Building Soft Universes with Sharp Architecture (Ft. AMAKA)

AMAKA: Creating Her Own World | Vocal Production, Dance Music & “Love It Alone”What happens when a vocalist stops playing it safe and gives herself permission to explore every corner of her creativity?? Just ask AMAKA.Formerly one half of the beloved R&B duo VanJess, the Nigerian-American singer and songwriter is building a world of her own as a solo artist — one where R&B in all its forms, electronic music, dance-floor rhythms, and a little bit of the unexpected can all coexist.Steph + Muse sit down with AMAKA to get into her latest project, Love It Alone, and the creative evolution behind this new chapter. The Psyce traces the journey from her early days as a modest songwriter to finding the confidence to fully inhabit her voice, her sound, and the characters she brings to life in each song.And because this is The Psyce, we couldn't just talk about the music — we had to get into the making of it. From her creative chemistry with KAYTRANADA (including their history dating back to VanJess and his Grammy-winning BUBBA album) to her more recent work with electronic producer Kingdom, we nerd out about vocal production, vocal textures, layering, and the little details that make a record feel like a whole universe.We also get into her love of artists who build worlds through sound, including Janelle Monáe and Japanese pop group Perfume, and make room for a bigger conversation about Black women shaping the intersection of R&B and dance music. Because there is a whole ecosystem of Black girlies making music for the club, the headphones, and the imagination — and we want ALL the names on the table.AMAKA opens up about trusting her instincts, experimenting with her tone, and embracing the freedom to be eclectic.This one is for the R&B heads, the electronic music lovers, the vocal-production nerds, and anybody who has ever heard a song and immediately needed to know HOW they made that sound.Listen to AMAKA's Love It Alone and get into the conversation.🎙️ Steph + Muse have entered the chat.Follow The Psyce Podcast (@thepsycepodcast) for more conversations about music, culture, and the people making it.

Your fave music heads are back, the opinions are loaded, and apparently everybody the savings accounts are in danger. Welcome to Episode 176 of The Psyce!First and F*ckin Foremost... Did y'all vote? Oh... Okay...Steph and Muse are catching up on concerts, celebrating a little family history (shoutout to "Senior", Muse's dad, and his well-deserved Gogo Hall of Fame induction!), and getting into the latest shenanigans happening in music and pop culture.First up: HOV IS GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL?! Jay-Z has tapped himself for the 2027 halftime show, and the rap world has THOUGHTS. From Ma$e and Cam'ron's commentary to the inevitable conversations about who else could have gotten the gig, we're asking the important questions. And no, before you start typing, Chris Brown, Kanye, and Drake aren't necessarily the answers.Meanwhile, Beyoncé is looking FAB on the cover of i-D, the tour-ready body is apparently back, and Muse's Car money trembling. We also get into Bey's ability to laugh at herself while continuing to collect those coins (because Cécred is doing just fine, thank you very much).Elsewhere, Keyshia Cole and the infamous 6/7 man have us questioning whether ANYBODY is okay. (They're not.)Then we put R&B under the microscope. Lucky Daye, John Legend, Joyce Wrice, VicMo (again)... is Q4 giving us a little R&B drought, or are we just being difficult? And finally, tour announcements have our bank accounts in a chokehold with Lucky Daye, Cleo Sol, Tinashe, Tyla, Doja Cat, and a little Gnarls Barkley excitement for Muse.Basically, there's a lot to discuss, a lot to spend money on, and absolutely no reason for us to behave.IN THIS EPISODE:Jay-Z announced for the 2027 Super Bowl Halftime ShowMa$e and Cam'ron weigh in on HovBeyoncé's i-D cover and the return of tour seasonCécred collecting accoladesKeyshia Cole and the 6/7 man... chile.Is R&B having a Q4 slump?New music from Lucky Daye, John Legend, and Joyce Wrice (even though we still listening to Tinashe)Tour announcements: Lucky Daye, Cleo Sol, Tinashe, Tyla, Doja Cat & Gnarls BarkleyIf you enjoyed the foolishness, LIKE, COMMENT, SUBSCRIBE, and tell us where you stand. Especially on that R&B conversation. We know y'all have opinions.The Psyce: Black music. All genres. A sprinkling of pop culture. A SHIT-TON of foolishness.

