Photo by Michelle Lobianco
Amelia Bushell (Grim Streaker, Belle Mare) spent her quarantine bringing her new project, Extra Special, to life. The first single “True Fear” off of the upcoming EP LAZY ABOUT IT is already out, along with a video that shows what happens when you get way too high and need an extraordinary friend to pull you back to earth and share some gummy straws.
This project’s different from how you might know Amelia — It’s vulnerable and atmospheric, but ever-cheeky in the lyrics and the delivery. The rest of Extra Special’s debut will be out later this year, but in the meantime, we asked a couple of questions about it.
Do you feel more blue or red? Do you feel more tied down or let loose? Do you feel more wild or calm? Do you feel more reckless or contained? I’m gonna mess with your pics based on this.
RED. I love red. It’s my fave color to wear. Let loose baby! WILD. Reckless sorry mum.
Photo by John Burgundy. Edited by Grace Eire.
How have you been holding up, how have you been spending your time?
I was lucky enough to have been visiting my mum in Vancouver, Canada the week that quarantine began. I went for a 5-day vacation and ended up staying 5 months! I left home when I was 16, so it was the most amount of time I have spent with my mother since, and it was lovely. I think had I stayed in New York my mental health would not be ok. Back in Vancouver, I got really into yoga, worked on loads of new music and spent a lot of time in nature. Hiking, swimming in the ocean, eating a lot of ice cream and cookies. Taking advantage of my parents barbecue. I love grilled food and I don’t have a grill in New York so I was pretty happy about that.
What made you want to lean into something more acoustic? Something more chill? Did it come naturally or did you have to go through a process to find this voice?
My first project in New York, Belle Mare, was very minimal at the beginning. In fact Belle Mare was much more chill than Extra Special in its early days. I love performing and writing with Grim Streaker, but as Belle Mare started to play less, I found myself missing a more somber outlet. I decided to start Extra Special so I could still put out music that wasn’t punk.
Does this feel more or less vulnerable to you than Grim Streaker’s sound? More or less natural?
It feels a lot more vulnerable, probably because it’s so personal. In Grim Streaker, I can lash out on stage and not really care if everything sounds perfect. I don’t get nervous in Grim Streaker. I definitely do when I play as Extra Special. I can’t really say which one feels more natural. Both exhibit two very different but legitimate sides of my personality.
You’re moving to Vancouver soon? Is this a covid-based decision or was this something in the works for a long time?
Definitely a covid-based decision. But I’m happy about it. I never got the chance to become a Canadian citizen like the rest of my family, so I’m hoping I can work towards that now. If there’s anything I’ve learned during this pandemic is that it’s valuable to have options.
How much do you think Place/community can affect your sound?
A lot. I mean I feel like my peers and I are always at each other’s shows and observing things that wow us and then incorporating aspects of that into each other’s sound and performances. You start to notice what the audience is connecting with and what they keep coming back for.
Everyone lends to each other and it’s not as though people are ripping each other off it’s literally just leading to further inspiration.
What will you miss most about Brooklyn? What will you be happy to leave?
More than anything I’m going to miss my friends. I’ve never felt more a part of a community than I have here. These people are my chosen family. I’m going to miss being a regular at all of my local spots. I’m definitely going to miss the convenience of everything, like having 25 types of ice cream beneath my bedroom at the bodega. But I will be happy to hopefully have a place with a living room, and a garden, or even just a tiny balcony. I think I’ll just be happy to be in a calmer city, at least for the time being. I’m starting to crave that after nearly a decade of craziness.
A lot of these lyrics seem to be rooted in a very Brooklyn experience — running into people all the time, dressing up in case you do run into them. Does this fall under things you’ll miss or things you’ll be happy to leave — or both?
I will not miss running into people all the time when I’m hungover with no makeup on. This is one reason I am all for wearing a mask and sunglasses right now. But I will miss running into all my friends whenever I’m out. That’s one of the things I love about living here. It’s like a mini Disneyland and everyone’s running around the park bumping into one another.
Photo by John Burgundy. Edited by Grace Eire.
These songs are pretty focused on heartbreak — how important do you think it is to go through that in order to grow?
I would say that my most significant growth phases in life have come from heartbreak. So very important. Even though I wish it on no one, because it sucks and it hurts so bad, it also has its benefits.
“My Car Is Parked In Canada” almost has a late 90’s Natalie Imbruglia kind of feeling to me — she was the first tape that I listened to all the time on my walkman. Do you remember your first tape or CD? Would you still listen to it now?
Ooo wow, compliment!!! Love her. I think my first tape was probably the band Steps from England. Or the Spice Girls. And yes I do still listen to them now because I love nostalgia.
From “True Fear” to “My Car Is Parked In Canada” you go from getting way too stoned and needing your friend to take care of you, to thinking about who you want to raise future kids with. Do you feel like current circumstances have pushed you to think more deeply about what you actually want in life?
100%. More than ever. It has literally shaken me out of a path I probably could have stayed on for years but also probably shouldn’t have continued on.
If you could describe what this EP means to you in one word what would it be?
Independence
What’s next for Extra Special?
Well, the first EP is done and due out before the end of the year, and I’m already done with the second song of the next record! I’ve got stacks of songs ready to record, its just about raising the finances to do so.
Listen to Extra Special here. Keep an eye out for the rest of the songs later this year. Tracklisting below.
LAZY ABOUT IT – TRACKLISTING
01. I Hate Love
02. True Fear
03. Thanks To You
04. Hard To Mend
05. My Car Is Parked In Canada
