Amatus-sami has come a long way since she first learned the jazz standards from her dad, riding around in his taxi while he scatted along with the radio. Born in Chicago, raised in Philly and now living in New York, she’s risen the ranks as an electronically-inflected female producer and a hypnotic soul and hip-hop singer.

But along the way, this mixed Arabic, transcultural multi-talent has also picked up wisdom — including a few tips from ?uestlove, Barry Harris and Meshell Ndegeocello — and a mission: it’s hard for young artists to make it, harder now than in a long time.

With her debut album, “Everything in Pieces,” in the works, Amatus is also leading a charge to connect young artists and to seek support outside of an industry hesitant to compensate artists unless they produce cookie-cutter sounds and radio ephemera.

Check out the first in a series of events and fundraisers this Sunday, May 4th at Libation in New York with DJ Rich Medina, DJ Center and Amatus-sami herself. But before that, check out it out below as Amatus tell us about the music revolution, her addictive album and what web tech 2.0 has done to musicians.

TRACE: From your own experience with the industry, what needs to change?

Amatus-Sami: Everything! Artist development. Everything moves so quickly. There are a lot of talented people that don’t get to hang in there as much or get the opportunity that would take them, who knows, wherever they need to go. I don’t feel like people invest in the industry well and people don’t stick in the industry long enough to really feel it’s creativity span beyond just one genre.

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So much could be said about the insidious way mainstream media has re-appropriated graffiti. Many still question the credibility of street artists who choose a gallery or any other “conventional commercial outlets” over the street to display their work; but still, graffiti remains one of the most intricate and creative art form!

Over the last few years Fafi has imposed herself as one the leading female graffiti artists (alongside Claw Money, Indie , Miss Van…) and this is just the beginning, the fafinettes are here to stay!

After the bags, the shoes and the make-up she’s now invading your desk with these ultra-girlie sets of “sticky-notes”, notebooks and vinyl-shaped notepads, courtesy of Japanese brand Mark’s.

Check them out here.