TINASHE. POPSTAR. NUMBER 6 ON THE BILLBOARD 200. AND WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO TELL Y'ALL! 👑😭Lots of artists you discover. Some artists you even admire. And then there are the artists you have been championing since DAY ONE — before the group chats caught on, before the girls started gagging, before the accolades, and before everybody suddenly had Tinashe in their playlists.Welcome to The Anatomy of a Popstar.With the release of Popstar and Tinashe reaching the highest Billboard 200 chart position of her career at No. 6, Steph + Muse are taking a moment to celebrate an artist whose journey this podcast has followed, championed, and introduced to COUNTLESS friends since her earliest project.But this conversation is bigger than an album review.What does it actually take for a Black woman to become a popstar?We’re getting into Tinashe’s evolution as an artist, the work behind the success, the industry expectations, the talent, the vision, and what it means to keep betting on yourself when the recognition doesn't always arrive on everybody else's timeline.We're talking Popstar, her career-defining moment, and why this album deserves to be celebrated — not just because of where it landed on the charts, but because of everything it took to get here.And listen… if you've been here since the beginning, you already know we are NOT about to be objective about our girl. 😂 We love Tinashe DOWN.So whether you've been a day-one stan with us or you're just now discovering what we've been screaming about for years, pull up a chair.The girls are gagging. The group chat is active. The receipts are READY.Tinashe, this one's for you. We see you, we celebrate you, and we BEEN seen the vision. 🖤Pull up and Press play on The Psyce. Let's talk about what it takes to become a popstar.🎙️ Subscribe to The Psyce for music, culture, and the conversations your group chat needs to already be having.#Tinashe #Popstar #ThePsyce #AnatomyOfAPopstar #BlackWomenInMusic #MusicPodcast

The village is supposed to raise us… but what happens when the village is SLOW?! 😭This week on The Psyce, Steph + Muse are back with a LOT to unpack — because apparently the celebrities have decided to keep us employed. We’re getting into the backlash surrounding Jasmine Crockett honoring Chris Brown and Usher with a congressional record recognition, and asking the question: Who approved this?! We’re also talking Macklemore, Ed Sheeran and the “Free Palestine” fallout, P!nk’s very-much-not-convincing-enough apology, and whether artists are really supposed to be choosing sides when the politics get uncomfortable. Then there’s Victoria Monét making the bold decision to drop tour dates before the album… because apparently we’re just supposed to trust the vision. 😭 Meanwhile, Soul Train Awards is coming back to television, and we have THOUGHTS. And because The Psyce cannot discuss music without eventually getting our feelings involved, we’re talking Jhené Aiko’s new album Westside Whimsy — and one of these hosts is taking certain songs VERY personally. Take a wild guess which one... We’re also celebrating Tinashe dropping TWO new tracks because yes, we stan, Kehlani’s tour recap, the struggle to secure Stevie Wonder tickets, and whatever else has been happening in the musical group chat. Basically, celebrities are getting on our nerves, the music is keeping us sane, and the village may need to be put on probation.Press play and Pull Up!Follow us on all the socials to keep up with our antics. Tell a friend to tell a friend.#ThePsyce #RNB #MusicTalk #PopCulture #JhenéAiko #Tinashe #Kehlani #Macklemore #SoulTrainAwards

It’s officially Cancellation Nation, and this time, The Psyce ain’t talking about the culture. Concerts? Baby… you in danger, girl. With some of our fave artists pulling the plug on tours, dates disappearing off the calendar, and ticket sales looking a little too much like our bank accounts after rent is due, Steph + Muse had to get into it. Is the economy economy-ing so hard that even live music is catching strays? Are ticket prices simply out of control? And when did going to a concert start requiring a payment plan, a prayer, and a GoFundMe? This week, your favorite music heads are getting to the bottom of what might be every concertgoer’s personal pandemic: the struggle to get people out the house and into these venues. From Isaiah Falls, Kehlani, and Ravyn Lenae to the highly anticipated Insecure reunion experience with Issa and nem, nobody is safe from the conversation. So what’s the solution? Do today’s artists need to take a page from the oldheads and start grouping up for those three-for-one “everybody get on this tour” legacy act packages? Or will the pendulum finally swing back toward ticket prices that don’t require us to refinance the house? Because at this point, inflation is up, ticket sales are down, and somebody needs to explain what the hell is going on. Do your big one for us and Press play. Like | Comment | Subscribe on YouTubeFollow us everywhere @thepsycepodcast

