Immersed in music since childhood, Fiaa Hamilton was just eight years old when she became a carer for her mother – a time when songwriting provided her with a therapeutic outlet of her own. Three years later she was in foster care, and music again proved to be important, this time as a way to express her emotions as her life changed so dramatically. By her late teens, she was performing in bars around the south coast.

A chance meeting with Rag’n’Bone Man was her first big break. The pair collaborated on the One Day charity single, which helped Fiaa secure a position at Academy of Contemporary Music, where she graduated with a first-class honours degree in songwriting. She continued to progress, next completing a master’s degree at the International College of Music Performance (ICMP) in London. She subsequently joined a girl band, which played big festivals with name artists, before realising she could tell her own stories as a solo artist.


Ahead of the release of her new EP The Epilogue, we chatted to Fiaa.


Did your time in foster care give you the strength and determination to follow a musical career?

In a way, yes. Not in an emotional way but in a logical way, it gave me stability and grounding to focus on my career. Before I couldn't, as I came from a very poor background and was caring for my mum; I wouldn’t have been able to focus on my dream before being in care. It gave me the surroundings I needed to follow this path.

Were there any particular artists that influenced you during that period?

Amy Winehouse completely – I just listened to her music and read about her story and attitude in life so much! She was kick-ass and unapologetic. I loved her. Amy was creatively a genius and a voice of real raw soul that touched the listener.

What was your reaction when you first heard your songs being featured on TikTok?

I went crazy! I couldn’t believe it – an EP out on TikTok. I haven’t stopped using the sound and being creative with content around the EP.

For your career to move on to the next stage, what would you like to happen?

I’m performing at the Great Escape Festival shortly – after that my aim is to just keep going with my creativity and promotion on social media.

Your debut EP, The Epilogue, has four diverse tracks, from country music to Pink on the track Let You Go. What keeps you motivated to release new music?

This is kind of you to say this; I just love it, and it’s finally working out for me, so the fact that I can make a full-time living from music is a sign that I’m meant to do this. The fact that the supporters are growing too feels like it is all adding up and I’m forever very grateful.

What has your own experience of the music business taught you?

So much - but the biggest thing is no one can save you; stop looking for that. Make it happen yourself and just make genuine relationships in the music industry. Don't rely on people to do things for you; they will add their help in here and there, but go make it happen yourself.