THE TRUE TORI IS AMY & THIS IS HER STORY
Favorite Color? I love all my colors but White would be the one. Favorite Food? I Love Fooood!! I can’t just pick one! Hahaaha Favorite television show growing up? Wow .. The Cosby show, Different Strokes, The Facts Of Life, There’s so many, I could go on! And current would be That crazy Love and Hip Hop!! Favorite Music genre? Wow I’m not stuck on one sound. I’m always listening to a variety of genre From Hip hop, Alternative, Hard Rock, Slow Love songs, My latin music like Salsa.. etc.. And of course My Dance Music!! Favorite horror movie? All the Classics like Halloween, Freddy Krueger Nightmare on Elm Street, Carrie! Favorite movie of all-time? The Notebook Favorite book you've read? Men are from Mars Women are from Venus cause we are definitely are from two different worlds! lol Dream vacation? I’ve been very lucky to have traveled to many different places but I love traveling to the islands. I absolutely love the beach and sun. But so far I looove Bermuda! Very beautiful. Favorite actor? Denzel Washington and Johnny Depp Favorite recording artists male?....female?.....group?... Honestly since I listen to so many different artist and music I don’t have a favorite. Too many to really point them out. Favorite midnight snack? Pistachios, Cashews or Almonds with some dried Craisins and Extra sharp white chedder cheese all the time! Mmmm.. I could have some now! hahaha If you were in a foxhole (at war) who would you want there watching your back? If you mean someone famous I’d say The Rock. Now in real life I better have anyone with lots of ammunition!!
FOR THE MANY THAT HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR OR SEE AMY TORI PERFORM CONSIDER IT A BLESSING AND AS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT; YOU ARE LOOSING OUT ON THE LAST OF THE URBAN/CLUB SOUND THAT ONCE CAPTURED OUR AIRWAVES.
WITH JUST A HANDFULL OF ARTISTS DEVELOPING NEW MATERIAL AMY MIGHT JUST BE THE NEW RESURGENCE OF DANCE MUSIC....
WE CAUGHT UP WITH AMY AND HAD A CHANCE TO FIND OUT ALL ABOUT THE NEW SCHOOL PLAN TO BRING IT ALL BACK & BETTER THAN EVER--->>THIS IS HER EXCLUSIVE....THIS IS THE AMY TORI STORY ONLY IN UNIDOS MAGAZINE!!!!!
Let's go back to the beginning, tell us a bit about yourself?
Well let's see.... my mother is originally from Honduras but was raised in Guatemala and my father is Dominican/Puerto Rican so I'm in a big mix culturally but latina nevertheless. I'm from Queens N.Y. and was brought up in the Bronx N.Y. area where I went to school (P.S.18, I.S.183 & Julia Richman H.S.) I am a twin but funny, we are both opposites and usually did our own thing. It was your typical latin family growing up and music was always the great escape during that period in time in the Bronx back then, disco and latin pop was heard throughout the house and the radio and the now famous stations of yesterday were our usual setting for (what I didn't know at the time) the platform of what I would be doing today. I grew up with my mother being the single parent and I tried keeping myself occupied early on as I became involved with our school choir in elementary school and stayed pretty much involved in the arts all the way into high school(Julia Richman).......the rest is history*
How did you become involved with music, tell us how did it happen for you?
Oh!!!.....It was 1997, a friend of mine from JHS had a group and we were doing our thing, I was very much a dancer at the time and enjoyed doing that although in the back of my mind singing was such a great form of expression and when she told me to get ready to work on this group project I was more than ready. The problem was that we didn't know how to go about doing it like producer, music, studio, editing song. We cut a demo with a song and just didn't know how to shop it or who to go to to take it to the next level and a friend sent us to Peter Fontaine who recommended us to a Castle Hill record shop and producer Wilson Yepez. He sat and met with us, as he told each of us to sing for him so he can listen to our voices, well we went home and this went on several times meeting and checking out what to do next and he calls me and tells me that he really wasn't feeling my friends voice but that he would work with me but that the song we had wasn't right. I didn't want to betray my friend and told him that I couldn't do that to her and loyalty made me walk away at first. As time went on he reached out to me and I learned that the business is about talent and that they truly knew better than I did....so I gave it a shot and we worked on a song and project that would bring in Ron Esco (Cutting Records) as a writer and Avant Garde would take the production project and we cut what would become my first single track "Don't Turn Your Back On Me" shortly I was signed to Metropolitan Records
Why Freestyle/Dance (give us an insight)
Yes I could have sang r&b, pop, etc... but culturally dance music was still there and everyone thought it would sustain itself as it's popularity was at an alltime high. Many artists who had crossed over, were of some type of urban development Madonna, Lisa Lisa, La India, Marc Anthony, Benda K Starr etc....... so the platform was great at the time. We were considered the new school of freestyle/dance and it all happen so fast for me, within months I was performing and my single "Don't Turn Your Back On Me" went #7 on the dance charts. Thank God for my dance background (jazz, classical, urban, hip hop) and being a part of a dance group it was more natural for me but as a solo artist they were not looking at a group of dancers anymore but me solo on stage so I was truly nervous, but once I started singing I was alright......it was then that I knew that it was my true calling. My first performance was up in a Bronx Festival and I'm gonna tell you that it was scary, I was there with the dancers from KR3Ts (Violet Galagarza) and there was something going on with police sirons and running....crazy with police chases {we laugh} but my most satisfying moment was when I performed at Universal Studios in Florida with a sea of people and it was the largest venue back then and being on television with autographs and knowing that I had a musical following felt amazing.
