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Ella Mai

12 June 2023

In the Concert Hall

Contemporary Music

Lighting up the Concert Hall with her sensuous brand of old-school R&B, Grammy-Award-winning British singer-songwriter makes her much anticipated Sydney Opera House return.

Swagger and verve… a refreshing, sparky talent who lights up a room.

The Guardian

Old-school soul and slow-burn grooves from Britain’s hottest R&B star

A fresh young talent with old-school soul, London-born singer-songwriter Ella Mai took the music  world by surprise with her multi-platinum, Billboard top-five smash “Boo’d Up” in 2018, a fan favorite  that earned the emerging star a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song (and a nod for the prestigious Song of the Year). In 2019, she made her sparkling debut at Vivid LIVE, and now she’s back, hot off the success of her second album, Heart on My Sleeve, and ready to captivate the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall for one night only.

Raised between London and New York, Mai garnered early attention for three EPs released between 2016 and 2017, before “Boo’d Up” – boosted by social media attention and heavy club play – exploded in 2018, making her the first woman since Beyoncé to top three R&B/Hip Hop charts simultaneously. Mai’s self-titled 2018 debut, which featured guest appearances from John Legend, Chris Brown and H.E.R., generated more smashes in “Trip” and “Shot Clock”, and scored her another Grammy nomination for Best R&B Album. Collaborations with Ed Sheeran, Meek Mill and Usher followed, as did tours with Bruno Mars and Ariana Grande.

Led by the R&B hits “Not Another Love Song” and “DFMU”, Mai’s second album, Heart on My Sleeve, dropped in 2022 to critical acclaim, with Pitchfork calling the record a “beguiling delight”. 

Mai’s Sydney Opera House debut was a hot one. Expect nothing less from her return.

Presented by Sydney Opera House

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