‘‘My Mum was born in Guyana and Dad was born here in the UK, as was I’’, Amahla explains with a clear and pleasant tone. Born and bred in Hackney, this 22-year-old songstress is a flourishing fusion of both Guyanese and Jamaican heritage. Pressing on to give a sense of what life was like growing up in her Caribbean household, she recalls, ‘’music was everywhere. From Soul, to Reggae, to Jazz, to absolutely random stuff.’’ Speaking with gratitude, she says ‘’I feel like I was brought up in a really rich environment with lots of great records. I always sang. In my schooldays, I used to print out lyrics and tried to get my friends to sing with me. It was always something I really loved to do.’’
But in spite of always singing and learning to play the guitar from age 14, the Anthropology Graduate had challenges conceptualising the idea of pursuing a music career. ‘’I didn’t really think I could be a singer because I didn’t understand what trajectory that would take and how I would get from where I was, to where I wanted to be”, she explains. ‘’So instead of focusing on music predominantly, I focused on my studies. I went to University College London (UCL) and studied a completely unrelated subject because that was what I thought I would’ve ended up doing’’, she says, with hints of reminiscence. ‘’I don’t think anyone else thought I would’ve ended up doing music either’’ she adds. “It has sort of all come together in the last two years I feel”. She’s pleased.
We caught up with Amahla whilst she was down in Brighton to perform at the Great Escape Festival. Ahead of her upcoming gig on Wednesday May 15th 2019 at St Pancras Old Church, we talked music motivation, performing live and her university experience with the BBC-endorsed soul singer / songwriter.
Touching further on her university experience, Amahla, soundly details ‘‘It was really great. It opened my mind a little bit more and made me think a bit harder about what is going on in the world. And yeah, I think I needed that at 18.’’ Leaning into how she expressed herself creatively during this time, ‘‘I joined a collection at the Roundhouse in my second year of university. We performed and wrote original music’’. With around 14 young musicians hand-picked to be part of this mentorship project, Amahla’s talent secured her place. ‘’That group really solidified to me that music is actually what I loved. And not only am I good at it, but I’m getting better, as there was space to grow. So, I think that was definitely something that helped me believe that it was possible to pursue a music career. I think my guitar has also really helped me to find my voice more and developed my song writing.’’
And find her songwriting she did. Her debut single, Old Soul, was released to acclaim in 2018 and she received the PRS Lynsey De Paul prize for outstanding songwriting. She rounded off 2018 as a recipient of the second ever MOBO Awards x Help Musicians fund for her exceptional voice.
Authentic storytelling for the people
Honey-sweet melodious deliciously high vocals on vintage-feel soulful production, coupled with socially conscious lyrics are the key elements that characterize Amahla’s music. When asked whether she is intentional with her topical lyrics, she responds, ‘‘It is, but it is also something that just happens. I hope my music inspires people. I don’t want to say it’s too analytical, but it is aware of what is happening in a situational sense.’’
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