blank: People who hate it can go ahead. I’m not sitting at home writing a blog about them. All the people that I admire - Peaches, Santigold and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs are taking me on tour with them and supporting me. It makes you feel good because the people you look up to get it. The day my album came out I was on tour and I told Karen O that I Googled myself. She slapped me and said, “Shame on you girl! Never Google yourself.”
What were you doing for a living before you were signed to Downtown Records?
I haven’t had a job since I was 22 and I am 27 now. Philly is really cheap to live in so you don’t need a lot of money. We lived in a cheap house in the hood across the street from Diplo. Me and my friend Rose would do weird-ass odd jobs. We would clean an old ladies house, walk dogs, serve food at parties or we would be a part of a weird drugs study. If you can do enough to make a good amount of cash then you can live off it for a while.
How did you meet Spank Rock and Santogold?
I just know them from being out and being part of the Philly art scene. When Spank Rock moved to Philly we met through friends and just clicked and never left each others' side. We are best friends. Santigold is from Philly and there are a lot of mutual connections. Our parents have known each other for over 30 years.
You have a reputation as a party girl. Is it justified?
When I was a teenager I was. Now I am really boring but I have still got it in me. I started really young. I was out partying with a fake ID at 15 with my sister and her older friends. I was like a baby in those clubs. I got kicked out of high school. I was a bad kid but because I started so young so much of it wore off.
Is it true that you once sang Karaoke with Bjork?
We did this show together in Sao Paolo Brazil and I was there with Spank Rock. She invited everyone into her backstage area and we were eating food, drinking champagne and having iPod parties. Bjork put on 'Say My Name' by Destiny’s Child and I was like, "Hold up!" She grabbed my hand and then we just stared at each other, pretending to hold microphones and singing. The whole time I was thinking, “I am singing Destiny’s Child with Bjork!”
Who would you like to work with in the future?
I would love to do a song with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. If I could rap with someone and die happy it would be Outkast. I would be so afraid though! I also would love to play with Beyonce. I am her biggest fan! I have everything she has ever done. I even have her weird bootlegs that have never came out.
What has been your wildest tour experience?
Some crazy things have happened. At SXSW the tent caught on fire while we were on stage and we just kept playing. I have fallen off the stage, chipped my teeth and knocked some teeth out. Once, I was rapping and I hit myself in the mouth with a microphone and my whole mouth was filled with blood. I didn’t realise how bad it was. Naeem [Spank Rock] thought when I started spitting I was spitting out teeth. That must be the G. G. Allen in me.
How has life changed since the record came out?
Being on tour before the record came out was really hard because I was opening for people who are really popular and no one knew my songs. I was opening for Santogold and Yeah Yeah Yeahs so I had no hope. Now that the album is out there are people singing along which is nice. I am more broke than I was before which is funny.
Can you tell us about your next single?
My next single is 'A Love Song'. The first part is an LL Cool J cover. The rest of it is my lyrics. I made it with Santogold and Diplo for fun because Santigold's favourite rapper is LL Cool J. When I was working on my album my label thought it was a really good idea and asked me if I thought about making it a full-length song. It’s funny because so many people don’t know that the first verse is a cover.
I Love You is out now via Downtown Records.
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