Shola Ama

Biography

Shola Ama (born 8 March 1979) is a British singer from London, who scored her biggest hits with "You Might Need Somebody×You Might Need Somebody7 April 1997 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1You Might Need Somebody (Paul Weller Dirty Bass mix)5:432You Might Need Somebody (Mousse T's Soul Train with rap)4:073You Might Need Somebody (Brockpocket mix)4:354You Might Need Somebody (Basement Jaxx night dub)5:57" (1997), a cover of Randy Crawford's 1981 hit, "You're the One I Love×You're The One I Love1997 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1You're The One I Love (C&J Original Edit)3:552You're The One I Love (Brooklyn Funk Alt Mix)4:163You're The One I Love (Brooklyn Funk Club Mix)4:094You Might Need Somebody (Acoustic Version)3:26" and "Still Believe×Still Believe25 October 1999 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Still Believe (radio edit)3:592Still Believe (Stargate remix)3:553Still Believe (Dodge Soul Faith remix)4:40" (1999) which was one of the first productions by the Norwegian producing team Stargate.

Career

When she was 15, Ama was singing to herself on a platform at Hammersmith tube station, and was overheard by Kwame Kwaten, a producer at the FreakStreet record label. In 1995, an unknown independent label released a single titled "Celebrate", which was a ballad produced by D'Influence. Although the single was not a commercial success, it did draw attention to Shola Ama as an artist. On her 16th birthday, she signed a recording contract with WEA.
The single "You're the One I Love×You're The One I Love1997 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1You're The One I Love (C&J Original Edit)3:552You're The One I Love (Brooklyn Funk Alt Mix)4:163You're The One I Love (Brooklyn Funk Club Mix)4:094You Might Need Somebody (Acoustic Version)3:26" was Ama's first single release for WEA in 1996; it barely made a dent in the charts, only managing to reach No. 85. Her second WEA single, "You Might Need Somebody×You Might Need Somebody7 April 1997 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1You Might Need Somebody (Paul Weller Dirty Bass mix)5:432You Might Need Somebody (Mousse T's Soul Train with rap)4:073You Might Need Somebody (Brockpocket mix)4:354You Might Need Somebody (Basement Jaxx night dub)5:57", a Turley Richards cover, became her breakthrough hit, reaching No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart in April 1997. It remained in the top 40 for almost two months, becoming one of 1997's biggest hits. A re-release of "You're the One I Love" followed in August 1997 and reached No. 3. Her third single "Who's Loving My Baby×Who's Loving My Baby1997 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Who's Loving My Baby (Radio Edit)4:002Who's Loving My Baby (Frankie's Classic Radio Mix)4:033Who's Loving My Baby (D'Influence Remix)5:594Who's Loving My Baby (Ignorants R&B Mix)7:015Who's Loving My Baby (Paul Waller Mix)4:136Who's Loving My Baby (Album Version)4:39" was released in November 1997 and reached No. 13. At the age of 18, Shola Ama released her debut album Much Love×Much Love1 September 1997 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1You're the One I Love4:142Much Love3:583You Might Need Somebody4:524Who's Loving My Baby4:405Celebrate4:326I Love Your Ways4:217We Got a Vibe4:068Summer Love4:469(I Don't Know) Interlude1:4910I Can Show You4:2811All Mine4:4812One Love5:28 (1997).
In May 1997, Ama performed her single "You Might Need Somebody" at Wembley Stadium as part of the build-up to the rugby league Challenge Cup Final.
On the success of the album, Ama won a Brit Award for Best British Female and two MOBO Awards for Best Newcomer and Best R&B Act.
In 1999, Ama released her second album In Return×In Return8 November 1999 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Still Believe4:122Imagine4:203Deepest Hurt4:534Lovely Affair4:075Run to Me4:066My Heart4:407Everything4:268Can't Have You3:579This Time Next Year4:2310Surrender5:1011That Thing4:2512In Return4:2713He Don't Know4:0114Queen for a Day3:3915Superficial Fantasy6:4416Can't Go On4:11. The project saw her working with the record producers Fred Jerkins III, Stargate, Shaun Labelle, Full Crew, D-Influence Productions and Ali Shaheed Muhammad (formerly of A Tribe Called Quest). Co-writers included Angie Stone and Babyface with David Foster.
Despite having support from her record label, In Return was a commercial flop. Following this, Ama took a break from recording.
In 2002, Ama went back into the recording studio to record her third album, Supersonic×Supersonic17 July 2002 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Emancipation (I'm Back)5:082My Future3:533Sym4ony (feat. Danny K)4:304U & Me4:075This I Promise U3:586Here on Earth4:467Electro High (Supersonic)4:088My Name Is...... (Break)2:059Blood From a Stone4:0510B 2Getha (feat. Jason Jermaine)4:4711Like 2 Watch (feat. Ray-Da)3:3612Granny's Yard3:3313This I Promise You (Fatboy remix)4:33. Unable to obtain a major label deal, she instead formed a distribution deal with Pony Canyon.
In 2004, Ama featured on the track "You Should Really Know" by the Pirates, a response in song to Mario Winans' "I Don't Wanna Know" which reached No. 8 on the UK chart.
Ama also mentored her sister Sadie Ama, who signed her own recording contract and released "So Sure" (2004) and "Fallin" (2007).
Ama featured as vocalist on the Perempay & Dee single "DJ Play". The song was released in October 2009 and received heavy rotation on the radio. She also featured on one of rapper Giggs' songs, "Cut Above the Rest", and later featured on the bonus disc to his album, Let Em Ave It, on a song called "Blow Em Away".
In February 2010, Ama joined a new collective group formed by Wiley called A-List, alongside her sister Sadie Ama and grime musicians Roll Deep, Mz. Bratt, Wrigley, Margs, Young Kye and Kivanc.
In 2013, Ama narrated on the show My Crazy Jamaican Life.
In October 2015, Ama released a new 8-track EP featuring new reggae influenced tracks titled Surreal×Surreal1 October 2015 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1Surreal3:222Puppy Love3:223Let It Go3:054Somebody's Somebody3:525We2:546Step It3:587Wait & C3:488Somebody's Somebody (Reggacoustic Mix)3:51 on Necessary Mayhem Records, 13 years after her last album Supersonic in 2002.
In April 2016, she featured on the album System Killer by Frisco on the song "Rocket".

Personal life

Ama was born in London to a Scottish father and Dominican mother of Saint Lucian descent. Her father abandoned her when she was young.

Studio albums

Much Love (1997)
In Return (1999)
Supersonic (2002)
Surreal (2015)