Tamera , also known as Tamera Foster and TAMERA, is an English Afrobeat and R&B singer and songwriter who competed in the tenth series of The X Factor in 2013. Achieving a fifth place, quarter-final finish, she was subsequently signed to a Syco Music record deal.
TAMERA | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Tamera |
| Born | 27 January 1997 Gravesend, Kent, England |
| Genres | |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Years active | 2013–present |
| Labels | |
Early life
editTamera grew up listening to many genres of music, but was most inspired by Whitney Houston, Missy Elliott, Erykah Badu, Sammy Davis Jr., James Brown, and Beyonce.[1] She also enjoyed drawing and painting, which became more serious hobbies in her early teens.[2] After being encouraged by her mother and grandmother, Tamera performed at church, as well as several local talent shows. She decided to audition for The X Factor one week before the show, at the age of 16. [3] She has claimed to have synesthesia.[4]
2013: The X Factor
editShe competed in the tenth series of The X Factor in 2013. She was eliminated in the quarter-final, finishing in 5th place.[5] Former Judge Simon Cowell subsequently signed her to his label Syco Music after dubbing her "the British Rihanna".[6][7]
2014–2022: Syco Music and Afrodite
editAfter her stint on The X Factor, Tamera was signed to a deal with Syco Music in March 2014,[8] at the age of 17.[9]
Tamera was sent to writing camps in LA, New York, and Sweden, and worked with producer Kamille in early pop-influenced album writing sessions.[3] In a now-deleted December 2014 YouTube vlog upload of a behind-the-scenes studio session, a song titled "Hit You Like A Bullet" was teased alongside a jazz cover of "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town". Failing to agree with the label on a musical direction, the music from Syco never materialized, with Tamera instead waiting for the 3 year contract to expire.[10] She parted ways with the label in 2016,[2] Tamera was credited as a co-writer on 2017 Bakermat single "Don't Want You Back". In 2019, Tamera signed an undisclosed record deal with London-based label Moonshyne Music Ltd. and music distributor AWAL, subsequently releasing her debut single "Romeo" produced by Parker Ighile. [11] She later released second single "Don't Phone", as well as third single "Flipside" produced by Future Cut and Oscar Scheller.[12][13] Billboard described the sound of her fourth single "Wickedest" as "the embodiment of smoothness".[14] Cuthbert released her debut EP Afrodite, executive-produced by P2J, in 2021. The Clash reviewed it positively, describing it as a "warm embrace of feminine energy... spotlight[ing] the singer's African and Greek heritage amongst silky riffs and intimate songwriting."[15] In November 2022, she released the single "Insensitive", which received "track of the day" honors on Clash and was heralded as a "superb return".[16]
2023–present: Lost In Translation
editIn February 2023, Tamera released "Frozen", an electro-dance single co-written by OVO Sound artist Majid Al Maskati. Her second EP Lost In Translation was released in November 2023, which contained "40 Days", her first charting single on the UK Afrobeats Singles Chart.[17] In December 2023, Tamera was nominated for "Best Newcomer" at the 26th edition of the MOBO Awards.[18]
Discography
editStudio Projects
edit- Afrodite EP (2021)
- Lost In Translation EP (2023)
Singles
edit| Title | Year | UK Afrobeats Singles Chart [19] |
Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Romeo" | 2019 | Non-album single | |
| "Don't Phone" | Non-album single | ||
| "Flipside" | 2020 | Rocks (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | |
| "Wickedest" | 2021 | Afrodite EP | |
| "Strong For Me" | |||
| "Good Love" (Feat. Tay Iwar) | |||
| "New Hobby" | |||
| "Insensitive" | 2022 | Non-album single | |
| "Frozen" | 2023 | Non-album single | |
| "Diversion" | Lost In Translation EP | ||
| "Poison" | |||
| "40 Days" (Feat. CKay) | 16 |
Guest appearances
edit| Title | Year | Other performer(s) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Dynamite" | 2017 | Kojey Radical & Pote | In God's Body |
| "Identify" | Parker Ighile | Non-album single | |
| "Wanna Be With You" | 2023 | Steel Banglez & Mowgs | The Playlist |
| "Honest" | Spinall, Tay Iwar & TSB | Top Boy | |
