STAY LIT.tv

  • Home
  • Music
  • Just Added
  • Short Films
  • Contact us
  • NEWS – GOSSIP
FacebookTwitterInstagramPinterestBehanceTumblrYoutubeEmailVimeoSnapchat
STAY LIT.tv
Image default
  • Home
  • Complex.com
  • COMPLEX.com – Let Mahalia’s Soul Sound Of Love Be Your New Spirit-Lifter
Complex.com NEWS

COMPLEX.com – Let Mahalia’s Soul Sound Of Love Be Your New Spirit-Lifter

by staylittvNovember 2, 2018November 2, 2018057
Share0

Let Mahalia’s Soul Sound Of Love Be Your New Spirit-Lifter

The skilled songwriter from Leicester-via-Birmingham is ready to share her “psycho-acoustic soul” jams with the world, and we’re more than here for it.

Aaron Bishop
BYAARON BISHOP  FOR  COMPLEX UK

News Writer | Twitter: @amb1sh.

OCT 31, 2018

  • SHARE
  • TWEET

At just 20 years old, Mahalia, the Leicester-born, Birmingham-raised artist, speaks with a confidence and maturity beyond her years. Having been signed at just thirteen, she spent her teenage years battling similar problems to most teenagers, with the added pressure of growing up as a mixed race girl among peers who had never even seen hair like hers before—as well as fighting for her voice with the label. It’s these experiences that have led Mahalia to this point where she’s in the most successful place she has ever been, career-wise, and able to push on to the next stage with no shortage of things to say.

After the slow-burn success of her song “Sober”, particularly after her COLORS session, Mahalia’s stock has risen and she has since worked with the likes of platinum-selling rapper Russ, had her music appear in Insecure, the popular American television series, all while being a firm fixture on summer 2018’s festival circuit. She also recently dropped a 5-track project entitled Seasons, which she describes as “a prelude” to her debut album that is set to drop early next year. As Mahalia was about to kick off the UK leg of her tour, she sat down with Complex to talk about her upbringing, and the troubles she faced being of mixed heritage, to the current state of British R&B, working with Kojey Radical and how Adele’s 19 album spoke directly to her.

mahalia

mahalia

You signed your first record deal at the age of 13, which is super young. Where did your love of music first come from?

I’ve always been around music. There’s a video of my mum doing an open mic gig when I was like 7 months due in her tummy, and I’m just like, “It’s no wonder I do this!” I’ve literally been doing it my whole life. Growing up, my mum used to play a lot of soul and R&B, and my dad a lot of funk. I remember playing the guitar at around 11 years old, and I started writing songs at around 12. And I used to go to gigs with my parents and perform in the same spots they performed at, so it’s just something I’ve always been around.

Who inspires your sound and who did you listen to growing up?

I’d say artists like Amy Winehouse, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott and Lauryn Hill all definitely influenced my sound—and Adele’s 19 album? Oh. My. God! When I first heard that, I knew that’s how I’d want to sound because it was so honest and raw. You could feel all the emotion, especially as young girl; I felt like she was singing about my life.

You’ve described your sound as “psycho-acoustic soul”—what do you mean by that?

I think I called it that so I didn’t feel like I was forced into making a particular type of sound, but had the freedom to make whatever kind of music I want without feeling boxed in. But I’d say that “psycho” is because I think I say things in a weird way when I write. “Acoustic” is because I obviously play the guitar, and “soul” is because of the subject matter and the core influences in my sound.

“Sober” seems to be the song that put you on a lot of people’s radar. Did you expect it to be as big as it has been?

No, to be honest. I mean, when I first wrote it, it was kind of just me having a bit of a moment. I was in a bit of pain, I guess, and was trying to get it out and heal. It was mad as well because even when it dropped, it wasn’t really doing anything and then I flew to Berlin to do it on COLORS. It wasn’t until, like, a month later after it had come out that it went viral on Twitter. It’s been mad because I’ve kinda been riding off of “Sober” for the past year, so now I’ve been putting new music out and people are loving that as well, so it’s been really exciting. I’ve been surprised, but I’m super grateful.

How did you feel when you found out it was going to be on Insecure season 3?

