Felix Ames drops the official music video for '7711'
Last week, Milwaukee-born singer Felix Ames shared a truly cinematic music video to accompany his soul-stirring single ‘7711’. Directed by Tanner Deutsch, Ames sums the video up as “The celebration of a life worth living”.
Speaking further on the meaning behind the music video, Felix Ames expresses that it is “A celebration of life while recognizing the weight of existing we all carry.”
Originally released in May 2022, ‘7711’ was one of the first songs to be released by Ames. Fast forward to the 19th of October, the single featured on his debut album ‘JENA’, which blissfully featured a medley of vibrant Jazz, R&B, soul, and gospel notes, taking you on a journey through Felix’s varied musical inspirations in life. In the making of ‘JENA,’ Felix mastered the fine art of gelling together the very best from music, new and old, to create a sound that feels distinctly modern with a crucial nod to his old-school R&B roots.
Throughout the campaign and release of ‘JENA,’ the album garnered tremendous support and acclaim from the likes of Wonderland Magazine, House Of Solo, and Wordplay Magazine and was described by Metal Magazine as “a soulful debut album that just exudes coolness and sensitivity through its twelve tracks.”
Listen to ‘JENA’, the album below
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elix Ames holds up a mirror in his music. The Milwaukee-born singer, songwriter, performer, and designer relays raw and relatable experiences back to listeners over a simmering soul soundtrack accented by R&B drip, alternative eloquence, and a hint of jazz fluidity. He candidly sings about life in a comfortable cadence with the familiarity of a close friend. Beyond generating millions of streams and views independently and earning acclaim from Earmilk, OnesToWatch, Lyrical Lemonade, and more, he might just help you see something about yourself on a series of 2023 singles and his debut project for Def Jam Recordings.
“For me, the main goal of my music is to look in the mirror, and I’m inviting listeners to do the same,” he affirms. “By reflecting on my life, I’m getting the truest art out of myself. I’m on a quest to understand and make sense of the world. Maybe my music will help you make better sense of it too.”
Growing up in Milwaukee, he developed an acute perspective by “living in between the hood and the suburbs and seeing so many different walks of life.” Following his parents’ divorce, he bounced back and forth between mom and dad with his brother and sister. He also leaned on the love of his neighbors and friends. “That’s when I realized how much I needed a village around me,” he says. “It’s where I learned loyalty and to keep your family and friends close.”
Music would be a self-soothing mechanism. He went from spinning his old man’s Stevie Wonder records to obsessing over the likes of D’Angelo, Anthony Hamilton, and Bobby Caldwell, to name a few. In college, he learned Garage Band and cultivated his voice by singing over YouTube beats. In addition to vocal lessons, he taught himself music theory and recording in the midst of the Global Pandemic.
Simultaneously, he architected an immersive sonic vision.
“I’m always creating and trying to express myself to the highest degree,” he goes on. “I’m interested in curating people’s lives. Personally, I’m doing work to be the best person I can be. Then, I’m translating this work into my artistry and hopefully giving you a bigger world to live in.”
Opening a doorway into his world during 2022, he initially gained traction with “Shoestring,” gathering millions of streams and lighting up TikTok. He maintained his momentum with “SPF” and “7711.” Attracting widespread applause, OnesToWatch christened him “one of one” and assured, “His fragrance, his style, his essence cannot be packaged nor duplicated.” 2023 saw him sign to Def Jam Recordings and level up once again.
