Ridiculously young and talented, with a major label deal... that might suggest you got it made. Great expectations then.
Four years ago, Mahalia played a Tea Room Tent debut slot at Moseley Folk. It was a gentle but excellent start, in
front of some major Brum music faces.
Four weeks ago, Mahalia
made her BBC2 Later debut, fronting the irrepressible Rudimental. No build-up: the camera panned directly to her from Joan Armatrading. No pressure, then. To see how
it went, scroll down for the video. Mahalia is still only 17. She is being guided by her parents, who were both active in the music business in the 80s, and have the scars to prove it. She already has a deal with a major:
Asylum/Atlantic. This is not usually how things get done these days. Not
anymore. But then again, Mahalia is unusual.
