Lamya
Encyclopedia
Lamya Al-Mugheiry better known as her mononym Layma was a Kenyan-born British female R&B and dance music
singer, She was born in Kenya
and was of Oman
i descent and raised in Sheffield
, United Kingdom
. A remix
of her song "Empires" hit #1 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in 2002.
Aged just 16, Lamya sang lead vocals on "Ready 4 Love" by DJ Vaughn Mason (under the guise 'Razette') an answer track to the single "Break 4 Love" by "Raze", previously a hit in 1988. Lamya's version reached No.77 in the UK Charts in August 1989. Soon afterwards, she was chosen to perform lead vocals for Soul II Soul
on the tracks "Love Come Through" and "In the Heat of the Night", from their second album Vol. II: 1990 - A New Decade
aged just 16. In 1993, she joined Duran Duran
for their two-year Wedding Album
tour, and related television appearances, including MTV Unplugged
. She also performed with David Bowie
and James Brown
.
In 2002, Lamya released her first and only album, Learning from Falling. She produced and composed the songs, using poems she had written since the age of eleven. It included the singles "Empires (Bring Me Men)
" (for which a video was filmed) and "Black Mona Lisa
". In its review of the album, Blender
described her as "the Kenyan Björk
". She appeared in Nelson Mandela
's February 2003 AIDS
benefit concert, and opened for Macy Gray
later that year. The album debuted at #16 on the Top Heatseekers
chart, but neither of its singles entered the Billboard Hot 100
.
Lamya was scheduled to release her second album, Hiding in Plain Sight, in 2009, but died of a sudden and unexpected heart attack on 8 January 2009, while in Oman. She was only 35.
Singles
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
singer, She was born in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
and was of Oman
Oman
Oman , officially called the Sultanate of Oman , is an Arab state in southwest Asia on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea on the...
i descent and raised in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. A remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
of her song "Empires" hit #1 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in 2002.
Aged just 16, Lamya sang lead vocals on "Ready 4 Love" by DJ Vaughn Mason (under the guise 'Razette') an answer track to the single "Break 4 Love" by "Raze", previously a hit in 1988. Lamya's version reached No.77 in the UK Charts in August 1989. Soon afterwards, she was chosen to perform lead vocals for Soul II Soul
Soul II Soul
Soul II Soul are a British group that was created in London in 1988. They are best known for their 1989 UK chart-topper and U.S. Top 5 hit, "Back to Life ".-Career:...
on the tracks "Love Come Through" and "In the Heat of the Night", from their second album Vol. II: 1990 - A New Decade
Vol. II: 1990 - A New Decade
Vol. II: 1990 - A New Decade is a 1990 album by Soul II Soul. The album was #1 in the UK during early 1990. The album contained three UK hits, "Get A Life", which reached #3 , "A Dream's A Dream", which made #6 , and "Missing You", which reached #22 .-Track...
aged just 16. In 1993, she joined Duran Duran
Duran Duran
Duran Duran are an English band, formed in Birmingham in 1978. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s and a leading band in the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" of the United States...
for their two-year Wedding Album
Duran Duran (1993 album)
Duran Duran is the seventh studio album and the second self-titled album by Duran Duran, released on 23 February 1993. The cover art by Nick Egan features wedding photos from the parents of the four band members.Recording of the album was completed in early 1992 with an impending release by...
tour, and related television appearances, including MTV Unplugged
MTV Unplugged
MTV Unplugged is a TV series showcasing many popular musical artists usually playing acoustic instruments. The show has received the George Foster Peabody Award and 3 Primetime Emmy nominations among many accolades.-Unplugged:...
. She also performed with David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
and James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
.
In 2002, Lamya released her first and only album, Learning from Falling. She produced and composed the songs, using poems she had written since the age of eleven. It included the singles "Empires (Bring Me Men)
Empires (Bring Me Men)
"Empires " is a song by the late Omani artist Lamya. It was released in 2002. It was the first single taken from her first album Learning From Falling....
" (for which a video was filmed) and "Black Mona Lisa
Black Mona Lisa
"Black Mona Lisa" is a song by R&B artist Lamya. It was released in 2002 as the second single from her first album, Learning From Falling. The album featured both the original version and a single mix.No music video was shot for the single....
". In its review of the album, Blender
Blender (magazine)
Blender was an American music magazine that billed itself as "the ultimate guide to music and more". It was also known for sometimes steamy pictorials of celebrities....
described her as "the Kenyan Björk
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
". She appeared in Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
's February 2003 AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
benefit concert, and opened for Macy Gray
Macy Gray
Macy Gray is a Grammy Award-winning American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress, famed for her distinctive raspy voice, and a singing style heavily influenced by Billie Holiday and Betty Davis.Gray has released five studio albums, with her fifth studio album, The Sellout,...
later that year. The album debuted at #16 on the Top Heatseekers
Top Heatseekers
Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical...
chart, but neither of its singles entered the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
.
Lamya was scheduled to release her second album, Hiding in Plain Sight, in 2009, but died of a sudden and unexpected heart attack on 8 January 2009, while in Oman. She was only 35.
Discography
- Learning from Falling (2002) #16 Top HeatseekersTop HeatseekersTop Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical...
- Hiding in Plain Sight (2009, unreleased due to Lamya's death)
Singles
- "Empires (Bring Me Men)Empires (Bring Me Men)"Empires " is a song by the late Omani artist Lamya. It was released in 2002. It was the first single taken from her first album Learning From Falling....
" (2002) – #1 Hot Dance Club PlayHot Dance Club PlayThe Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs... - "Black Mona LisaBlack Mona Lisa"Black Mona Lisa" is a song by R&B artist Lamya. It was released in 2002 as the second single from her first album, Learning From Falling. The album featured both the original version and a single mix.No music video was shot for the single....
" (2002)
See also
- List of number-one dance hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart