Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Vaughan
Hi Amy, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I have lived in Dallas for over 12 years and was born in Japan on a US Army Base and while there I had a Japanese caregiver that named me Amiko (pronounced Ay-me-koh) as the traditional pronunciation is (Ah-me-koh), but my father wanted to be sensitive to the traditional name for Japanese girls, as Amiko means “precious little girl” in their culture and instead opted for the sound of the name that combined Amy with Amiko. After 2 years in Japan, my family moved to Washington DC, as my father was assigned to the Pentagon for his remaining two years of service. After he completed 4 years as a military intelligence officer, we moved back to Minnesota where my parents born and raised.
I also have strong Texas roots. My Dads mother, Betty, was a native of Odessa, Texas and her father was a wildcatter named PG Arnold. I grew up her lively stories about Odessa, Texas and she also taught me how to plant a garden to grow food, flowers and herbs,write poetry and haiku, draw, make origami, read magazines and books and how to decorate a home. My grandmother also encouraged me to sing, dance and also insisted I set high goals for myself and handwrite them regularly. She also encouraged me to dream and emphasized that anything in life is possible.
I grew up in a traditional suburban family and neighborhood in Minnesota, played outside and hung out with my neighborhood friends., but often enough, during the colder months, I would spend hours in an extra space my mother gave me in our utility room. My parents added a school desk and bookshelf filled with books, paper to write and draw on, pencils, pens, watercolor paints and markers.. It was on the freezing cold days in the winter that I would go in that room for hours and read, write and spend time being artistically creative. It was also a space where I went to practice my flute.
At the same time, I was the “kid on the block” who wanted to master every sport or at least try, played catch with my younger brother for hours, driveway hockey, pond hockey, gymnastics, swimming, diving, and eventually it all landed me on a soccer field. From there I fell in love with the sport of soccer and no one had to beg me to go to practice or push myself, I was a natural competitor and eventually, I was able to achieve some success, playing on a Division 1 women’s development team at the University of Minnesota. Our team went onto to win 2 Big Ten Championship titles while being undefeated both seasons. Over time, I went into business management, sales and marketing and became a mom to an amazing daughter. It was my daughter’s recreational soccer team in Dallas, Texas where my passion for coaching began and for 13 years I have been a dedicated grassroots soccer coach, since our family landed in Dallas, Texas from Mason, Ohio in 2012. As she moved into a more competitive environment in soccer, I continued to coach grassroots soccer teams. In 2016 a friend and former NCAA D1 women’s soccer stand-out player from Dallas, Texas, Brooke Roney, played at the University of Richmond, VA. We decided to start a youth soccer program in Dallas that served young players afterschool- close by – at an indoor soccer center in Farmers Branch called ESP. We did have a Covid-19 impact and became non-operational until 2023 and relaunched with a summer soccer camp. In September 2023, I completed my US Soccer C License with North Texas Soccer in Frisco, Texas and continue to pursue my soccer coaching education through MLS Next/US Soccer continuing professional education seminar and most recently the International Coaching Symposium in Downtown Dallas in July of 2024.
Our Futsoul afterschool classes and camps are now fully operational in 2 Dallas area schools, as Brooke and I took the time to reimagine how we are best able serve the needs of our local community. During and for sometime after the Covid-19 Pandemic, we worked as school-based coaches and as a result of that work, our program delivers high quality soccer classes and camps to players and families where they attend school. Futsoul is also focused on how we can find ways to grow and serve homeschool/distance, other non-traditional learners as well as socioeconomically disadvantaged youth and have impact with our Futsoul program, recently turning to the US Soccer Foundation to begin training as coach mentors. We are in early discussions to coordinate our efforts with recreational soccer programs and other soccer focused initiatives in the Dallas area.
One would think my time is filled with soccer and it is, yet I also found time to revisit my talents in the music, writing, drawing and design arts, that I had developed as a young person.
While reigniting my passion for composing poetry, I began writing daily and quickly realized I had a lot more to say as a poet than when I was a child, teen or college student. I then decided to write lyrics to craft songs and developed a process of how and when to do so. It became routine and within a few months I had 305 fully developed song ideas. Through a friend, I was introduced to a promoter, Jason Dauman of Dauman Music based in Los Angeles, CA who was a former Sony and Universal Music Group executive. Jason decided after reading through my songbook and titles- that he wanted to work with me. I was introduced to the idea of returning to my early interests in becoming a singer/songwriter and later meeting my promoter through a friend of mine. She is a talented music artist. having opened up for Dua Lipa and Natalie Imbruglia in the UK and splits her time between Los Angeles and London.
