As I delve into this vibrant narrative of a resilient and inspiring artist, I can’t help but feel a deep admiration for the journey that this remarkable woman has undertaken. Born and bred in Leicester, she faced challenges that many could only imagine, yet she persevered with an unwavering spirit.
Regardless of her Grammy nominations and high Billboard rankings, Mahalia, a native of Leicester, always remembers her humble origins.
For years, the 26-year-old musician has diligently pursued her present achievement. As a student, she shared with TopMob that her mother would rouse her at dawn to escort her from recording studios in London to schoolbooks and study sessions in Birmingham.
As a child, Mahalia was raised by a Black Jamaican mother and a white British father, giving her upbringing a unique twist compared to many of her contemporaries. Her family fostered an environment where she felt free to voice her feelings and emotions, ultimately resulting in a wealth of heartfelt music that promises to endure the passage of time.
Mahalia’s emotional maturity in her early years paved the way for her 2019 debut studio album, “Love and Compromise.” This 13-track collection further established her as one of the UK’s rising stars in R&B music. The album captured various instances of heartache, friendship strife, and mental health challenges, with songs like “I Wish I Missed My Ex” resonating as relatable anthems that echoed throughout venues across the country.
It took about four years for Mahalia to release her second full-length album, after a series of personal EPs. This delay seemed to stem from her desire to reveal more of her genuine, unhurried self to her audience. The album garnered even more praise from both fans and critics, but Mahalia remains committed to safeguarding her privacy above all else.
“Mahalia confides in TopMob that she values her personal life deeply. She mentions that she’s encountered other artists who are entirely engrossed in their careers. However, Mahalia has always managed to keep a part of herself rooted at home, balancing her professional and personal lives,” or more informally, “Mahalia tells TopMob that she takes her personal life seriously and often finds herself juggling her career with her home life.”
Following international tours, BRIT award nominations, and a stint at Copenhagen Fashion Week, Mahalia has shifted focus to her newest single release. In partnership with Take A Day Trip, the track named ‘Life Size’ is part of Sprite’s Limelight initiative. This garage-flavored R&B piece portrays Mahalia’s personal battles with societal expectations regarding beauty.
“This tune expresses my personal experiences and serves as a response to those in the industry, as well as others who have criticized my body or suggested I should lose weight. Essentially, it’s a track designed to silence such criticism.”
Recently, TopMob sat down for a conversation with Mahalia, discussing her journey so far in her career, managing the complexities of the music industry, and combatting beauty norms.
Hey Mahalia! How are you?
As a gamer, I’m cruising along today. Staying present is key for me, and it’s been helping me navigate this first half of the day smoothly. Sometimes, I find myself drifting into those familiar young adult moments of calm and melancholy, but taking things one day at a time is crucial for my mental wellbeing. Mostly, I’m doing fine, so I’m feeling quite good as I learn more about what it means to be 26.
How do you maintain equilibrium between your life as a 26-year-old who’s still discovering life’s mysteries, and your role as a nomadic musician?
Over time, I’ve become increasingly adept at creating personal space and expressing my feelings more effectively. In my younger years, I struggled significantly with this, often finding it difficult to communicate when I wasn’t feeling well or to decline invitations. However, as I’ve grown older and more self-aware, I’ve found myself excelling in these areas.
My therapist has been the best thing and the best person for me. I think some people can go through therapy and enjoy it for different reasons, but I just feel really lucky that I met someone who I genuinely want to share with. So, my therapist is a huge part of it and I talk about it a lot. I say to a lot of people that they need to get into some therapy, it can be as expensive or as cheap as you want it to be. There are so many levels to it and I think a lot of people make excuses for why they shouldn’t do it.
For me, it’s been the best thing I’ve ever done. It’s allowed me to realize that it’s okay to feel anxious sometimes or if I can’t make a session because I’m not having a great day. It allows me to move through life with a clear mindset.
“I have a story to share, a tale woven from my own experiences. If by chance someone here has walked a similar path as me, I yearn for them to listen – I hunger for connections, that sense of shared understanding.”
Experiencing the glare of public attention at such a tender age isn’t typical for most children. Can you share your story about how you handled the complexities of the music world as you were maturing?
In all honesty, my parents played a significant role in my upbringing. During my formative years, they were consistently present. Until I turned 18, my mum was always there, which meant that even when I was in London for a week, I’d return to Leicester or Birmingham for school. Remarkably, she would rouse me from sleep at five in the morning to take me to school. These car journeys provided us with special moments where, despite my spending five days in a studio with a renowned producer, we could discuss a crush I had in my drama class.
It seems to me she made sure I grasped the concept well: Yes, I possessed something crucial and took on a significant role, yet I was still a student with various priorities. She carefully tended to those aspects for me.
As I moved beyond that point, my mother equipped me with the necessary resources to accomplish it. To this day, there are instances where I encounter minor disagreements with my partner, but I find it exhilarating when our lives intertwine significantly. We’re all authentic individuals dealing with various aspects of life, and it’s crucial that we maintain balance in both personal and professional spheres.
