Hi, I'm Amy Shark and I'm going Back to School with Student Edge.
Hi, I'm Amy Shark and I'm going Back to School with Student Edge.

Tell us, what were you like as a teenager?
Tell us, what were you like as a teenager?

Oh, teenager.
Oh, teenager.

I was like...
I was like...

I definitely went through some pretty crappy years.
I definitely went through some pretty crappy years.

I think I was a pretty good kid in general, but I think everyone, I mean, maybe not everyone,
I think I was a pretty good kid in general, but I think everyone, I mean, maybe not everyone,

but I definitely had a stage where I was hanging around probably the wrong people, like a lot
but I definitely had a stage where I was hanging around probably the wrong people, like a lot

of us tend to do.
of us tend to do.

Which is always by accident.
Which is always by accident.

So yeah, I had a great, great high school experience.
So yeah, I had a great, great high school experience.

I always had amazing friends around me, and heaps of friends.
I always had amazing friends around me, and heaps of friends.

So many experiences and so many memories.
So many experiences and so many memories.

Like, I have friends now that are like, "I hated school, I hated that time of my life.
Like, I have friends now that are like, "I hated school, I hated that time of my life.

I don't want to talk about it."
I don't want to talk about it."

Whereas, as much as there were so many things to digest that happened when I was a teenager,
Whereas, as much as there were so many things to digest that happened when I was a teenager,

and a young teenager, with, like, my parents... my parents were already divorced.
and a young teenager, with, like, my parents... my parents were already divorced.

There were so many other things that I probably won't dive into, but I still look back on
There were so many other things that I probably won't dive into, but I still look back on

it and think, it was the best years ever.
it and think, it was the best years ever.

I don't know why, but I had a really great sort-of teenage life.
I don't know why, but I had a really great sort-of teenage life.

Well, that's really great to hear.
Well, that's really great to hear.

That you still sort-of look back on it fondly, even though, as with everyone, teenage years
That you still sort-of look back on it fondly, even though, as with everyone, teenage years

can be pretty tumultuous.
can be pretty tumultuous.

When did you get into music, for instance?
When did you get into music, for instance?

Was that something you discovered at a fairly young age?
Was that something you discovered at a fairly young age?

Yeah, definitely.
Yeah, definitely.

I had a pretty awesome library to work from home.
I had a pretty awesome library to work from home.

My parents were into some pretty cool music, like The Police.
My parents were into some pretty cool music, like The Police.

My dad was a big Silverchair fan.
My dad was a big Silverchair fan.

Led Zeppelin.
Led Zeppelin.

So there was a really great start for me to hear some great music at a very young age.
So there was a really great start for me to hear some great music at a very young age.

I think I knew "Sweet Child O' Mine" before "Incy Wincy Spider".
I think I knew "Sweet Child O' Mine" before "Incy Wincy Spider".

Anyway, I probably started...
Anyway, I probably started...

I always was really into music and I was always drawn to really sad music for
I always was really into music and I was always drawn to really sad music for

some reason.
some reason.

Like I would always go straight to the ballads, sad stuff, especially throughout school.
Like I would always go straight to the ballads, sad stuff, especially throughout school.

I don't know.
I don't know.

I went through a real gothic... not goth... oh, maybe a little bit goth .That was in.
I went through a real gothic... not goth... oh, maybe a little bit goth .That was in.

That was the thing.
That was the thing.

Sure.
Sure.

Oh man, if you weren't dying your hair black, it was like, you're just not in.
Oh man, if you weren't dying your hair black, it was like, you're just not in.

So it was all a lot of punk and a lot of really angry music.
So it was all a lot of punk and a lot of really angry music.

And that's what I started writing.
And that's what I started writing.

I was in a couple of bands but I never used to sing at school.
I was in a couple of bands but I never used to sing at school.

Because when I was at school, if you didn't sound like Mariah Carey, you wouldn't sing.
Because when I was at school, if you didn't sound like Mariah Carey, you wouldn't sing.

It's like, "Oh, you're not gifted.
It's like, "Oh, you're not gifted.

You weren't given a voice."
You weren't given a voice."

So it's okay, I thought, "Maybe I could play guitar," I still love music.
So it's okay, I thought, "Maybe I could play guitar," I still love music.

