Sara James

Last updated

Sara James
Sara James.jpg
James in 2021
Background information
Birth nameSara Zofia Egwu-James
Born (2008-06-10) 10 June 2008 (age 16)
Słubice, Poland
Genres Pop
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • piano
Years active2021–present
Labels Polydor

Sara Zofia Egwu-James (born 10 June 2008) is a Polish singer and songwriter. She won the fourth season of the Polish talent show The Voice Kids in 2021, and represented Poland in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2021 with the song "Somebody", finishing as a runner-up. James was also a finalist in the 17th season of America's Got Talent in 2022. She released her debut studio album, Playhouse, in 2024.

Contents

Early life and education

Sara Zofia Egwu-James was born on 10 June 2008 in Słubice, Poland, to Polish mother Arleta Dancewicz, and Nigerian father John Egwu-James. [1] Her parents were married, and divorced. [1] James's father is also a singer, and was a contestant on Polish talent shows: X Factor and Bitwa na głosy (English: Clash of the Choirs). [1] Her mother is a graduate of theology from the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. [1] James has a sister Michelle James, and brothers, John James Junior and Jakub Dancewicz. [1]

In 2022, she graduated from the Maria Skłodowska-Curie Primary School in Ośno Lubuskie, Poland, and the Stanisław Moniuszko First Degree State Music School in Słubice, where she studied piano. [1] [2] She then enrolled at the Academic Secondary School for General Education in Słubice. [1] James also studied singing at the Słubice Municipal Cultural Centre. [1]

Career

James at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2021 Sara James 2021.jpg
James at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2021

At six, James won a festival of Christmas music in Szczecinek, Poland. [3] In 2020, she came third in the World Talent Show, and won an award in the final of the Lubuski Song Festival "Pro Arte" where she also placed third. [4] [5]

In 2021, she competed in the fourth season of the Polish talent show The Voice Kids . She advanced to the final, and was voted the winner. [6] Through another Polish talent show, Szansa na Sukces (English: A Chance for Success), she was selected to represent Poland in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2021 with the song "Somebody". [7] At Junior Eurovision, she finished in second place with 218 points (102 points from online voting and 116 points from the jury), six points behind the Armenian representative and eventual winner, Maléna. [8]

In 2022, James auditioned for the 17th season of America's Got Talent . Her performance of Billie Eilish and Khalid's song "Lovely" resonated with the judges and led Simon Cowell to push the Golden Buzzer, sending her directly to the live shows. [9] She qualified for the final, where she performed with The Black Eyed Peas, but did not make the top five. [10] In 2023, she appeared on the show's spin-off, America's Got Talent: All-Stars . [11]

James won the 2023 Fryderyk award for Phonographic Debut of the Year. [12] She voiced Ariel in the Polish-language version of Disney's 2023 musical fantasy film The Little Mermaid , and recorded songs for its soundtrack. [13] Her debut studio album, Playhouse, was released under Polydor Records on 8 November 2024. [14]

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions
TitleDetailsPeak chart position
POL
[15]
Playhouse28

Extended plays

List of extended plays
TitleDetails
Jak co roku
Spotify Singles
  • Released: 11 October 2022
  • Label: Polydor Records
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name
TitleYearPeak chart position Certifications Album
POL
[16]
"Czarny młyn"
(with Kuba Szmajkowski)		2021—Czarny młyn
"Somebody"1Non-album single
"Jak co roku"—Jak co roku
"Lecę"
(with AniKa Dąbrowska and Marcin Maciejczak)		2022—Non-album singles
"Nie jest za późno"18
"Na sam szczyt"—
"Magia jest w nas"—
"My Wave"—
"Taka sama"—
"Rocketman"—
"Running Up That Hill"—
"Lovely Christmas"—
"Bloodline"2023—
"Hula Hoop"—
"Naprawdę chcę"— The Little Mermaid
(Polish-language version)
"Tylko mnie poproś do tańca"
(with Igor Herbut)		—Non-album singles
"Ctrl Alt Del"—
"Brighter Day"
(with Ben Cristovao)		9
"Dziś mnie mija cały świat"
(with Szczyl)		—
"Blue"2024—Playhouse
"I Tell Everyone About You"—
"Detox"—
"Sunshine State of Mind"—
"Psycho"—
"River"—Non-album single
"Salty"17Playhouse
"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Polka w amerykańskim "Mam talent". Kim jest Sara James?" (in Polish). Polish Radio. 12 September 2022. Archived from the original on 7 January 2025. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  2. ↑ Rogaska, Karolina (17 September 2022). "W Ośnie podkreślają, że jest stąd od zawsze. "Może i dobrze, że nie wygrała, ten biznes zjadłby naszą Sarę"". Newsweek Polska (in Polish). Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  3. ↑ Borowiecka, Xymena; Choiński, Robert (26 September 2021). "Poznaliśmy reprezentantkę Polski na Eurowizji Junior 2021. Widzowie TVP mogą ją już kojarzyć". Glamour Poland (in Polish). Archived from the original on 7 January 2025. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  4. ↑ Pieczonka, Agnieszka (26 September 2021). "Sara Egwu-James – kim jest laureatka programu Szansa na Sukces?". Eurowizja.org (in Polish). Archived from the original on 27 November 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  5. ↑ "Sara James prezentuje swój debiutancki album "Playhouse"" (in Polish). Polish Radio. 1 October 2024. Archived from the original on 7 January 2025. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  6. ↑ "Sara Egwu-James wygrała "The Voice Kids"" (in Polish). TVP. 18 April 2021. Archived from the original on 24 December 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  7. ↑ "Sara James wins "Chance for Success" in Poland". Junioreurovision.tv. 26 September 2021. Archived from the original on 15 October 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  8. ↑ "Eurowizja Junior 2021: drugie miejsce Sary James, wygrywa Maléna!" (in Polish). TVP. 19 December 2021. Archived from the original on 19 May 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  9. ↑ Jean-Philippe, McKenzie (15 June 2022). "Inside Sara James' AGT Audition That Had 3 Judges Ready to Hit Their Golden Buzzers". NBC. Archived from the original on 21 July 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  10. ↑ Goldstein, Joelle (4 September 2022). "'America's Got Talent' Crowns a New Champion! Lebanese Dance Troupe The Mayyas Win Season 17". People . Archived from the original on 7 January 2025. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  11. ↑ White, Jessica (10 July 2023). "What Has Sara James Been Up to Since America's Got Talent?". NBC. Archived from the original on 31 December 2024. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  12. ↑ "Fryderyki 2023: nominowani i laureaci" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  13. ↑ "Sara James dla Disneya! Premiera piosenki i klipu "Naprawdę chcę"" (in Polish). Universal Music Poland. 12 May 2023. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  14. ↑ "Sara James zaprasza do swojego świata. Premiera "PLAYHOUSE" 8 listopada" (in Polish). Universal Music Polska. 30 September 2024. Archived from the original on 7 January 2025. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  15. ↑ Peak chart positions for studio albums in Poland:
  16. ↑ Peak chart positions for singles in Poland:
  17. ↑ "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 28 August 2024. Click "WYKONAWCA" and enter Sara James in the search box.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Poland in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest
2021 		Succeeded by
Laura Bączkiewicz
with "To The Moon"

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