Mahalia Burkmar

Mahalia Burkmar (born 1 May 1998), known mononymously as Mahalia, is a British singer and songwriter. Mahalia has released several EPs and three albums, Diary of Me, Love and Compromise (2019) and IRL (2023). She also acted in the film Brotherhood (2016). She had her breakthrough in 2017 with her performance of "Sober" for the YouTube channel Colors. In 2018, she was ranked number one on YouTube's Ones to Watch list.

Life and career Mahalia is from Syston, Charnwood, in Leicestershire. She was born to musician parents. Mahalia has described the town she grew up in as a predominantly white area with "a lot of racism". She has two brothers, one of whom is Jamaal Burkmar, a dance choreographer and social media influencer.

She attended Roundhill Community College until she signed a record deal at age 13, when she transferred to a performing arts school, Birmingham Ormiston Academy, where she took acting classes.

As a child, she would often spend her summer breaks at home writing music—she wrote her first song at age eight She released her debut EP, Head Space, in 2012.

In 2019, Mahalia was featured on BBC Radio 1's Brit List. Mahalia won Best Female Act and Best R&B/Soul Act at the 2020 MOBO Awards.

In 2021, she released "Jealous", a collaboration with American rapper Rico Nasty. Mahalia was included in the 2021 Forbes 30 Under 30 list.

In 2022, Mahalia was among the performers at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. She was also one of the opening acts in the all-female lineup at Adele's British Summer Time concerts in London's Hyde Park.

In 2023, Mahalia released her second studio album, titled IRL. In support of the album, she toured Europe, North America, and Australia.

Influences

Mahalia has listed Corinne Bailey Rae, Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, Amy Winehouse, Jill Scott, India Arie, Ed Sheeran,

Released: 6 September 2019 Label: Asylum Format: CD, digital download, streaming

BPI: Silver Label: Warner Music UK Format: CD, digital download, streaming

"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Compilation albums + List of compilation albums Title Details Diary of Me Released: 16 December 2016 Label: Asylum Format: CD, digital download, streaming

Extended plays + List of extended plays, with selected details Title Details Head Space Released: 10 July 2012 Format: Digital download, streaming Never Change Released: 11 December 2015 Format: Digital download, streaming Seasons Released: 21 September 2018 Format: Digital download, streaming Isolation Tapes Released: 1 May 2020 Format: Digital download, streaming Letter to Ur Ex Released: 20 May 2022 Format: Digital download, streaming FML Released: 9 November 2023 Format: Digital download, streaming ILY Released: 16 November 2023 Format: Digital download, streaming Luvergirl Release date: 15 August 2025 Label: Warner Music UK Format: Digital download, streaming

Singles + List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album UK BEL(FL)Tip NZHot USBub. USR&B USR&B/HHAirplay USAdultR&B "Borrowers" 2015 — — — — — — — — Never Change "Back Up Plan" 2016 — — — — — — — — Diary of Me "17" — — — — — — — — "Silly Girl" — — — — — — — — "Mahalia" — — — — — — — — "Roller Coaster" — — — — — — — — "I Remember" — — — — — — — — "Marry Me" — — — — — — — — "Independence Day" — — — — — — — — "Begin Again" — — — — — — — — "Sober" 2017 — — — — — — — — BPI: Silver FML "Hold On" — — — — — — — — "No Pressure" — — — — — — — — "Proud of Me" 2018 — — — — — — — — "No Reply" — — — — — — — — "Water" — — — — — — — — "I Wish I Missed My Ex" — — 43 — — — — — BPI: Silver Love and Compromise "Surprise Me" — — 43 — — — — — Seasons "One Night Only" — — — — — — — — "Do Not Disturb" 2019 — — 3 — — — — — Love and Compromise "Grateful" — — — — — — — — ILY "Simmer" 46 34 32 — — — — — BPI: Gold — — — — — — — — "What You Did" 90 — — 29 7 15 13 6 BPI: Silver 2020 — — — — — — — 20 Isolation Tapes "Jealous" 2021 — — — 34 — — — — "Whenever You're Ready" — — — 36 — — — 17 "Roadside" 93 — — 37 — — — — "Letter to Ur Ex" 2022 — — — — — — — — Letter to Ur Ex and IRL "Whatever Simon Says" — — — — — — — — Letter to Ur Ex "In the Club" — — — 31 — — — — "Bag of You" — — — — — — — — IRL "Terms and Conditions" 2023 — — — — — — — — "Cheat" — — — — — — — — "Ready" — — — — — — — — "Pick Up the Pace" 2024 — — — — — — — — Luvergirl "Pressure Points" 2025 — — — — — — — — "Different Type of Love" — — — — — — — — "Instructions" — — — — — — — — "Pity" — — — — — — — — "FCUK" 2026 — — — — — — — — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Guest appearances + List of non-single guest appearances, showing year released, other artist(s), and album name Title Year Other artist(s) Album "We the Generation" 2015 Rudimental We the Generation "Keep It Pushin" 2018 Russ Zoo "Low Ride" 2020 Poppy Ajudha "Energy" Pa SalieuSend Them To Coventry "All I Need" Jacob Collier, Ty Dolla Sign Djesse Vol. 3 "Pretty" col3trane "No One But You" Justin Nozuka Then, Now & Again "Closer" 2022 RM, Paul Blanco Indigo "Five Star Hotels" 2023 Raye My 21st Century Blues

Awards and nominations

Filmography Brotherhood (Noel Clarke, 2016) – as Thea