From there, Jason Dauman, arranged for me to record my 2nd single with Carlos Battey, and through that process, a new project came into the forefront and was titled, The Amiko Project.
The idea for a project was suggested by Carlos Batty known as Jackies Boy, a multi platinum, nominated and Grammy Award winning co-writer and producer for Madonna’s Revolver featuring Lil’ Wayne and David Guetta. Carlos has also worked with Johnny Gil, Justin Bieber, Flo Rida, Charlie Wilson and Boyz II Men as well. Carlos advised me to outline a developing project that will ultimately tell my “soccer girl and soccer coach” story. The intention is to add current soccer players’ inspirational stories to illustrate show how soccer taught ua all resilience and helped develop the life skills necessary to get through life’s greatest wins and losses.
Carlos (Jackies Boy) is based in Orlando, Florida and records with me (Amiko) at Rebel 11 Studios in Miami, Florida. We have recorded a total of 5 singles together including a 2nd composition by Artan Kaleshi, 2 from composer, Shaun Moore, who is based in Atlanta, GA and ,Shaun, is also a music producer that has worked with multiple Grammy Award winners.. My last recording and unreleased single, which was composed by Bailo Sabaly, who resides in France, is my last co-written/produced song the Carlos Battey. It was created by myself and Carlos to perform live at the 2026 FIFA World Cup at any one or more of the 9 matches that are played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Dallas Cowboys Stadium has been awarded more matches than any other city/metro area during the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup tournament. My goal is to combine my music and soccer projects to introduce the most authentic “Sounds of Soccer” uniquely created by me, a soccer coach who has dedicated much of my life to the love of the beautiful game!
As the first soccer coach to launch an EDM singer/songwriting career, I can humbly say I am honored to have my first fully released single, Reckless, seeing early success with a US radio with DJ Remixer Sean Finn of “The Rhythm of the Night” collaboration with Corona, a massive Billboard hit in 2019 and The Klubjumpers who are based in San Antonio, Texas. Brothers Sam Michaels and Daniel Matthews own and operate regional radio stations in the US and also create DJ remixed singles for developing music artists globally. The Klubjumpers have worked with Brittany Spears, Michael Buble and Miley Cyrus on remixes of their singles and currently have a global hit with Jason Derulo.
With the global music scene influenced by worldwide distribution through streaming services like Spotify, Reckless has also seen a significant increase in interest with the Sean Finn and Klubjumpers Remixes through a fast rising entrance into the Top 10 on UK Music Week’s Commercial Pop Club Chart peaking at #7 and ending the last week of September, 2024. The DJ Buzz Chart in France saw Reckless remixes peeking at #3 on Le Buzz Chart, #5 on Le Hit des Club Chart and #5 on The Real Chart in France. The 2 remixes have continued to hold a #7 & #16 chart position on the Le His des Club and The Real Chart, showcasing the popularity of Reckless remixes in France with popular DJ play helping its future success by earlier support during the XXXIII Olympic Games held in Paris in July of 2024.
We shall see where the power of music and soccer takes me!!
(Note from Music Artist/grassroots soccer coach Amy/Amiko): I am sorry this was not brief in any way, but does give you a lot of nuggets to explore interesting angles in which to craft the article)
Best,
Amy Jo Vaughan
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My struggles were both introducing myself to the complexities and logisitcs of recording and doing it out of state in Miami, Florida instead of closer to home.
Juggling both career paths simultaneously and still finding sane time for myself and my daughter and dogs, adorable and are a Goldendoodle and Labradoodle.
Digital platform life and epic technology fails on platforms, including a learning curve for functionality and discovery about how to get my music and soccer program marketed and creating something that someone would care about. This has been a very challenging but enlightening period of both frustration and growth and of course, joy that I was able to tackle and achieve some success in both projects!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am the first singing soccer coach in the world!
Work is hard when you want both to succeed and one has a shot, but even more difficult when they both have a shot at success.
I am most proud of having a beautiful daughter about to graduate from high school and spread her wings and both the passion projects involving soccer and music. They are a true and authentic expression of all the pieces and parts of me and my brand, “Hat Trick Woman”!
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I love salt water taffy and have a problem when its around!
Pricing:
- $30 T-shirts
- $30 Hats
- $1.29 downloadable singles
- Soccer after school and camps around $250 per player for season classes and individual soccer camps, prices will vary with each school
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.officialamiko.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/official_amiko_/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1MbKBW7sagOBWWsSWXe0tA
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/amiko
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/141wt76UMdfVOzQGPvhkR9?si=vwmYZIcfRaGgdMZAIA8aaw
Image Credits
Gianno Currie
Emily Wolf
Joaquin Su
Kii Arens
