Mahalia’s effortless vocals and beautiful lyrics have seen her make waves in the music industry since 2016 – with several Grammy and Brit award nominations under her belt as well as wins for best female act and best R&B/soul act (twice!) at the Mobo awards.

With honest songs such as Sober, I Wish I Missed My Ex and Do Not Disturb, the singer-songwriter has carved out a name for herself by creating songs that are packed with empowerment and vulnerability. Speaking on day two of Stylist Live, Mahalia shared her experience of growing up in the music industry and what she’s learned along the way.

“Performing on stage is the reason why I started creating music. I was always a performer – I was definitely one of those kids who would come down on Christmas Day and perform for my family. I just love showing people what I’ve created and the idea of making a stranger stop in their tracks with music,” the artist shared with the crowd.

Mahalia signed her first record deal at 13 and talked about how entering the industry so young shaped her relationship with her body, “Growing up in an industry like this one, body image was so front-facing all the time, and it made me notice a lot more insecurities about myself – especially as a teenage girl.

“We’re part of a generation that’s always talking about loving yourself constantly. And I think one thing that’s missed out of that conversation is you’re going to have good days and bad ones. And our confidence is supposed to fluctuate.”

“I feel my most powerful on stage”: Mahalia on the highs and lows of the music industry