Mnelia

After exploding onto the scene in early 2020 Mnelia has fast become the one to watch. Embodying the evolution of British R&B as we’ve never seen it before, she’s going for gold. Born Monique Amelia to parents from Guinea Bissau by way of Gambia; the North-West London singer-songwriter kickstarted 2020 with the release of her seminal single ‘Say Yeah’.


The track has amassed millions of streams and over a million video views on her own YouTube channel independently. Mnelia’s irresistible melodies, flawless vocal and a healthy dose of nostalgia is a recipe for greatness. Throw in a serving of female empowerment and you can understand why she’s already deemed the leader of the pack.


Although ‘Say Yeah’ is the single that put her on the map, Mnelia was making her mark long before that. Her debut EP ‘2:4’, released on her 20th birthday is an early example of Mnelia’s lyrical dexterity and vocal prowess with tracks like ‘Luv’ and ‘Speeding’ setting the tone for what was to come. She followed this up with a string of guest appearances, proving that Mnelia’s pen game had caught the attention of rappers and singers alike.


Trained in piano, it was age 14 that Mnelia recalls having her first, real musical awakening after discovering Frank Ocean, Coldplay and James Fauntleroy. She cites other artists such as Brandy, Mary J Blige, Jazmine Sullivan and Jay-Z as major influences in her attitude to her artistry.