Weirdly, I found out a few hours before the episode aired because of the time zones in America. My manager emailed me, and then I saw people tweeting about it and was like: “Oh my god! What is going on?” But that was super exciting and I really need to start watching the show. I feel like it’s my kind of programme.

Is it a dream of yours to crack America?

I think every artist thinks about making it big in America, but for me, it was always about getting recognised over here first. But when I started getting a lot of love over in America, I realised that the end goal for any artist is to be global, so I guess it didn’t matter which way it happened as long as there was growth and I was reaching more people.

How do you feel about the state of R&B in the UK when you see other artists like Ella Mai going Stateside and succeeding?

I think it’s really sad. I think it’s sad that we have to leave home before we can be accepted here, but the truth is that labels in the UK don’t know how to market R&B. There’s so many talented artists but all they seem to want to do is make you a pop artist, rather than market your talent properly. But R&B is so popular in the States—they know what they’re doing when it comes down to it.

 

mahalia

 

and we’re more than here for it.complex.comLet Mahalia’s Soul Sound Of Love Be Your New Spirit-Lifter The skilled songwriter from Leicester-via-Birmingham is ready to share her “psycho-acoustic soul” jams with the worldMahalia’sShare0
previous post
King Jammy On “Skanking In The Dancehall”
next post
COMPLEX.com Estelle, Brit-R&B Crossover Queen, Talks Love And Creative Freedom
staylittv

Related posts

Talented East London duo #Pound are looking to follow in the footsteps of previous East London megastars Kano, Tempa T and Lethal Bizzle as they forge their own sound.

staylittvNovember 20, 2018November 20, 2018

COMPLEX.com Estelle, Brit-R&B Crossover Queen, Talks Love And Creative Freedom

staylittvNovember 2, 2018

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Recent Posts

  • Talented East London duo #Pound are looking to follow in the footsteps of previous East London megastars Kano, Tempa T and Lethal Bizzle as they forge their own sound.
  • STAY LIT Live Session – 3flows & Chase Morton – LIVE FREESTYLE
  • COMPLEX.com Estelle, Brit-R&B Crossover Queen, Talks Love And Creative Freedom

Recent Comments

    Archives

    • November 2018
    • October 2018
    • July 2018
    • September 2017

    Latest Videos

    Talented East London duo #Pound are looking to follow in the footsteps of previous East London megastars Kano, Tempa T...

    staylittvNovember 20, 2018November 20, 2018
    November 20, 2018November 20, 20180

    STAY LIT Live Session – 3flows & Chase Morton – LIVE FREESTYLE

    staylittvNovember 3, 2018
    November 3, 20180

    COMPLEX.com Estelle, Brit-R&B Crossover Queen, Talks Love And Creative Freedom

    staylittvNovember 2, 2018
    November 2, 20180

    King Jammy On “Skanking In The Dancehall”

    staylittvNovember 1, 2018
    November 1, 20180

    Marci Phonix – Black Friday (Music Video) | Link Up TV

    staylittvNovember 1, 2018
    November 1, 20180

    Daniel Caesar – Get You ft. Kali Uchis

    staylittvNovember 1, 2018
    November 1, 20180

    Gunna – Top Off | A COLORS SHOW

    staylittvOctober 29, 2018
    October 29, 20180

    D Block Europe (Young Adz x Dirtbike LB x Lil Pino) – nASSty [Music Video] | GRM Daily

    staylittvOctober 29, 2018
    October 29, 20180
    Load more posts

    Social Media

    FacebookLike
    TwitterFollow
    YoutubeSubscribe

    Categories

    • COMEDY (5)
    • Complex.com (2)
    • Editor's Picks (1)
    • Movie (1)
    • Music (21)
    • NEWS (3)
    • STAYLIT.tv Live (1)
    • Uncategorized (1)
    • Youtube (20)
    STAY LIT.tv
    Follow us
    FacebookTwitterInstagramPinterestBehanceTumblrYoutubeEmailVimeoSnapchat
    @2018 - staylit.tv All Right Reserved. Designed and Developed by US
    STAY LIT.tv
    FacebookTwitterInstagramPinterestBehanceTumblrYoutubeEmailVimeoSnapchat
    • Home
    • Music
    • Just Added
    • Short Films
    • Contact us
    • NEWS – GOSSIP