After nearly two decades out of the limelight, British singer-songwriter Jamelia Niela Davis, known simply as Jamelia, is set to make her thrilling return to the music scene.
Best known for her chart-topping hits like “Money” and “Superstar”, Jamelia is now ready to grace her fans with new music, inspired significantly by her eldest daughter’s heartfelt words of encouragement.
In a recent interview with Hits Radio, the artist revealed how a conversation with her daughter reignited her passion for music.
“At the end of last year, my eldest daughter said to me, ‘Mummy, I just need to know, what are you doing? Why are you not releasing music?” Jamelia recalled.
This simple yet profound question spurred her to reconsider her musical journey, leading her to the studio once again.
“I was like, ‘I don’t know. Maybe I’ll go back into the studio,’ and when I did, I realised that maybe she was right.”
Now, as she gears up for a highly anticipated release later this year, Jamelia expresses her excitement about returning to her roots.
“I’ve absolutely loved it,” she asserts, reflecting on her time spent in studio sessions. “It’s incredible to make music at this point in my life. I’m 44, and to bring my wisdom and life experience into my new tunes has been a fantastic journey.”
Jamelia first entered the music industry at the tender age of 15, signing with Capitol Records, but it wasn’t until her breakthrough single “Money” reached the UK top 5 in 2000 that she truly hit her stride.
However, her career faced challenges, including her struggle against what she describes as a “hypersexualised” persona that seemed to be an unwritten expectation for R&B artists, particularly for black women.
During her appearance on the “We Need To Talk” podcast, Jamelia recounted how she was pressured to conform to a provocative image early in her career.
“I definitely fell into that at first, and I loved the attention,” she confessed, reminiscing about her earlier days of wearing baggy trousers, which were in stark contrast to the suggested revealing outfits of the time.
With her return, Jamelia brings not only her experience as a seasoned artist but also the wisdom she has gained through her years away from the spotlight.
As she prepares to share her new music, she has a clear vision of what she wants her songs to represent. “I want this music to reflect who I am now, as a mature artist capable of telling deeper stories,” she affirmed.
Will her new music capture the imagination of a new generation while reuniting with loyal fans? Only time will tell as she prepares to make her mark on the music industry once more.