Sumaya is a singer and songwriter from London, United Kingdom. Her style of music is centered around R&B, Pop and Soul. Her first EP ‘Age of Aquarius’ was released in 2019 with the lead single ‘Know Better’, which received great support and was played on the BBC radio show The Beat London.
Sumaya is releasing a new single on Friday 25/06/2021 called “Too Much” which she describes as a “feel-good summer anthem” that will be streaming on all platforms.
Name: Sumaya
Occupation/Role: Singer, songwriter and content creator.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
I have always wanted to be a singer. I was part of a gospel choir as a child (between the ages of 9-11) and I just loved the feeling of expressing myself and being around like-minded people. This definitely sparked my passion for music.
Who were your biggest role models growing up?
My biggest role models in music growing up were Brandy, Toni Braxton and Keri Hilson. Looking up to powerful Black women in music has always inspired me and gave me the confidence that if they could do it, I could do it too.
Supermodel Iman and artist K’naan are both originally from Somalia and their success also inspired me and showed me the endless possibilities.
What is one thing that you would like to tell your younger self?
To never change who I am to make others comfortable.
What was a life-changing moment you experienced that shaped you into the woman that you are today?
Giving birth to my beautiful son, MashaAllah. He sparked something in me – to take my dreams seriously and manifest them into reality. He is my motivation and my reason for everything I do.
What made you pursue your current career?
It was a number of events that led me to pursue my current career in music. The main thing was just getting out of my own head. Building my self-belief was the first step.
What is a typical day like for you?
A typical day for me consists of a school run, some studio time and creating content.
What has been the biggest obstacle in your professional life so far and how did you manage to overcome it?
Writer’s block is a real thing and it affects a lot of songwriters. It makes us feel defeated and hopeless. However, in the midst of that, there will be a breakthrough and then everything will make sense. The most powerful and captivating music today is a product of writer’s block.
Which Somali woman inspires you and why?
My mother. She is the strongest and kindest women that I know, and she supports me in all that I do.
What advice would you give to a person pursuing your chosen career?
Do what feels right with you. Your intuition will be your best friend in this chosen career.
How would you like people to remember you?
I want to be remembered as a loving and caring person to my family, friends and to the world. Someone who gave back and made the world a better place because of it.
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