Remember that time in 2024 where one of the Psyce's musical superheroes came and sat down to chat? We are now bringing that audio to the big screen. Beyoncé never gave y'all them visuals, but this podcast sure will. GAG!!!!! Ms. Jack Davey, one half of the iconic J*Davey, is here to chat all things badass and biz, music biz that is. While letting the Psyce traipse about the groups' discography and talk about their fave songs from Slooow all the way to Queen of Wonderland down to Raincheck, and even her solo song Undone, the cast was let in on so many secrets and stories never told about the music. Being mancrazy, being different, being horny without being crass, being inspired, being a musical child of the legendary Prince... This episode was such a good time, so much so that we wanted the people to actually SEE IT. From independent icons to mainstream misfits, J*Davey spoke to an entire segment of the podcast's life and moreover birthed an onslaught of talent that we know and love still today. Inspiring acts like The Internet and always uplifting fellow superstars from their era of onset into the industry like Janelle Monae, Jack Davey and Brooke D'Leau will forever be honored in the industry for their contributions and what they still do. Steph + Muse's musical maturation into adulthood is still smiling from this interview.Now, Muse's Pre- Ordered Vinyl of their double sided debut, The Beauty in Distortion/The Land of the Lost should finally be in the mail, so to commemorate, here is the Visual premiere of episode 115. This One is for the Groupchat (w/ Jack Davey)Like//Comment//SubscribeFollow the Psyce everywhere@thepsycepodcast

The Summer is still heating up so It's been a minute since we done one of these type of joints. This podcast has changed sooo much even from the time of some of this footage. It's compilation nation from the best of the best and the funniest of the funny on this here episode of the Psyce. Never fear, the cast is HERE! Listen and WATCH for some never before seen funny, interviews, and clips of the baddest podcast in the land with your two fave music heads at the helm doing the utmost as usual. Big shout out to all of the guests featured this go round. We couldn't do it without y'all.Like//Comment//SubscribeFollow the Psyce everywhere@thepsycepodcast

According to Steph, "Aunt" is a way of life. This episode is dedicated to the Psyce's favorite archetype of doll. She's gender non-conforming, she's ghetto, she's a good time, and she just is. It's Aunt's night out as your two fave music heads recant this year's aunt shows and functions. The podcast keep a ticket to a show but so far the concerts are ranging from Jill Scott, to Jon B. and back again. Also... Do we have eyes on Act III? What the hell Bey and Jay doing now? Anti fast fashion dolls swear they. more grand than a lil bit, and why is no one having as much fun as the Fentys? Listen in as some of your faves either get uplifted or catch strays in the name. Welcome to another episode of this ridiculousness.Follow us everywhere @thepsycepodcastIf you're watching on YouTube - you know what to do.Like | Comment | Subscribe. It helps the show out a bunch. Plus, we love to engage with all of yall, our co-hosts :).

Ebony was right, we just came to dance for y'all, that's all. Listen to your fave music nerds, Steph + Muse, as they deep dive into the joy of the pop/dance genre from an R&B lens. This episode is an exploration into this summer's R&B darlings' foray into the Pop and Dance genres. So many of today's hottest girls in Black music are elaborating on their own sounds and going for something a bit more FUN. Artists like Tinashe, Chxrry22, Amaarae, and even Jai'len Josey are presenting heart rate inducing anthems for the clubs. WE LOVE THAT! Whitney did say that "the clubs are happening", and it's about time the dolls listened. The world is ending, let's at least have a party!!!!!If you're new here to our Channel:Like | Comment | Subscribe and all the other stuff you supposed to do to keep up with us :)If you're back for more:Thanks for sticking around and welcome back, you'll love it here.Follow us everywhere at ThePsycePodcast, we are so happy you're listening. Until next time...

These past couple weeks, the utmost has happened in music, so The Psyce had to drop a few days early and get ahead of these stories. From Black Boy Bands, to the BET Awards, Summer 2026 is shaping up to be a kii, cackle, and complete rager. Have a ball with your favorite dolls, Muse + Steph, as they get to the nitty gritty on "Spend That", Tributes done right, why being grown will make you miss out, Coco Jones breaking the 4th wall, and everything in between.Follow us on all platforms @ThePsycePodcast Like|Comment|Subscribe and everything else you gotta do to make sure you don't miss a minute of mess. :)