Amana Melome' Proves She Is Still One of Soul's Most Magnetic Voices with New Single "Con C.ALMA"

After several years away from releasing music, and many years spent wrapped up in the magic of motherhood, Amana Melome' steps back into the light with her beautiful new single "Con C.ALMA".

Listen here:

The title Con calma translates to “with calm" from Spanish, but Melome' re-shapes this phrase. The stylized C.ALMA quietly highlights alma, the soul, which is really what she’s tapping into.

There is a definite sense she is singing from a place that has taken its time to find, a place carved out through travel, growth as well as the simple act of living fully.

The melody is warm and unhurried and Melomé allows the lyrics to unfold naturally, just as a thought drifts across your mind. That is part of what makes this song so disarming. Melome' offers a feeling and an invitation to slow down and to trust whatever life is doing behind the scenes.

Into that space steps Deron Johnson, whose presence on this track is a gift. Johnson, known for his work with Miles Davis, plays with extraordinary restraint here. His piano like soft lantern light illuminating Melome'’s vocals without taking the spotlight completely. He is listening, responding and shaping the emotional air around her vocals.

Their performances here fit together despite being recorded an ocean apart with Melome' singing in Spain and Johnson playing in Los Angeles. Somehow they located that same internal pulse, the same breath. It speaks to how clear the emotional centre of this song is. It's clear that Melome' walked into the studio with a very specific frequency in mind, and Johnson was able to tune into it effortlessly.

The song’s minimalism is one of its greatest strengths. Anything unnecessary has been stripped away, leaving only the elements that really matter - Melome''s voice, Johnson's piano and a quiet sense of spaciousness.

She says:

"Con C.ALMA" is the first music I am releasing into the world since I became a mother. It holds a deep meaning for me, as I took my time to “come back” and feel comfortable with giving my love and attention to my music and my fans again!

Con Calma en el Alma is the intention behind the dot in the title, highlighting the word Alma , which translates from Spanish to Soul. With calm in my soul is a frequency I choose to tune into daily!

I wrote Con C.ALMA while on vacation beachside in Italy last summer. I started to sing it and it quickly took shape with sultry horns and latin jazz colors.

Next I had to figure out who to work with to make it come together! Vocals were recorded in Spain, bass was recorded in Italy, while my producer Saverio Principini recorded all other instruments in Los Angeles. I’m honored to have Deron Johnson, who has toured with the likes of Miles Davis and Alanis Morisette, on the keys for this album.

It’s been a challenge working in different locations and time zones, but I am very happy with how it all came together!"

Even with its simplicity, “Con C.ALMA” has some of the weight of Melome'’s jazz heritage.

Her grandfather, Jimmy Woode, was the youngest member of the Duke Ellington Orchestra and played with legends like Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald. Her grandmother was a jazz vocalist. Her aunt, Shawnn Monteiro, is still out there performing and carrying the family torch.

As a return to music, this song is remarkably self assured. Melome' offers the frequency she’s been living in. It's a slow, steady, open hearted calm. And in doing so, she gives listeners a space to unclench, to listen inwards and to remember that the world can be enjoyed at a slower pace.

About Amana Melome'

Amana Melome' is a Euro Caribbean American singer-songwriter. Born in Germany, raised across continents and very much shaped by creative chapters in Florence, New York, Los Angeles and now Stockholm, her music is a unique blend of neo soul, jazz and worldly textures gathered along the way.

Music runs deep in her lineage. Melome' is the granddaughter of legendary bassist Jimmy Woode, the youngest player ever to join Duke Ellington’s orchestra, and the great granddaughter of a jazz vocalist. Her aunt, the acclaimed jazz singer Shawnn Monteiro, continues the family’s musical tradition.

Melome''s earlier releases, including Indigo Red, Lock and Key, and collaborations with production teams such as the Decoders established her as having a gift for blending soul with jazz inflected storytelling.

After taking time away from the spotlight to embrace motherhood, Melome' now returns with music shaped by clarity, presence and a deeper artistic grounding.