Mahalia

Mahalia Burkmar, born 1 May 1998, professionally known simply as Mahalia, is a British singer, songwriter, and actress known for her soulful voice, candid lyrics, and genre-blending sound that spans R&B, soul, and neo-soul. With multiple acclaimed projects and a Grammy nomination to her name, Mahalia has emerged as one of the most compelling voices in contemporary British music. Born in Syston, Leicestershire, Mahalia grew up in a musical household. Her father is British-Irish and her mother, Debbion Curry, was the first singer of the English electronic band Colourbox. Raised in a predominantly white town, Mahalia has spoken openly about her experiences with racism and how they shaped her identity and music. She began writing songs at just eight years old, and by age 13, she had signed a record deal with Asylum Records. She made her live debut around age 11 or 12 and released her first EP, Head Space, in 2012. After attending Roundhill Community College, Mahalia transferred to Birmingham Ormiston Academy, a performing arts school, where she trained in acting. She also refined her craft at Urban Young Actors in Leicester. Her career took a major turn in 2017 with her viral COLORS performance of the song “Sober,” which became her breakthrough moment. A year later, she topped YouTube’s Ones to Watch list and began gaining international recognition. She previously supported artists like Ed Sheeran—with whom she performed a duet of his song "Gold Rush"—and Emeli Sandé on tour. In 2015, she was featured on the title track of Rudimental’s UK No. 1 album, We the Generation.