| "I'm So High" | p-rallel & Toddla T | Movement | |
| "Options" | Kamille & Bellah | K1 | |
| "Shivers" | Nonso Amadi | When It Blooms | |
| "Girlfriend (London Girls Mix)" | 2024 | Ayanna & Mnelia | In A Perfect World (Complete Set) |
| "Wrist On Freeze" | Ms Banks & Stay Flee Get Lizzy | Stars Aligned |
Songwriting Credits
edit| Title | Year | Artist | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Don't Want You Back" (Featuring Kiesza) | 2017 | Bakermat | Non-album single |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Ceremony | Award | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 26th MOBO Awards | Best Newcomer | Nominated | [18] |
References
edit- ^ Radcliffe, Maya (9 June 2020). "Spotlight: Tamera". Prsformusic.com. Archived from the original on 3 November 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
- ^ a b Toggle navigation (29 October 2021). "Young Gifted And Black: Women In Music x YouTube Music - Tamera | Interviews". Music Week. Archived from the original on 3 November 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
- ^ a b "Tamera Foster On X-Factor And The Challenge Of Being A Role Model - Exclusive Interview". The Untitled Magazine. 26 October 2022. Archived from the original on 3 November 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
- ^ "Tamera: 'Having synaesthesia means I see colours when I hear music' - BBC News". Bbc.com. 18 February 2022. Archived from the original on 3 November 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
- ^ "'X Factor' Singer Tamera Foster Joins Simon Cowell's Syco Record Label Alongside One Direction, Little Mix, Sam Bailey | HuffPost UK Entertainment". Huffingtonpost.co.uk. 16 March 2014. Archived from the original on 3 November 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
- ^ Staff, Wonderland (20 May 2014). "Profile: Tamera Foster". Wonderland. Archived from the original on 3 November 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
- ^ "X Factor contestant Tamera Foster secures Syco record deal". Pressparty. 16 March 2014. Archived from the original on 3 November 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
- ^ "Tamera Foster signs a huge record deal with Syco - Syco Simon Cowell | Glamour UK". Glamourmagazine.co.uk. 17 March 2014. Archived from the original on 3 November 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
- ^ "Romanticising dark situations into beautiful melodies: meet London's next big thing, Tamera — CHECK-OUT". Checkoutmag.co.uk. 3 January 2021. Archived from the original on 3 November 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
- ^ "Goddess of Love: Meet Our November Cover Star Tamera as she announces her debut EP 'Afrodite' - PHOENIX Magazine". Phoenixmag.co.uk. Archived from the original on 3 November 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
- ^ Staff, Wonderland (8 August 2019). "London Neo-Soul Newcomer Tamera Drops Debut Music Video "Romeo"". Wonderland. Archived from the original on 3 November 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
- ^ "Premiere: North West London Singer Tamera Returns With Sultry New R&B Cut "Don't Phone" | Complex UK". Complex.com. 21 November 2019. Archived from the original on 3 November 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
- ^ "Schön! premieres | tamera "flipside"". Schön! Magazine. 22 May 2020. Archived from the original on 3 November 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
- ^ Neena Rouhani (3 September 2019). "R&B/Hip-Hop Picks of the Week: Mereba, Ye Ali & More – Billboard". Billboard.com. Archived from the original on 3 November 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
- ^ Lamond, Ana (18 November 2021). "Tamera Unveils Debut EP 'Afrodite' And 'Good Love' Music Video". Clash. Archived from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ Murray, Robin (25 November 2022). "Track Of The Day 25/11 - Tamera". Clash. Archived from the original on 29 November 2022. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
- ^ "Official Afrobeats Chart | Official Charts". Official Charts. Archived from the original on 2 October 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ a b "MOBO AWARDS ANNOUNCE NOMINATIONS FOR 26TH EDITION IN SHEFFIELD | MOBO Organisation". mobo.com.
- ^ "Tamera Chart History: Afrobeats Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 November 2023.