Powerful soul voices have been on the up for the last few years, as we all discover how much we love artists like Lizzo, Jorja Smith, Mahalia, SZA and H.E.R. Well, we have another young artist for you to fall in love with called Hamzaa.
London born and bred, Hamzaa is only 20 years old but sounds like she's been singing for double that time. Having started learning piano at 4 and writing music from 6 (!!!), the deep range of Hamzaa's voice has earned her fans like Stormzy, Anne-Marie and Jorja Smith, and we're sure the list is only going to grow as her relatively short career progresses.
She tells VICE that when she's on stage, she's at home. "I was dancing from the age of three, right from when I could manoeuvre myself. I’ve been on stage and performing in front of people since the age of seven. That’s something that I’ve never been scared of. If anything it’s my element. I’m at my best."
She already has the EP First Signs Of Me under her belt, a poignant, personal 7 songs which also features her singles You, Breathing and Stranded Love. Just last week, she dropped a new song called London and in trademark fashion, manages to capture the vibrancy and diversity of London in a gorgeous tribute to her hometown.
She says about it, "I wrote a song about my city, my London, I love this place and I’m so happy I get to share that with the world. I feel like now more than ever huge changes are happening across the city and we may not like it all, but the people and the energy, the lifestyle and the culture is what makes this place home, and I’m sure you feel the same way about where you’re from, wherever you’re from!"
After playing BBC1's Big Weekend this weekend, Hamzaa will be preparing for Glastonbury and a big year ahead.
