(June 21, 2019) Occasionally an extremely distinct voice will infiltrate radio, grabbing listeners by the ears and before they know it, they are hooked. Amahla‘s smoky, passionate soprano and her heart tugging storylines transport all the emotions upfront – in the vein of recent urban phenomenon H.E.R. and, a few years ago, Amy Winehouse. This U.K.-born, twenty-something artist is no stranger to songwriting achievements, and she has been mentored by fellow U.K. singer/songwriter Carla Marie Williams, who has written for Beyonce and Craig David. Amalha’s performances have electrified audiences at The Royal Albert Hall and The Jazz Cafe and on BBC Radio 1xtra.
In early 2019, Amahla released her 5-track debut E.P., Consider This – giving props for the old school soul records that inform her artistry, though the arrangements lean more toward a neo-soul vibe. With two singles already under her belt (“Old Soul” and “Dorothy’s Song”), her newest focus track is an upgraded stripped-down acoustic remake of “River.” The cut provides a massive opportunity to hear Amahla’s urgent vocals, illustrating the dangers of how social media can trap ones’ senses: “We’re distracted by our desires you see/When they’re in the palm of our hands/We’re tryna to push towards nirvana but it seems/Instead we search for neverland.”
With a voice that cuts like a knife and personal stories such as “River” that prick the heart, Amahla will be impacting the soul music industry for years to come,
By Peggy Oliver
Amahla – “River”