I value my personal life deeply. Some artists I encounter are utterly engrossed in their work, solely dedicated to music and the related sphere. In contrast, I’ve always managed to maintain a balance between being Mahalia and living at home. At one point, I contemplated becoming an artist, settling down in Leicester, raising a family, and nurturing relationships. It’s not that it can’t happen – I simply cherish both aspects of my life equally.
How important is it for you to be able to pour your heart and soul into your music?
To put it simply, I’ll tell you straight up, I don’t have the answer. It might remind you of my previous response as I’ve found myself this way for quite some time, and I attribute it to my family background. I grew up with three brothers in a multicultural household; my mother is Black Jamaican and my father is white British. I believe that culturally, we, the kids, were encouraged to express our thoughts and share opinions. Our dinner table conversations were lively and covered a wide range of topics, including politics, school matters, and current events. There was always something interesting happening around us.
In the environment we grew up in, filled with constant chatter, debates, and disagreements among ourselves, it sparked an innate desire within me to engage in such interactions with people beyond our home. Excluding music, I’m undeniably the girl you’d find in the club restroom, applying lip gloss and engaging in a 15-minute conversation with another woman. If there’s a stereotypical woman, I am that. Consequently, it doesn’t seem strange to me that this trait has manifested in my music; I want to share my experiences with everyone. If someone has wronged me severely, I long for people to hear it so they can empathize and connect with it – I cherish those connections deeply.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by mahalia (@mahalia)
Talk to us about the new single, ‘Life Size.’
One advantage of this solo track is that I didn’t hold onto it for an extended period. Prolonged possession can make a song lose its charm, but fortunately, the Sprite campaign appeared a few months back, and I promptly jumped on board with it. The collaboration is between myself and Take A Day Trip. It seems that they sent me the stem concept – lyrics, tunes, and chords – while I was touring in America, and I spent roughly three weeks mulling over it, figuring out what theme I wanted for the song.
The whole kind of focus with the song was to focus on something that has been difficult for you and how you overcame it. There’s been a few things that I’ve struggled with, but the main thing that has been heavy on my chest – that I don’t often talk about – is my relationship with industry beauty standards. I’ve never spoken about it because I don’t know how to put it into words musically. I would know how to put it into words in an Instagram caption, but being able to formulate that into a piece of music, I find really tough.
Perhaps it was too personal for me. Admittedly, I do overshare, but some subjects strike a bit too close to home. This song, then, is an expression of the feelings I experienced while navigating the music industry during a time when beauty standards were in flux. As a child growing up in Leicester, which is indeed multicultural and diverse, I struggled to find girls who looked like me in my year group, making it difficult for me to see myself reflected in others.
Stepping into the gaming world, there was no one who resembled me. The only person I could relate to was Corrine Bailey Rae, but she had a cool edge because she hailed from Leeds and was more northern [laughs]. So, this song is all about that, it’s about my journey now and a chance for me to speak up to the industry and all those who made comments about my body or suggested I should lose weight, or alter aspects of my appearance – this song is meant to silence them.
“In our environment, there was constant chatter, bickering, and disagreements among us. This situation inspired me to naturally desire engaging in similar discussions with individuals beyond our household.”
How did you find relocating from Leicester to London?
Initially, I struggled immensely. At the age of 18, I was completely clueless about how to proceed. People in London seemed preoccupied with their own agendas, few were approachable or friendly towards me. In my early days, being a regional kid didn’t make me popular; it wasn’t trendy or notable. It wasn’t until Aitch started gaining popularity that I appreciated hearing a fellow rapper express himself in his native accent. Despite this, I never felt like I belonged or was considered cool. Even now, when people call me cool, I find it hard to believe.
It seems to me that I’m constantly striving to be lively and authentic, but sometimes it doesn’t come across as trendy. Moreover, I’m quite a touchy person, which is not common in London. Consequently, I initially found the atmosphere rather chilly. However, once people get to know me, things begin to warm up. But navigating London’s social landscape when I was unknown was an agonizing experience.
How do you decide what to wear day-to-day?
Lately, I’ve found myself giving more thought to my wardrobe choices, thanks to a dear friend who’s also my stylist. She’s helped me become more conscious of what I wear, which has been quite beneficial. I can honestly say that I think I have a good sense of style these days. However, most of the time, I’m off to the gym or studio, so comfort is key. My wardrobe is bursting with color, trainers, and bags – I estimate I have around 300 pairs of trainers lining my hallway! But, I pick and choose based on the weather. Regardless of what I wear, rest assured it will be worn with confidence and style. So, while I may not have been as concerned about fashion before, I’ve definitely developed a newfound interest in it.
You’re also super tapped in with the UK streetwear scene. Who are your favorites?
Having grown up in the era of DIY fashion and streetwear culture, I’ve always had a deep-rooted passion for expressing myself through clothing. As a youngster, I remember my friends and I creating our own garments and wearing each other’s tees or hoodies as a badge of friendship and individuality. Fast forward to the present day, and I still hold on to that same love for fashion – albeit with a newfound appreciation for the emerging streetwear brands that are taking over the scene today.
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2024-08-16 13:56