Amber became a global superstar in the late 1990s with her infectious dance club hits including “This is Your Night,” “Sexual (Li Da Di)” and “If You Could Read My Mind.”
Since then the Dutch-born German singer/songwriter has toured the world using music to open minds and bring people together, choosing since 2009 to focus on celebrating the love and diversity of the LGBT community by playing Pride events all over the world.
Amber is bringing that proud sound to the Flamingo Resort in St. Petersburg July 16 and Watermark got a chance to ask her a few questions before taking the stage this Saturday.
Watermark: How do you like Florida? Do you have any fun plans while you’re down here?
Amber: I love to soak up the sun and relax in Florida at a more quiet part of the beach and usually take care of all the shopping over there for my son, family and friends. I like to always keep a bag of gifts in my closet that I can pull out for birthdays or other occasions. I love surprising people and enjoy seeing their happy faces with things that they might not get in Europe.
What can people attending your show expect to see and hear?
I am very lucky to have had so many hits that many people consider as a soundtrack to their lives and I get to hear the craziest and most beautiful stories to them. I will sing my heart out for and with them and share some time with my fans.
Are American audiences different from European/Australian audiences?
American audiences are very enthusiastic, where as Europeans are generally a tad more reserved and not easily star struck. Australia is a beautiful place which also reflects in the spirit of its people.
You perform at a lot of Prides and other LGBT-focused events. What drew you (and continues to draw you) to the LGBT community?
Personally, I never went out to chase a certain demographic as a musician but they chose me and I feel very blessed they did. It is the most loyal and sweetest fan base to have. I can relate to many things they went through, as I did not derive from a “happy family” life either. Family is not about “blood,” while you cannot chose your family you still need that kind of loyalty and love in your life.
You’re going to be performing in St. Petersburg, a city that has close ties to Orlando.
I heard about this horrible crime in the early morning in Europe while it was still ongoing and unfolding. I performed there multiple times in the past. I was numb and in shock and still am about all the violence and hate for absolutely no reason. The false rhetoric that is unfortunately taught in many under-educated homes, partially through religion and even publicly communicated through political leaders. There are many people that are left behind by the system and are looking for groups to put their blame and anger on.
It is not easily explained how it comes to that form of violence, but there are many issues in the US connected to this kind of hatred and violence. Poverty, homelessness – there is ongoing massive corruption with no justice on many levels. There is a failing educational system, no good mental-health care system, an entire nation that makes their biggest income by waging wars, and a booming number one worldwide weapon industry [that acts] like it is patriotic to kill many innocent people overseas. A privatized incarceration system. A medical industry that is drugging out masses and legally getting away with it. Every time a mass shooting occurs, even more weapons are sold. The US is thriving on fear at this point and lost the focus on the collective with the notion that competition, capitalism and running each other over to get to theirs has become the “American dream.”
This will only get worse and we can only stop this if we collectively unite and run politicians, lobbyists and corporations out of their offices and take back the control that a true democracy entails. The voting system is a joke, and many presidential candidates talk the talk to the masses but will not follow through anyway once they are in. I truly believe that there are still more good people than bad ones. It is just that the bad people will go all the way and can do real damage, and the good ones are mostly pacifistic in their means and would not turn to violence on that matter.
We need fundamental change but as usual, humanity needs to obviously hit rock bottom again to understand that liberty and democracy are not something to take for granted but something to work on and watch consistently and develop to make it better and make it work for all of us with good intent and a true heart.
Music is about the only tool that brings people together from all walks of lives – it is that wonderful gift of connection, even if it is only for that one moment and that one song. That is why I was always drawn to it, and maybe we just need a huge sound system around the entire world with that one beautiful and meaningful song and sound that hugs us all and pushes that reset button for us once and for all.
