Ella Mai

Ella Mai Howell (born 3 November 1994) is an English singer and songwriter. She signed to DJ Mustard's label 10 Summers Records in 2014.
== Early life ==
Ella Mai was born on November 3, 1994 to a Jamaican mother and Irish father[2] in London. According to the singer, her mother, a lover of American jazz music, named her after Ella Fitzgerald.[3] Mai moved from London to New York City at the age of 12, before returning to England after graduating from Queens High School of Teaching in Glen Oaks, Queens.[citation needed].
== Musical career ==
=== 2014–2017: Career beginnings and EP trilogy ===
Ella Mai's singing career began whilst studying at the British and Irish Modern Music Institute London (BIMM London) in 2014, when she competed on season 11 of The X Factor as part of a trio, Arize, but didn't advance beyond the initial audition for the judges. The group broke up shortly thereafter. The following year, Mai uploaded a four-track solo EP of originals to SoundCloud titled Trouble, produced by her high school friend, DJ Kam 1, who was also her DJ on Kehlani's SweetSexySavage World Tour in 2017. After being discovered on Instagram, she signed to DJ Mustard's label, 10 Summers Records and Interscope Records.[4]
In February 2016, she released Time, the first in her EP trilogy. The six-track EP included the single "She Don't", which featured Ty Dolla Sign.[5] She released her second EP, Change, in November 2016 and third, Ready, in February 2017.[6]"Boo'd Up", which was featured on the EP, rose in popularity on social media as well as in nightclubs over the next few months.[7] Ella Mai toured with Kehlanion her SweetSexySavage World Tour.[8] After Mai served as the opening act on Kehlani's tour, her music reached a bigger audience and the song grew on radio airplay in the spring of 2018.[9]
=== 2018–present: Self-titled debut album ===
On 26 April 2018, she released a music video for "Boo'd Up" after it started to gain popularity.[10] The song became her first top ten song in the US in the following month, deeming it her "breakthrough hit."[11] Rolling Stone wrote that the single is "one of the biggest singles by a breakout female R&B singer in the past 10 years."[12] The single peaked at number five on the US Billboard Hot 100,[13] and broke the record for the most weeks at No. 1 of any song by a woman on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart.[14] On 14 August, she joined Bruno Mars on the 24K Magic World Tour after Cardi B dropped out.[15] On 3 August, she released the single "Trip", with an accompanied music video releasing on 18 September.[16] The song peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. Ella Mai released her self-titled debut album, a 16-track set featuring "Boo'd Up", on 12 October 2018, with guest appearances from Chris Brown, John Legend, and H.E.R.[17] The album sold 69,000 album-equivalent units with 17,000 coming from pure sales.[18] On 22 October 2018, Mai announced her debut tour set to begin in January 2019.[19][20]
In November she made two guest appearances on J.I.D's song "Tiiied" and Meek Mill's song "24/7". On 18 November, she performed on Saturday Night Live with Jezebel describing Mai as "Pure '90s R&B Heartthrob".[21][22] She was also nominated for two Grammy Awards: Best R&B Song and Song of the Year with "Boo'd Up", winning for the former.[23]
== Artistry ==
In multiple interviews, Ella Mai names Lauryn Hill, Chris Brown, Brandy, Destiny's Child, Alicia Keys, and Mariah Carey as her biggest influences.[24] Vibe said her "perception of the powerful emotion is kindred to R&B heartthrobs of the ‘90s, who flooded the radio airwaves with soulful ballads, baby-making tunes, and heart-wrenching break-up anthems."[25] Rolling Stone described her sound as "a British émigré full of self-confidence and an affinity for classic Nineties R&B."[26]
== Discography ==
=== Studio albums ===
List of albums, with selected chart positions, sales, and certifications
Title 	Album details	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Sales	Certifications
Title 	Album details	UK
[27] 	AUS
[28] 	BEL
(FL)
[29] 	CAN
[30] 	IRE
[31] 	NLD
[32] 	NZ
[33] 	US
[34] 	US
R&B/
HH
[35] 	US
R&B
[36] 	Sales	Certifications
Ella Mai	
* Released: 12 October 2018[37]
* Label: Interscope, 10 Summers[37]
* Formats: CD, LP, digital download	18 	19 	94 	16 	55 	31 	7 	5 	4 	1 	
* US: 500,000[38]	
* RIAA: Gold[39]
=== EPs ===
List of extended plays with selected details and chart positions
Title 	Album details 	Peak chart positions 	Peak chart positions 	Peak chart positions 	Peak chart positions 	Peak chart positions 	 	 	
Title 	Album details 	US
[40] 	US
R&B
/HH
[41] 	US
R&B
[42] 	US
Heat.
[43] 	CAN
[44] 	 	 	
Time[45] 	
* Released: 15 February 2016
* Label: 10 Summers
* Format: Digital download 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	 	 	
Change[46] 	
* Released: 18 November 2016
* Label: 10 Summers
* Format: Digital download 	— 	38 	20 	8 	— 	 	 	
Ready[47] 	
* Released: 22 February 2017
* Label: 10 Summers
* Format: Digital download 	29 	17 	3 	25 	86 	 	 	
"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.	"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.	"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.	"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.	"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.	"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.	"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.	"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.	"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.	"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.