I used to have a real addiction with writing.
I used to have a real addiction with writing.

I remember, I'd go to bed... like, I used to live in my room.
I remember, I'd go to bed... like, I used to live in my room.

My parents used to call it the Batcave.
My parents used to call it the Batcave.

And I would be in the Batcave, like, playing guitar, listening to music, for hours.
And I would be in the Batcave, like, playing guitar, listening to music, for hours.

They'd come in to check that I was breathing.
They'd come in to check that I was breathing.

I used to have such an addiction with writing just words and poems, I guess.
I used to have such an addiction with writing just words and poems, I guess.

Because they weren't actually songs, just yet.
Because they weren't actually songs, just yet.

But yeah, I used to write all the time at night.
But yeah, I used to write all the time at night.

And then, got better and better at guitar, because that's all I did.
And then, got better and better at guitar, because that's all I did.

As soon as I got home, I'd play.
As soon as I got home, I'd play.

And try and learn songs that I liked and whatever.
And try and learn songs that I liked and whatever.

Then we started a band, and I still was all up in my head like, "I'm not a singer.
Then we started a band, and I still was all up in my head like, "I'm not a singer.

I don't sing."
I don't sing."

I was writing a lot for the band.
I was writing a lot for the band.

One day I was trying to explain the melody to one of the girls in the band, and she was
One day I was trying to explain the melody to one of the girls in the band, and she was

like... and I ended up singing it.
like... and I ended up singing it.

She was like, "Hey you don't suck.
She was like, "Hey you don't suck.

You should do it more."'
You should do it more."'

What a compliment.
What a compliment.

Yeah.
Yeah.

"You don't completely suck at singing."
"You don't completely suck at singing."

So, yeah, as bad as I was - I listened to some old stuff and wow, it's hard to listen
So, yeah, as bad as I was - I listened to some old stuff and wow, it's hard to listen

to that sort of stuff, you know?
to that sort of stuff, you know?

When you get a bit older and you mature.
When you get a bit older and you mature.

It did take me a while to learn that it's okay to not sound amazing, and you can actually
It did take me a while to learn that it's okay to not sound amazing, and you can actually

have your own voice.
have your own voice.

Well look, before we move on, I do want to touch on one thing quickly which was said at the
Well look, before we move on, I do want to touch on one thing quickly which was said at the

top of that.
top of that.

Which you did have a goth stage.
Which you did have a goth stage.

So, I just want to get some specifics.
So, I just want to get some specifics.

What does that mean?
What does that mean?

Dyed hair.
Dyed hair.

Okay.
Okay.

Obviously.
Obviously.

So, it was like, Manson.
So, it was like, Manson.

Marilyn Manson was a big deal when I was going through my stage.
Marilyn Manson was a big deal when I was going through my stage.

"My stage."
"My stage."

That's also a very extreme level of goth as well.
That's also a very extreme level of goth as well.

That's not just the pin-piercing.
That's not just the pin-piercing.

That's hectic, I know.
That's hectic, I know.

I know.
I know.

I went through all these phases and when I look at...
I went through all these phases and when I look at...

I can tell because of my dress sense in the photo album, I'm like.
I can tell because of my dress sense in the photo album, I'm like.

Yep, still got the dyed black hair.
Yep, still got the dyed black hair.

I actually was with a guy as well and it didn't work out and I was just so shattered for a long
I actually was with a guy as well and it didn't work out and I was just so shattered for a long

time, so there's many photos of me just looking ghostly pale, just from being heartbroken.
time, so there's many photos of me just looking ghostly pale, just from being heartbroken.

Like, that's just one of the things that happens in your life.
Like, that's just one of the things that happens in your life.

And then you can see through photos.
And then you can see through photos.

You can see, "Oh yeah, coming out of it.
You can see, "Oh yeah, coming out of it.

Getting a bit more of a tan again."
Getting a bit more of a tan again."

Getting into the punk stage.
Getting into the punk stage.

Always at the beach with friends.
Always at the beach with friends.

And then I sort-of started getting into a lot more sort-of indie stuff, like the Death
And then I sort-of started getting into a lot more sort-of indie stuff, like the Death

Cabs and Tegan and Sara.
Cabs and Tegan and Sara.

You know, Bright Eyes.
You know, Bright Eyes.

