More about: Amy Fitz Doyley

Yesterday, we introduced you to the runners up in this year's RSD Unsigned competition, a contest that sees its winner have their music pressed to 500 vinyl records. Hopefully, you discovered a new favourite there. Considering there are representatives of hip-hop, indie, RnB and rock-rap there, we certainly hope so. 

But who won RSD Unsigned 2022!? Meet Amy Fitz Doyley, a BRIT school alumni now making stunning songs replete with dexterous production quirks and Amy's beautiful vocals. Her winning entry, performed alongside Isabel Karamel, exhibited simple but addictive beats and the kind of melody that songwriters are always aiming for.

Here, we got to know Amy a little better.

Gigwise: How does it feel to have won RSD Unsigned?

Amy Fitz Doyley: It feels absolutely amazing - especially to have been chosen out of so many other really great bands and artists! I’m elated and truly grateful! Well done to the 6 runners up!

GW: What made you decide to enter? 

AFD: Having my music on vinyl has always been a dream of mine but just not very attainable for one reason or another. This seemed like the perfect opportunity to give it a go! I actually wanted to enter last year but missed the deadline, so made a promise to myself that this year I’d do better.

GW: Did you expect to win?

AFD: Not at all. I apply for so many things and often forget what I’ve applied for, so when I got the call I was really shocked and somewhat confused!

GW: How long have you been making music for?

AFD: Let’s just say a while…Things have evolved quite a lot for me. I studied acting and dance as a child and then went to the BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology to study Musical Theatre, before heading to The University of Westminster to study Commercial Music, whilst playing in various bands. After all that, I got into playing bass and became more interested in folk, electronic, alternative and experimental styles of music. I’ve also been involved with a few London based music charity organisations including Girls Rock London, on the admin and delivery sides and supporting the next generation of up and coming music makers, which has been really fulfilling!

GW: Who are your biggest influences?

AFD: There. Are. Sooo. Many! This is a really difficult question because I think I’m influenced by so much - not necessarily just styles of music or other artists but also snippets of random conversations, poetry and indescribable emotions. I love all kinds of art too and whenever I get the chance to travel outside of London, I like to scope out the nearest galleries. I grew up on Reggae, Motown, RnB, Hip-Hop, Soul, Jungle, Garage, Choral and some Classical music - so a real mix. Over the years I’ve found myself filling in the gaps through recommendations from friends or collaborators, and I always find it fun and enjoy listening to music I’ve been introduced to, for the first time. Today, I’m listening to Erykah Badu, Raveena, Moses Sumney, Dorothy Ashby, Hiatus Kaiyote, Little Dragon, and Khruangbin. 

GW: What’s the reaction been like to 'Eye of the Needle'?

AFD: It’s been very interesting. I was initially quite worried about releasing the track, bearing in mind how dark it is. I recorded it back in 2019 in Brighton and then sat on it for about three years! At first, I was just waiting for the right moment - but then the unmentionable happened, and everything about releasing new music felt really wrong for a while. When I finally decided to release the track, it still felt wrong because the global situation was even worse, but I’d come to the conclusion that waiting another three years wasn’t going to be a good idea either, so just went for it!

GW: What would you be doing if you weren’t a musician?

AFD: Funny fact: I have a photographic memory, specifically with faces. I took a test with the surveillance arm of the police force and scored really highly on all the tests. I’m what they call a ‘super recogniser’ and can identify faces even if they’ve aged. So… I’d probably be working in the police force (or some private organisation) fighting crime, ha! I’ve even written a song about this weird phenomenon - it’s honestly weird to experience and sometimes a bit embarrassing, so I’ve learnt to pretend I don’t know people!

GW: What was it like to support Public Enemy at the Mostly Jazz Funk & Soul Festival in 2015? 

EFD: Oh, that was incredible. It was my first time being booked outside of London and I travelled with a small band consisting of just keys and drums (before I played bass) to Birmingham. We were so excited and spent the lead up to the gig rehearsing loads. I’d done a music summer camp in Rotterdam with an organisation called Roots & Routes the previous year, and one of the masterclasses was led by an incredible artist called Zap Mama who taught the cohort a bunch of tips and tricks for playing better in band situations, and so I arrived at each of our rehearsals with my director hat on, equipped with some new and especially technical approach to try. I think we even tried playing in a pitch-black room with all the lights off!

GW: What can we expect from you going forward?

AFD: I recently took a course in Sound Design at Pointblank Music School as well as a mixing and mastering course at the London School of Electronic Music and have been thinking about studying more. The plan is to be able to put my skills to good use, through further experimentation with sound. I’m inspired by rhythm and love attempting to sing in other languages too, so you may also hear a bit of that!

GW: Do you have an ultimate career goal?

AFD: Not really, but there is a lot I want to achieve! I regularly jot down ideas on a ‘career to-do list’ and set my sights on attempting to conquer whatever’s next on the list. Ultimately, I just want to be happy. I’d really like to be able to continue expressing myself through music, unapologetically and in my own way, for many years to come!

Issue Three of the Gigwise Print magazine is on sale now! Order here.

More about: Amy Fitz Doyley