Kabba (singer)

Last updated

KABBA
Kabba2020.jpg
KABBA in 2020
Background information
Birth nameAminata Kabba
Also known asA*M*E
Born (1994-12-13) 13 December 1994 (age 29)
Freetown, Sierra Leone
OriginLondon, England
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
InstrumentVocals
Years active2010–present
Labels
Website kabbamusic.com

Aminata Kabba (born 13 December 1994), also known by her stage name Kabba (stylised as KABBA), formerly A*M*E, is a British singer and songwriter. KABBA was born in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on 13 December 1994. In 2011, A*M*E was scouted and signed by Take That frontman Gary Barlow to his label, Future Records. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

On 9 December 2012, the BBC announced that KABBA – then A*M*E – had been nominated for the Sound of 2013 poll. [4]

In January 2013, A*M*E signed to Sony Music's Epic Records after Barlow closed Future Records to focus on his own career commitments. The Duke Dumont single "Need U (100%)", featuring A*M*E and MNEK, topped the UK Singles Chart on 7 April 2013.

Biography

1994–2011: Early life

At the age of eight, A*M*E moved to England after her mother's hair salon was burned to the ground and life in Sierra Leone became too dangerous. [1] Growing up in the Catford area [5] of south-east London, A*M*E was introduced to fellow teenage prodigy MNEK. [1] The pair bonded over a mutual love of '90s pop music and started collaborating, quickly creating a handful of songs including "City Lights". The track was enough to pique the interest of Take That frontman Gary Barlow, who proceeded to sign her to his Future record label. [1] [6]

2012–2018: Career beginnings: A*M*E

In 2012, A*M*E released a string of promotional singles called "City Lights" (featuring Bartoven), "Ride or Die" and "Find a Boy", which she co-wrote alongside Emeli Sandé and producer Naughty Boy. [7]

It was announced by The Guardian in September 2012 that A*M*E would release her first commercial single, "Play The Game Boy", in November 2012. [8] Produced by Electric, the track attained positive reviews, with Digital Spy listing the song as one of its 'Top 10 tracks You Need to Hear'; commenting on "[its] insanely addictive choruses and K-pop inspired melodies" and that "it feels fresher than anything else on this week's chart." [9]

On 9 December 2012, the BBC announced that A*M*E had been nominated for the Sound of 2013 poll alongside the likes of Angel Haze and The Weeknd. [4]

Her collaboration with Duke Dumont, "Need U (100%)" was released in March 2013. It became both acts' most successful single at the time, debuting at number one and remaining there for two weeks, and earned her a nomination in the Best Dance Recording category at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards.

On 14 July 2014, A*M*E released her second official single, "Heartless", produced by Carl Falk and Rami Yacoub. She also featured on Monsieur Adi's single "What's Going On?", CamelPhat's "Paradigm", MK's "My Love 4 U", Tough Love's "Closer to Love", Shift K3Y's "Entirety", as well as appearing on M-22's "White Lies".

2019–present: KABBA and debut EP

Through an Instagram post on 8 July 2019, A*M*E announced that she would rebrand as KABBA. [10] [11]

KABBA announced the first single from her self titled debut EP on 12 July 2019. It is titled "Glue" and features Bartoven, who previously appeared on her song "City Lights". The song was first premiered on COMPLEX on 24 July 2019. In the article, KABBA explained the reasons behind her rebrand, stating: "KABBA is a Sierra Leonean name and part of my identity that is so precious to me. Now that I'm entering a new phase in my career, I'm free to fully embrace KABBA." [12]

Her debut EP KABBA was released on 14 February 2020.

Artistry

Influences

KABBA has been heavily influenced by K-pop, saying "I love my K-pop, but I haven't really done anything with that sound yet. There's influences from it in my music – I've got some fat, solid, six-part melodies which are very K-poppy." [13] KABBA cites Beyoncé, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and Big Bang as her influences, she also cites Janet Jackson as a major influence calling Jackson her idol.

Discography

Extended plays

TitleDetails
KABBA
  • Released: 14 February 2020
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
Note to Self
  • Released: 29 October 2021
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download

Singles

As lead artist

TitleYearAlbum
"City Lights"
(featuring Bartoven)
2012Non-album singles
"Ride or Die"
"Play the Game Boy" [14]
"Heartless"2013
"Glue"
(featuring Bartoven)
2019KABBA
"My Work Is Done"
"Muscle"2020
"Rather Be Single"2021Note to Self
"Mood"
TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum
UK
[15]
AUS
[16]
BEL
[17]
DEN
[18]
IRE
[19]
NL
[20]
"Need U (100%)"
(Duke Dumont featuring A*M*E)
201314017312720Non-album single
"What's Going On?"
(Monsieur Adi featuring A*M*E)
"Paradigm"
(CamelPhat featuring A*M*E)
2015Axtone Ten
"My Love 4 U"
(MK featuring A*M*E)
2016Non-album single
"Closer to Love"
(Tough Love featuring A*M*E)
2017Past Present Future
"Entirety"
(Shift K3Y featuring A*M*E)
2018Non-album single

Promotional singles

TitleYearAlbum
"Find a Boy" [7]
(A*M*E featuring Mic Righteous)
2012Non-album single

