PORTLAND, Ore. — Trailblazing from Portland, the kid from Portland Adam Daniel, better known as  Aminé — a hometown talent who broke through in 2016 with “Caroline,” a triple-platinum hit that reached the Billboard Hot 100 Top 20. This weekend, he returns home as the second annual The Best Day Ever Fest kicks off and will also launch his “Tour de Dance world tour.” The festival brings national acts while spotlighting Portland talent like 3Way Heff and DJ SoundsbyDonta.

Raised in the Woodlawn neighborhood as the son of Ethiopian and Eritrean immigrants, Aminé credits his parents for instilling hard work, pride, and resilience. 

“They shaped me a lot. My mother is the hardest-working person I know on earth, and I can’t take any sort of disrespect because of my dad. They’ve both influenced me in a really strong way,” he said in his now first on-air interview with a Portland local news broadcast station.

Music was always part of Aminé’s life. Growing up, he experienced a unique blend of cultures. 

“I loved that just because when I come home, my father’s playing Habesha music or Bob Marley, and at school, someone’s playing different rock songs. This split of cultures really made me who I am today. It’s something money couldn’t buy,” he explained to KGW’s Sabinna Pierre.

Since his breakthrough, Aminé has continued to evolve as an artist. His most recent project, “13 Months of Sunshine,” showcases his growth and versatility, blending personal reflections with genre-defying sounds. The album features contributions from his father, sharing wisdom and family stories, and highlights themes of identity, mental health, and personal growth — raw, honest, and reflective. 

On experimentation and embracing multiple genres, Aminé told Pierre, emphasizing how vulnerability drives his creative process and keeps his work connected to Portland and his roots, “It should feel scary to put your feelings out there like that, because that inspires some of the best art.”

Aminé’s work often honors Portland. In 2018, he put his face on a billboard on Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard reading, “Yes, there are Black people in Portland,” highlighting representation and the importance of visibility for Black communities. He also spoke candidly about gentrification in neighborhoods he grew up in. 

“Seeing Black families moved out and replaced, sometimes with a Black Lives Matter sign in front, it’s ironic and frustrating. But I’m proud to be from here and want to call it out when I can,” the Grammy-nominated artist said.

Portland’s hip-hop scene also shaped Aminé’s path. He recognizes pioneers like Cool Nutz for laying the groundwork with local showcases and performances. 

“Without those guys, I wouldn’t even know that hip hop is possible from a city like this,” he said. Aminé admits he started as “just an internet kid” on SoundCloud and Tumblr, learning the craft from afar before taking the stage himself.

Giving back is central to his story. From performing with the Oregon Symphony to hosting food giveaways with Kee’s Loaded Kitchen and running a book drive in honor of his New Balance sneaker collaboration, Aminé says these Oregonian experiences bring personal joy. 

“Being able to do these things really puts a smile on my face,” he shared.

Aminé also reflected on his relationship with Portland media. In 2020, he told Portland Monthly, “Part of my problem with Portland [is that] to me, if I was a white guy from Portland who made it in music, I would definitely be so much bigger in that city. I’d be on, like, KGW News every week.” 

Reflecting on that statement, Aminé told Pierre that he made the comment when he was younger and “pretty rowdy,” freely sharing his opinions online. 

Now 31, he says his perspective has matured: “I like to work with people who want to work with me. You reached out, wanted to do this. I’m so hyped to be here today. And this kind of thing is how I react to media. I personally would love to be on KGW News every week, but I think there’s a lot of truth to that statement. From a serious standpoint, if I was a white guy who blew up from Portland, things would definitely be a little different. And I think that’s how it works in just about every aspect aside from music. It’s just how America is. And it’s all good though. I love where I’m from, I love being Ethiopian, I love being Eritrean, and I love being from Portland, so it doesn’t really bother me too much.”

As the festival draws kicks off this weekend, Aminé expressed his pride in returning home. “Shout out, KGW. I’m going to be here every week,” he playfully told Pierre, smiling.

From sneakers to symphonies, music to community work, Aminé’s journey is a reminder that big dreams can start right here in Portland. Trailblazing, proud, unstoppable — the kid from Portland.

“It really is just believing in yourself and just being able to keep your head down and realize that work is important,” Aminé powerfully stated. “I would love for people to just be able to know that, like, they can do it too.”

Tickets for The Best Day Ever Fest, running Saturday to Sunday, are still available online.