Shola Ama

Shola Ama, born Shola Ama Mathurin-Campbell on March 8, 1979, in London, began her music career at a young age. At 15, while singing at Hammersmith tube station, she was discovered by Kwame Kwaten, a producer at FreakStreet record label. An independent single titled “Celebrate” was released in 1995, produced by D’Influence. This recording drew attention to her talent, leading to a recording contract with WEA on her 16th birthday. Her breakthrough came with her second WEA single, “You Might Need Somebody,” a cover of Turley Richards’ song, which reached No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart in April 1997. This success was followed by a re-release of “You’re the One I Love,” which peaked at No. 3 in August 1997, and “Who’s Loving My Baby,” charting at No. 13 in November 1997.

At 18, Shola Ama released her debut album, “Much Love” (1997), which performed well commercially, achieving gold status in the UK. The album’s success earned her significant accolades, including a Brit Award for Best British Female and two MOBO Awards for Best Newcomer and Best R&B Act. In 1999, she released her second album, “In Return,” collaborating with producers such as Fred Jerkins III and Stargate, and co-writers including Angie Stone and Babyface. Despite these collaborations, “In Return” did not achieve the same commercial success as her debut, leading to a temporary break from recording. In 2002, she independently released her third album, “Supersonic,” primarily for the Japanese market.

Ama returned to the public eye in 2004, featuring on The Pirates’ track “You Should Really Know,” which reached No. 8 on the UK chart. She continued to collaborate with other artists, including Perempay & Dee, Giggs, and Toddla T. In 2015, Ama released a new 8-track EP titled “Surreal” on Necessary Mayhem Records, incorporating reggae influences. She has remained active in the music industry, mentoring her sister Sadie Ama, and contributing to various projects, maintaining her presence in British soul and R&B.