Awards night triumph for county R&B singer
RISING STAR MAHALIA RECEIVES TWO MOBO HONOURS
LEICESTERSHIRE singer-songwriter Mahalia was one of the big winners at the 23rd Mobo Awards, securing two honours in a star-studded virtual ceremony.
The 22-year-old, who grew up in Syston, was named best female act and best R&B act at the prestigious British industry Mobo (“music of black origin”) Awards.
Signed up to a record deal while still at school in Thurmaston, Mahalia has been lauded as an upand-coming artist to watch in the music industry for the past six years.
Her debut album, Love and Compromise, was released last year and prompted a US tour and Brit Award nomination, followed by a triumphant hometown show at Leicester’s O2 Academy last November.
But it looks like she has finally hit the big time with her latest accolades.
Sharing her delight with her 80,000 Twitter followers, Mahalia said: “I can’t even begin to explain how I feel tonight. Thank you for this huge blessing.
“Never expected this in a million years and it feels better than I ever thought it could.
“We built this from the ground up, baby.”
Having let her win sink in a little, she told the PA news agency: “I remember seeing my first Mobos, coming to the first one, I think it was in Leeds, and it’s an honour.
“As a young, black female artist it
As a young, black female artist it really is special to be here and to be recognised in this way
really is special to be here and to be recognised in this way.”
The awards were streamed on YouTube and saw the return of Maya Jama as host, after she became the youngest person to host the awards in 2017.
She was joined by YouTube creator, music artist and comedian Chunkz, who, in a twist, was announced as winner of the publicly voted best media personality award.
The ceremony featured performances from Tottenham-born rapper Headie One, dubbed “the king of drill”, M Huncho, Kojey Radical and Ms Banks.
Thirty-year-old rapper Nines, from Harlesden, north-west London, was named best hip hop act while his chart-topping third album Crabs In A Bucket secured album of the year, seeing off competition from the likes of Mahalia and Stormzy.
Oscar-winning filmmaker Sir Steve McQueen, whose Small Axe series is currently airing on the BBC, was honoured with the Mobo inspiration award.
The awards show was rebroadcast on BBC 1 on Thursday night.
Mahalia