In this lively chat, Amelina reveals the rebellious spirit behind ‘A New Year’s Wish,’ blending pop-rock energy, nostalgic influences, and empowering messages to make this holiday season truly unforgettable.
The idea came from one little joke: “Dear Santa, I’ve been a good girl all year, please grant me my deepest wish – I want to be bad!”
I wanted to show that being a good, obedient girl carries a certain rebelliousness within. The New Year is a great opportunity to change something in your life. To become less awkward, to allow yourself to do what you want, not what’s expected of you. If this becomes a teenage anthem of readiness for something new – that would be great!
2. You’ve described the song as “like fireworks — it starts quiet, then bursts into color.”
Can you walk us through how that idea shaped the song’s sound and emotional journey?
Yes, it’s built on the contrast between the “calm girl” carefully writing a letter to Santa Claus, openly expressing her emotions and childish joy in the run-up to Christmas, and the same “rebellious girl” saying, “Now I want a real holiday!”
3. The track carries the spirit of early Avril Lavigne with a modern twist.
Who were your biggest musical or emotional influences when creating this song, and how did you blend nostalgia with your own voice?
The funniest (or most embarrassing?) thing is that I used to be told I looked like Hannah Montana (not Miley Cyrus, but Hannah) and Avril Lavigne—and I discovered their music later, after “Step by Step,” “Roblox Realms,” and “A New Year’s Wish.” I listen to a ton of stuff. I love Cher, Sia, Shakira, and rock. I think it’s important that we’re a pretty musical family, and my father wrote songs, sang, and played in a rock band back in his student days… When melodic rock and a girl’s voice come together, it probably works out pretty well, right?
“Don’t be afraid of yourself! Don’t hold yourself back! A free person doing what brings them joy is capable of so much!” Do things not because you have to, but because you want to!
5. The production has this bright, cinematic energy — almost like a movie moment.
What was the recording process like? Any memorable moments in the studio that brought the song to life?
It’s funny you even asked that. We started working on this song around March 2025. I wanted to put as much emotion into it as possible. My theater classes help me with that, of course. And my vocal coach. Yes, I know my English isn’t perfect there anyway (after all, “nobody’s perfect,” right? 🙂 ), but I’m trying. And I came to the studio (it’s a small home studio) in the summer already fully prepared. That’s why we managed to record the song very quickly. Really quickly. We only had an hour and a half that day, and we managed to record four songs. I have some videos from the recording process. These photos, by the way, were taken right then in the studio. The studio is so small that videos can only be made in profile.
6. The holidays can be both magical and reflective.
How do you personally connect to this season, and how does that emotional mix show up in “A New Year’s Wish”?
You know, I’ve been living in Mediterranean countries since 2022 (first Turkey, then Spain since 2023). This will be my fourth New Year without snow. I really dream of being in a snowy fairy tale again!
More Info: https://www.amelina.me/
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