=== Singles ===
Title 	Year 	Peak chart positions 	Peak chart positions 	Peak chart positions 	Peak chart positions 	Peak chart positions 	Peak chart positions 	Peak chart positions 	Peak chart positions 	Peak chart positions 	Peak chart positions 	Certifications 	Album 	 	
Title 	Year 	UK
[27] 	AUS
[48] 	CAN
[49] 	IRE
[50] 	NZ
[51] 	US
[52] 	US
R&B
/HH
[53] 	US
R&B
[54] 	US
R&B/HH
Airplay
[55] 	US
Adult
R&B
[56] 	Certifications 	Album 	 	
"She Don't"[57]
(featuring Ty Dolla Sign) 	2016 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	 	Time 	 	
"Lay Up"[58] 	2017 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	 	Change 	 	
"Naked"[59] 	2017 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	17 	— 	— 	 	Ella Mai 	 	
"Boo'd Up"
(solo or with Nicki Minajand Quavo) 	2018 	52 	46 	43 	85 	8 	5 	4 	1 	1 	1 	
* BPI: Silver[60]
* MC: Platinum[61]
* RIAA: 4× Platinum[39]
* RMNZ: Gold[62] 	Ready and Ella Mai 	 	
"Trip"[63] 	2018 	47 	77 	78 	— 	22 	11 	6 	1 	1 	1 	
* MC: Gold[64]
* RIAA: Platinum[39]
* RMNZ: Gold[65] 	Ella Mai 	 	
"Shot Clock"[66] 	2019 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	81 	31 	8 	18 	— 	 	Ella Mai 	 	
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.	"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.	"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.	"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.	"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.	"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.	"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.	"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.	"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.	"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.	"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.	"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.	"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.	"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.	"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.	"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
=== Promotional singles ===
Title	Year	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Album
Title	Year	UK
[27] 	AUS
[48] 	NZ
[67] 	US
Bub.
[68] 	US
R&B
/HH
Bub.
[69]	US
R&B
[54] 	Album
"Whatchamacallit"
(featuring Chris Brown)	2018	84 	66 	21 	3 	1 	7 	Ella Mai
=== Other charted songs ===
Title 	Year 	Peak chart positions 	Peak chart positions 	Peak chart positions 	Peak chart positions 	Peak chart positions 	Album 	 	 	 	
Title 	Year 	UK
[27] 	NZ
Hot
[70][71] 	US
[52] 	US
R&B
/HH
[53] 	US
R&B
[54] 	Album 	 	 	 	
"Good Bad" 	2018 	— 	— 	— 	— 	18 	Ella Mai 	 	 	 	
"Sauce" 	2018 	— 	20 	— 	— 	23 	Ella Mai 	 	 	 	
"Everything"
(featuring John Legend) 	2018 	— 	23 	— 	— 	14 	Ella Mai 	 	 	 	
"Gut Feeling"
(featuring H.E.R.) 	2018 	— 	31 	—[A] 	—[B] 	11 	Ella Mai 	 	 	 	
"24/7"
(Meek Mill featuring Ella Mai) 	2018 	66 	21 	54 	25 	— 	Championships 	 	 	 	
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart	"—" denotes a recording that did not chart	"—" denotes a recording that did not chart	"—" denotes a recording that did not chart	"—" denotes a recording that did not chart	"—" denotes a recording that did not chart	"—" denotes a recording that did not chart	"—" denotes a recording that did not chart	"—" denotes a recording that did not chart	"—" denotes a recording that did not chart	"—" denotes a recording that did not chart	"—" denotes a recording that did not chart
==== Notes ====
# ^ "Gut Feeling" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 21 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.[68]
# ^ "Gut Feeling" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number nine on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[69]
=== Guest appearances ===
Title 	Year	Other artist(s)	Album
"10,000 Hours"[72] 	2016	DJ Mustard 	Cold Summer
"Hit Me Up"[73] 	2017	Chip 	League of My Own II
"This X-Mas"[74] 	2017	Chris Brown 	Heartbreak on a Full Moon (Deluxe Edition): Cuffing Season - 12 Days of Christmas
"Talk to Me, Pt. II"[75] 	2018	Craig David 	The Time Is Now (Deluxe)
"Tiiied"[76] 	2018	J.I.D, 6LACK 	DiCaprio 2
"24/7" [77] 	2018	Meek Mill 	Championships
"Love Me Like That (Champion Love)"	2018	N/A 	Creed II: The Album
== Awards and nominations ==
Year	Awards/organisation 	Category 	Nominated work	Result
2018	MTV Video Music Awards 	Song of Summer 	"Boo'd Up" 	Nominated[78]
2018	American Music Awards 	Favorite Song – Soul/R&B 	"Boo'd Up" 	Nominated[79]
2018	American Music Awards 	Favorite Female Artist – Soul/R&B 	Herself 	Nominated[79]
2018	Soul Train Music Awards	Best Song of the Year 	"Boo'd Up" 	Won[80]
2018	Soul Train Music Awards	The Ashford & Simpson Songwriter's Award	"Boo'd Up" 	Won[80]
2018	Soul Train Music Awards	Best Video of the Year 	"Boo'd Up" 	Nominated[80]
2018	Soul Train Music Awards	Best R&B/Soul Female Artist 	Herself 	Won[80]
2018	BBC 	Sound of 2019 	Herself 	Nominated[81]
2018	Metro 	Ones To Watch 2019 	Herself 	Nominated[82]
2019	Grammy Awards 	Best R&B Song 	"Boo'd Up" 	Won[83]
2019	Grammy Awards 	Song of the Year 	"Boo'd Up" 	Nominated[84]
2019	Brit Awards 	Best Breakthrough Act 	Herself 	Pending