‘How am I already back in London hearing sirens?’ says Mahalia, a few days after performing at Glastonbury 2023. ‘That place is like a whole other world.’ The R&B singer-songwriter played the penultimate Saturday slot on the West Holts stage during peak golden hour – AKA, the perfect backdrop for a soft, soul-fuelled performance.
What’s next? ‘Right now I’m really focused on this album coming out and then I’m probably going to take a big exhale,’ she says. ‘This record is like a letter of independence. I started writing it after I moved in on my own following a break-up. I used to be really co-dependent in relationships – but eventually I loved being by myself.’ Born and bred in the Midlands, she guides us round her hometown of Leicester, sharing the best places to grab a bite to eat and catch live music.
Eat
‘Bobby’s is a vegetarian only Indian restaurant and takeaway. It’s unbelievable. Anybody who knows Leicester knows it. My dad has been veggie for as long as I’ve known, so whenever we wanted an Indian for dinner, we’d order from there. I used to love going to pick it up: my dad would have his cash in his pocket and Bobby, the guy who used to own the place, would always sit at the front in a little chair. They did these really big samosas – the best I've ever had in my life – and every Christmas, my dad would show up with a box filled with like 50. Now, whenever I do a show at home, I always ask my tour manager if we can stop on the way and get some.’
Drink
‘The Exchange Bar is in the arts district of Leicester. It’s really cute: really narrow, New York style, with sofas and armchairs, and is super moody and dimly lit. The music they play is always great and downstairs, they have a little basement, which was where I did one of my first ever gigs when I was 12.’
Do
‘My favourite music venue is a little spot on the main high street called The Cookie, which is now called The Big Difference. It almost feels like a rite of passage. There’s a ground floor bar and downstairs is where all the gigs are. Fairly recently, I started an event series in London platforming artists called ‘Mahalia Presents’. My first one was actually when I was 16, at The Cookie. I remember booking Saint Raymond. These, days I mostly book artists that sit in the same world as me: with all of the conversations going on about R&B and Black music in the UK, I think it’s important that those artists feel like they have a stage.’
See
‘Bradgate Park is just beautiful. It’s huge – I've never walked the whole thing. Right in the centre is what used to be Bradgate House. Now, it’s basically crumbled, but you can go in and see it. It was the birthplace of Lady Jane Grey, also known as the Nine Days’ Queen. Growing up, we would go most weekend and have a picnic. Now, as I’m getting older, it’s been a meeting point for myself and my besties from school.’
Mahalia’s album ‘IRL’ is out on July 14.
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