Bands and artists that are really lyric-heavy, because that's just what I loved.
Bands and artists that are really lyric-heavy, because that's just what I loved.

Lyrics were my thing.
Lyrics were my thing.

I'd just listen and be like, "That's like me.
I'd just listen and be like, "That's like me.

Yeah, that's cool.
Yeah, that's cool.

That's hit me right here."
That's hit me right here."

So, even at that age, were you able to go like, "Oh, this is what I want to do.
So, even at that age, were you able to go like, "Oh, this is what I want to do.

This is actually what I want to do as a career or for the rest of my life"?
This is actually what I want to do as a career or for the rest of my life"?

Or was it still a little bit abstract?
Or was it still a little bit abstract?

I think everyone wanted to be a musician or an actor or an actress, or whatever.
I think everyone wanted to be a musician or an actor or an actress, or whatever.

And when you're that age, it's like you've got all this life and it's like, "Yeah, I
And when you're that age, it's like you've got all this life and it's like, "Yeah, I

can do that."
can do that."

But it didn't really...
But it didn't really...

I never went total gung-ho at it and I don't think I ever believed it would ever
I never went total gung-ho at it and I don't think I ever believed it would ever

happen.
happen.

That I'd do this for a living.
That I'd do this for a living.

Ever, really.
Ever, really.

I was always quite smart about it really.
I was always quite smart about it really.

I wanted to make sure that I had things.
I wanted to make sure that I had things.

That I wasn't going to fall on my ass.
That I wasn't going to fall on my ass.

I got really interested in film, so I taught myself... well, I did Film & TV at school,
I got really interested in film, so I taught myself... well, I did Film & TV at school,

and then went on and kept editing and just kept that passion and loved it, and still
and then went on and kept editing and just kept that passion and loved it, and still

do.
do.

Like, I do my music videos even today.
Like, I do my music videos even today.

Yeah, like I wasn't...
Yeah, like I wasn't...

I didn't go out busking and I didn't...
I didn't go out busking and I didn't...

I was...
I was...

I don't want to say lucky, because I still worked my ass off, but I guess in a way, I
I don't want to say lucky, because I still worked my ass off, but I guess in a way, I

had come to terms with the fact that, "Oh, I'm happy with my life, I like my
had come to terms with the fact that, "Oh, I'm happy with my life, I like my

job.
job.

I like cutting videos and putting visuals to music."
I like cutting videos and putting visuals to music."

And whatever I was doing.
And whatever I was doing.

It's almost like the universe was like, "You're actually just meant to be a song-writer,"
It's almost like the universe was like, "You're actually just meant to be a song-writer,"

because I didn't do "Adore" to get anywhere.
because I didn't do "Adore" to get anywhere.

Like, I didn't write that song and I didn't continue this to...
Like, I didn't write that song and I didn't continue this to...

I'd already shut down.
I'd already shut down.

So, it was pretty cool how everything's happened and now I'm a full-time musician.
So, it was pretty cool how everything's happened and now I'm a full-time musician.

Do you have any regrets?
Do you have any regrets?

I know you obviously said there are some things you didn't necessarily like about it but
I know you obviously said there are some things you didn't necessarily like about it but

you look back mostly with a fond memory, but do you wish
you look back mostly with a fond memory, but do you wish

there was anything you could undo from that time?
there was anything you could undo from that time?

Umm, I don't think so because even like the really s***** guys that I dated, I still wouldn't
Umm, I don't think so because even like the really s***** guys that I dated, I still wouldn't

be who I am today without these people that taught me to be as strong as I am.
be who I am today without these people that taught me to be as strong as I am.

If I had any advice, you've just got to go through the crap and you'll be a good person
If I had any advice, you've just got to go through the crap and you'll be a good person

and you'll get somewhere special.
and you'll get somewhere special.

Fantastic.
Fantastic.

Amy, thanks so much for your time today.
Amy, thanks so much for your time today.

No worries.
No worries.

Thanks for having me.
Thanks for having me.

Hey everyone.
Hey everyone.

If you enjoyed that video, subscribe to our channel on YouTube.
If you enjoyed that video, subscribe to our channel on YouTube.

Or, find more of our stuff at studentedge.com.au
Or, find more of our stuff at studentedge.com.au