#SHOWBIZ: Amanda Imani makes a jazzy comeback at KL showcase

KUALA LUMPUR: Known for her stylish, jazzy image, popular 2000s singer-songwriter Amanda Imani recently marked her “comeback showcase” at the Astor Bar in the St Regis Kuala Lumpur Hotel.

She serenaded the packed venue with 17 popular songs spanning several decades.

Dressed in a glamorous, all-black outfit reminiscent of 1930s singers like Billie Holiday and the characters from The Great Gatsby, the 34-year-old award-winner delivered uniquely jazzed-up versions of classics during her two-hour performance.

Her setlist included Elvis Presley’s ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love’, Blondie’s ‘Call Me’, Shania Twain’s ‘You’re Still The One’, The Animals’ ‘House Of The Rising Sun’, Christina Aguilera’s ‘Genie In A Bottle’, The Eagles’ ‘Hotel California’, and Britney Spears’ ‘Oops I Did It Again’.

The show, which was themed ‘A Prelude To Jack’s Club’, was met with roaring applause.

Several celebrities attended, including radio announcer and actress Datuk Yasmin Yusuff and singer Noryn Aziz.

Kuantan-born Amanda was exceptionally good on ‘House Of The Rising Sun’, a heart-wrenching song from the 1960s about child and sexual abuse, which requires immense emotion in its chorus.

She also excelled in Soundgarden’s mournful ode to depression, ‘Black Hole Sun’, as well as ‘Hotel California’, one of the world’s most popular anthems from the 1970s that cemented The Eagles’ place in music history.

“For some of these songs, especially Britney’s ‘Oops I Did It Again’, it was my first attempt and I’m happy to have nailed it,” said Amanda, who spent a decade singing around the United States starting in 2012.

“I started performing at 17. My first single opened a lot of doors in the local music industry, and since then, it has been a progressive evolution.”

Amanda, who looks up to Aguilera, Lana Del Rey, and Taylor Swift, has performed at major award shows, represented Malaysia on international stages, and collaborated with many talented artistes both locally and internationally.

Skilled in the guitar and piano, she has also written her own songs, most notably ‘Selami Cinta’ (2009), composed by Ajai.

The psychology and communications graduate from the University of Iowa, USA, also sang ‘Cemburu’ with Malique of Too Phat fame in 2010.

The following year, she represented the country at the 20th International Pop Music Festival Discovery in Varna, Bulgaria.

Amanda also performed at the Supernova Concert at the Midem Music Festival 2013 in Cannes, France, alongside Sasi The Don, Jaclyn Victor, Nadhira, Hujan, and Bunkface.

Her second album, Blackheart, was released in 2014.

© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd

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