Guest appearances

TitleYearArtistAlbumNotes
"One Thousand" [21] 2012 Cheryl Cole A Million Lights Un-credited backing vocals
"Future X Girl"[ citation needed ]2014 Neon Jungle Welcome to the Jungle
"WTF (Interlude)"2017 Brayton Bowman 22 Minutes LaterUn-credited speaker
"All In"2018ThrottleNon-album singleWriter and un-credited lead vocalist
"White Lies"2019 M-22

Songwriting credits

YearArtistAlbumSongCo-written with
2012 f(x) Electric Shock EP "Beautiful Stranger" Mich Hansen, Jason Gill
2013 Samsaya Bombay Calling"Stereotypes" Sampda Sharma, Iain Farquarson, Fredrik Ball
Duke Dumont Non-album single"Need U (100%)" (featuring A*M*E) Uzoechi Emenike, Robbie Bergin
2014 Neon Jungle Welcome to the Jungle "Future X Girl" Anita Blay, Benjamin Berry
2015 Duke Dumont Non-album single"The Giver (Reprise)" Adam Dyment, Hal Ritson, Kelli-Leigh Henry-Davila, Uzoechi Emenike
2016 JKAY "Stranger"
(featuring Shola Ama)
Jonathan Keep, Marvin Humes, Uzoechi Emenike, Caroline Furoyen, Sinai Tedros
2018 Mike Williams "Give It Up" Michael Willemsen, Stevie Appleton
Throttle"All In" Uzoechi Emenike, Robbie Bergin
2019Ryan Ashley"Familiar"Ryan Campbell, Roberto Manfredi
M-22 "White Lies"Andre Nookadu, Andrew Bullimore, Frank Sanders, Matthew Humphrey
2020Sleepwalkrs"More Than Words"
(featuring MNEK)
Roberto Manfredi, Thomas Hollings, Samuel Brennan, Uzoechi Emenike
KSI All Over The Place "Really Love" (featuring Craig David
and Digital Farm Animals)
Olajide Olatunji, Craig David, James Murray, Mustafa Omer, Nicholas Gale, Eugen Nwohia, Ronald Nwohia, Michael Ashley, Paul Newman, Steve Wickham
AmunNon-album single"Done Me" Uzoechi Emenike, Raoul Chen, Alexander Montell, Amun Ahmed
2021Like Son"One Night Only"Conor Blake, Joseph Paul Murphy, Nathan Richards, Samuel Brennan, Tom Hollings
Joel Corry "I Wish" (featuring Mabel)Harlee Jayne Sudworth, Jess Glynne, Joel Corry, Lewis Thompson, Mabel McVey, Neave Applebaum, Paul Harris, Poppy Baskcomb, Robert Harvey, Uzoechi Emenike
AmunNo Ceilings"Press Delete"Tyler Hotston, Amun Ahmed

Music videos

SongYearArtistDirectorReference(s)
"City Lights"2012A*M*E (featuring Bartoven)Ashur Yelda, Aram Antabil,
Ashley McDermott & Chantelle Fiddy
[22]
"Ride or Die"A*M*E [23]
"Play the Game Boy"Patrick Killingbeck [24]
"Heartless"2013 [25]
"Rather Be Single"2021KABBAAmaka Lin [26]
"Mood"Oliver Marshall [27]

Awards and nominations

YearOrganisationAwardResult
2012 BBC Sound of 2013 Sound of 2013 [4] Nominated
2014 Grammy Awards Best Dance/Electronic Recording: "Need U (100%)"Nominated

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "New music: A*M*E – City Lights (Fuller Refix vs Gold Top Remix)". The Guardian . 20 February 2012. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
  2. "Gary Barlow Advises A*M*E 'To Avoid Getting Sidetracked' After Number One Single". Entertainmentwise.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  3. "X Factor's Gary Barlow uses mentoring skills with A*M*E saying 'just be true to yourself' - Unreality TV". Unreality TV. 9 April 2013. Archived from the original on 8 June 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 "Sound of 2013 Profiles: A*M*E". BBC. 9 December 2012. Archived from the original on 12 December 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
  5. "Catford Sedgehill teenager A*M*E keeps anti-Thatcher song from number one spot". News Shopper . 15 April 2013. Archived from the original on 12 May 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  6. "Sedgehill Students sign record deal". Sedgehill School. Archived from the original on 5 July 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
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  9. "Playlist: 10 tracks you need to hear". Digital Spy. 1 October 2012. Archived from the original on 3 October 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
  10. A*M*E Announces Rebrand as KABBA: "A*M*E Announces Rebrand as KABBA > 8 July 2019". KABBA. Archived from the original on 24 December 2021.
  11. Stern, Bradley (7 August 2021). "KABBA, "Rather Be Single": A Dating Burnout Bop for the Summer". MuuMuse. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  12. Emerging R&B Singer KABBA Shares Booming, Bass-Heavy "Glue": "Emerging R&B Singer KABBA Shares Booming, Bass-Heavy "Glue"> 24 July 2019". COMPLEX. Archived from the original on 24 July 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
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  15. Peak positions for the featured singles in the UK:
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  19. Peak positions for Ireland:
  20. "Discografie A*M*E". Hung Medien. dutchcharts.nl/. Archived from the original on 9 July 2013. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
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