Pretty Idea: How Amber Mark Transforms The Mess Of Life Into A Beautiful Story
BY TRISTAN HEIDEMAN
Amber Mark’s second full-length LP, ‘Pretty Idea’, is an emotional tapestry in music form. It is a poignant exploration of love and heartbreak, told through retro-infused production and nuanced songwriting. From the opening notes of ‘By The End Of The Night’, the listener is pulled into a world of confidence and swagger.
What makes ‘Pretty Idea’ such a compelling listen is how it maps the complete spectrum of romance and the romantic experience. On this record, Amber chronicles the complete ride of love and heartbreak. Songs like ‘Too Much’ dip into early 2000s R&B nostalgia, with sentiments of artists like Usher & Alicia Keys in a way that feels familiar and brand new at the same time. ‘Sweet Serotonin’ on the other hand, is a blissful, chemically charged ode to infatuation, perfectly mixing vintage warmth with Amber’s signature dreamy vocals.
It’s not all sunshine and rainbows, though, as Amber confronts the messy and difficult parts of love, too. The duet of ‘Don’t Remind Me’ with Anderson .Paak is raw and vulnerable, effortlessly capturing the numbing cycle of trying to forget someone. In ‘Problems’, she redirects that heartbreak inward. Pain becomes perseverance with lines like “Turn problems into Prada because that’s what I deserve”.
What’s especially admirable is the emotional arc created on this record. Heartbreak and healing interwoven seamlessly. By the time the track ‘Doin Me’ rolls around, there’s a sense of hard earned self-acceptance, as Amber becomes more grounded, more self-assured, and refuses to let past decisions define her future. The title track, ‘Pretty Idea’, reflects gently on a fantasy once chased, admitting that some dreams are just ‘pretty ideas’.
Production throughout the record is lush and cinematic, with strings, keys, and harmonies, but never overpowering her voice. The music feels more like a spotlight, letting Amber’s emotions shine, and while the album leans into escapism, there’s a quiet honesty beneath all of it. Vulnerability isn’t hidden, just dressed up and made to look presentable.
I had the privilege of speaking with Amber for *1824, and I singled in on her influences. Here’s what Amber had to say:
Tristan Heideman: The music video for ‘Sweet Serotonin’ stuck out to me. It’s vibey, 70s style production, influencing artists from the past. Did any music legends, either directly or indirectly, impact the style of that music video and the album as a whole?
Amber Mark: With that music video, I really wanted to take a minimalistic approach aesthetically. Sonically, that track in particular has a big Amy [Winehouse] feel to it, so I would say she’s a huge influence on that song specifically. Stevie Wonder is always gonna be like the number one influence of all time for me. There should be statues of him everywhere.
Overall, ‘Pretty Idea’ is a powerful second chapter for Amber Mark. It’s a cohesive, confident, and deeply personal album showing her prowess as a storyteller, someone who can take the messiest and most painful parts of love and turn them into something beautiful. This album is the sound of growth, self-love, and the art of turning bad ideas into pretty ones.
