Words by Kelly Carrazzone

Infectiously personable Aries baby Almondmilkhunni is taking over the internet, one badass pop/R&B song at a time. Through the recent release of their EP and catchy, stuck-in-your-head singles, the global pandemic has proven to be no match for the effortless success Almondmilkhunni continues to achieve at only 23 years old. I got to sit down with the up-and-coming starlet via Zoom to discuss artistic growth, finding creative freedom away from a label, and the intoxicating energy that resides only in our roots on the ever-so-lovely east coast.

There are viral superstars that come along in passing, and then there are people like Almondmilkhunni: grounded, passionate creators who build natural connections with others without even trying. In a world of mainstream music machines, Almondmilkhunni stands out as a stunning singer, songwriter, and influencer who captures fans with their kind spirit and no-nonsense attitude.

The dream was always to become a singer. Coming from a musical background in good ol’ New Jersey, Almondmilkhunni always had a definitive passion for music, even as they ventured down the more ‘practical’ young adult route that included going to college for impressive courses in poli-sci/pre-law. But passions don’t go away that easily. Over time, they realized they still had that burning desire to take a more creative, musical path in life. While it was definitely a scary step away from the norm, Almondmilkhunni knew that trying music was a chance they simply had to take.

The leap of faith into full-time music was made easier by a foundation of loyal social media followers that have been eager to watch the spiritual, endearingly authentic Almondmilkhunni grow as a new artist. In 2019, Almondmilkhunni dropped their debut single “Grapefruit” that boasts almost 2 million streams on Spotify alone. The success of “Grapefruit” (which had no money or marketing team behind its release) solidified that music was something Almondmilkhunni should confidently pursue. Another nod from the universe that Almondmilkhunni was meant to take on the daunting career path into music? Their Philadelphia-based producer Wesley Curtis had the same birthday as them, down to the year, day, and hour!

“Putting ‘Grapefruit’ together was super organic. I was completely independent, working with my producer Wesley Curtis, and after putting it out one night the song just went crazy online! That’s when I realized I wanted to stick with music and see what I could really do.”

The natural collaboration between Almondmilkhunni and their producer during the creation of “Grapefruit” not only jumpstarted their career, it also planted the seeds for future artistic independence. After signing with a label, Almondmilkhunni continued to release sensual, feel-good pop/R&B singles like “Henni Heartbreak”, “Cherry”, and “damnboy” which all dropped during the year of the global pandemic. To date, their music has amassed hundreds of thousands of streams, on top of a similarly impressive following on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. Talk about an interesting time for one’s musical career to take off!

Despite the inevitable pause in the motion of the music industry (we can all agree that lack of shows, halted tours, and pushed back music releases were a real bummer) Almondmilkhunni used this time to go back to their roots and come to the tough realization that maybe being under a label wasn’t the best choice for them.

“It’s tough when you can’t control your outside world (COVID-19) and you can’t control your inside world with the direction of your music. Long-term, outside of this pandemic, I realized maybe I do want more control. It was a big moment for me when I realized I wanted to go back to my roots of creating songs organically.”

After reflecting for months over the direction of their career, Almondmilkhunni left their label in February, officially making the decision to become a fully independent artist once again. In an industry that tends to equate success to whatever label/decision-makers an artist is tied to, there is a sense of relief that someone as genuinely perceptive as Almondmilkhunni is now able to carve their own career path.

It is always fascinating to hear how artists walk that fine line between total vulnerability in their songwriting while also maintaining a certain level of privacy. For someone who has been very open and honest with their online fanbase for years, it comes as no surprise that Almondmilkhunni is up for the challenge of truly authentic songwriting. They already connect with followers and fans on a daily basis on social media, sharing triumphs and letdowns with a fearless, bad bitch aura. Now it’s time to put those raw feelings into their upcoming releases, and they are more ready than ever before.

“I’ve always been really genuine about the things I talk about, even if it’s a funny tweet or an upsetting experience I talk about in a song. Luckily, people really seem to resonate with that and it’s such a blessing that I don’t ever have to try and be anything that I’m not. I am very grateful for that!”

For fans eager to hear more from the sweet and sultry songwriter, the fall of this year is a season to be excited for. Since returning to Philly, Almondmilkhunni has been getting back into their creative groove with producer Wesley Curtis, who clearly brings out such an awesome, creative side of our favorite songstress. Getting back to their roots has given Almondmilkhunni a ton of creative freedom that they are excitedly channeling into new music projects. Sometimes it’s a place that grounds us in our passions, and for Almondmilkhunni, being back in the basement making music with their producer is just what they needed to keep creating content that their fans will truly connect with.

Not only is Almondmilkhunni planning a few upcoming single releases this summer, but we will hopefully get to hear their highly anticipated debut album soon, which is projected to be completed by the end of the year. Almondmilkhunni also says fans can look forward to hearing bangers like “Grapefruit”, “Henni Heartbreak”, and “Mean To You” live in the later months of 2021.

“I’ll be performing some live things here and there, so I think the fall of this year is going to be really huge. I’m excited. I feel that original “Grapefruit” energy with me and my producer Wesley Curtis back in the basement again.”

Watching Almondmilkhunni achieve so much in only the first few months of their career is such a thrill. There is no artist with quite as much fearless passion and drive to succeed as the young, starry-eyed singer/songwriter. Without a doubt, the coming months will prove Almondmilkhunni as a household name that people continue to turn to for authentic tunes that are simply good for the soul.

Check out Almondmilkhunni’s latest single release, “Mean To You” here. You can stay up to date with their upcoming music releases (and enjoy their hilarious relatable content) by following Almondmilkhunni on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.

Feature: Almondmilkhunni

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