As a performer, can you share with us one of your most awkward moments?
I really cannot recall an awkward moment{she pauses for a moment -thinking-} OMG!!!!!......Yes!!!...I was doing a taping for a television show and the night before I was dealing with a breathing asthma complication but it had subsided, so while taping I am singing and develop this cough but then I just start to laugh and just could't stop laughing and coughing at the same time .....I have to say that that was truly awkward {we laugh}.
Many do not know that you had your own radio show "Hot Spot", tell us....how did you get involved in radio?
Yes!!!... A while back I was contacted by D.J. Lexx who rocks XtremeMixxRadio. com (internet radio) and L.O.F. a.k.a. LegendsOfFreestyle.com, we talked about putting a broadcasted show together and developed ironically "Hot Spot" (which is the title to one of my recent singles). It did very well, It was on Sundays at 8pm when everyone was at home relaxing so the time was good and it also gave me a great platform to work with and speak freely about great topics...I really enjoyed that run on the air, it was a learning experience for me.
Give us both your biggest turn off and turn on?
I'm gonna say hands down liars is my biggest turn off and for my top turn on it would have to be traveling to beautiful exotic places with beaches.....like the islands
Your video for your recent release "Hot Spot" (directed by Fernando Dejesus) was entirely shot on location in East Harlem. Why did you choose to shoot in Spanish Harlem and not elsewhere?
I've always found that East Harlem is culturally rich and has such an impact on us latinos there, it is the one place that I truly enjoy the surroundings and allows me to love my culture. I grew up around that cultural setting and the graffitti on 104th street and Lexington Avenue is such an iconic mural that speaks to us in so many ways. I knew that it was the perfect place to shoot "Hot Spot". Ty Bless did such an amazing job collaborating with me on this track and as you can see in the video that he had fun shooting in his home turf (East Harlem).
What are you doing currently?
Well I just finished putting out another track (produced by Rob Federici) called "It's Over" (Rob Viera produced video), I collaborated with Erik Cristian and it is also doing very well. Now with both tracks out I have really been busy promoting my music and taking dance music to a new level, truly giving the listener what they want with mixture of some different feel like electro pop, urban, edm, break beat, hip freestyle etc....... it's about feel and what moves you and sometimes you have to follow your audience and listeners or they will turn away. Freestyle didn't die more so that freestyle stood stuck on the same format and artists .... it's ready to explode again with the many that are waiting to give all there musical talents and wake up the sleeping giant like Julio Mena,Willie Valentin, Artie & Legit, Synthia Figueroa, etc.... I am performing currently in Texas, Cali, Florida, New York just doing my thing and performing for the masses.
In conclusion, What would you like to say to close out and what are your future plans?
I will continue to put out my message through song, it is my passion and my fans and followers keep me humbled and dedicated to them. I do lots of charity work especially with cancer overall (just did cancer event and walk *American Cancer Society*) I plan to continue to do so as giving back is so important to me. As far as music, I just had the priviledge to work once again with Dan Carrone (producer) of several past tracks*"Another Story","I Still Remember","Cold" & "I Know".....he is from Louisiana and heads up Tears Of Technology-504 Productions.
We worked on a remake/remix of two past tracks "Crying"&"I'm Free"......can't wait for the results of that.
Oh..& I just got an offer to revise my Hot Spot Show with Unidos Radio (UM-Radio) so I'm also looking forward to joining you guys on your new quest with a spin off internet radio station from your successful magazine here.--*exclusive interview*-John Rosario for Unidos Magazine
SHOUT OUTS & THANK YOUs
So here are my thank yous..
I have a lot of faith and believe in the almighty God. Thank you God!!!
I want to thank the fans.. I want to thank my family and friends who have always supported me. I want to thank the producers who I have worked with and have giving me a chance. Wilson Yepez, Dan Carrone, Fernando Phaze Dejesus, Rob Federici .Ron Esco for writing my very first song ...
Photographers Michelle Toribio, Rob Viera who also produced "It's Over" Video, Ruel Fraze Powermoves who produced Hot Spot video..
Shout outs to my homies Louie Legit,Maria"Ria"Rodriguez, Aby & Ayna for making Hot Spot Video happen, Freestyle Ricky who will always spread the word loud and clear! Lol, KR3T'S Violet, Jerry Vargas and holla out to Cali for my boy and producer of "Don't Rush".. Yuyo Mc.
All the Dj's who plays my songs! ..
My walking fit crew lol
Mariah and Marion and those who fed me hotdogs!
Lmao..
Omggg To many names to mention!
Everyone who has been a part of my life and journey.
The old school Artist who I look up too..
The new school Artist that also Rocks! Which need to be given a chance to shine and be heard on the radio NOW! Muahzz Xoxoxo I'm truly blessed to have so many people in my life who truly love and care for me and get that in return! THANK YOU i know I've forgotten but please don't hate me ...You know how old people forget! Lmao Xoxoxo
