Fiaa Hamilton had taken a number of steps towards making a career for herself in music, but it was a moment of chance that helped make it a reality. Out for the night near her home in West Sussex, she spotted Rag‘n’Bone Man at a bar but was too shy to introduce herself. No matter: her friend did the honours and talked up Fiaa’s talents as a songwriter that he should collaborate. He liked what he heard, leading to the pair meeting up for a session together.

The result was ‘One Day’, which was released during lockdown to benefit a selection of children’s charities.

Thank you for speaking with Revamp, in 3 words, can you describe your sound?

No, thank you so much! Oooh, I'd say soulful, inspiring, and, energetic. 

Was music always a big part of your life growing up, and how did you get into the industry?

My first words were singing! It's been my everything from day one, when I was 8 years old it became a young career for my mum and we would write songs together and then music was all I had when I lost everything and went into foster care,  it was the only thing I owned and held dearly and something no one could take from me. It's the reason I went back into education, i missed years of school but ended up with a master's degree in music and my first industry experience was when I was scouted to be in a girl band and we performed in front of 35,000 people supporting Will Smith on his music comeback. 

Who inspired you to become a singer, and were you always encouraged to sing, by your own family? 

My mum was a songwriter and my guardian is a music teacher. They encouraged me to sing from the moment I wanted to, my guardian would play piano and we would learn songs together from the days I can remember and my mum and I would write songs together as a source of therapy. When I went to school in year 7 I got picked on for my singing voice and it was Amy Winehouse who stopped that! haha sounds silly but her voice and music made the kids at school realize that it was ok to have a big voice, I owe my passion for music to my mum she is my muse. 

Your new single ‘Love War’, is out now. This song resonated with me, and I know will also resonate with people who have been in this situation before, with always going back, what made you want to create this single?

I am so pleased to hear that you can resonate that means a lot! I write all my songs to help people through tricky times so that's all I want to hear, I've defo been in that situation, it's so hard to leave someone when your self-worth is on the floor even when you know that they are not right for you, it's the reason why most breakups end up being so toxic because people need bad endings to have closure rather than admit they just don't work which I wish never had to happen. This song particularly is about my best friend and his relationship, the song supported him to leave and now he's living his best life as he should! he's my total worldie of a bestie!! I also decided to release this song on my best friend's birthday. 

When choosing a title for your single, how do you do this? 

IT'S A LOVE WAR is the total chant, it was an easy title! " Love War "

What is the response from this single already?

Honestly, it's magical! I never imagined my first single would receive love like it has! BBC Introducing and TikTok have been the reason for most of the success on the track which I love as I am an independent artist and these are independent platforms! Also, I have to thank my angels and the Penguins family for everything they do!! yes hahah there is a funny story with those names! I bet you are thinking! come to my TikTok live shows 12:12 & 21:21 to find out that funny story! and maybe become part of the family! 

When you are creating a new single, what is the process normally like, from the song-writing to putting out the single?

Well it differs, each song has a different journey, Love war was written and produced within about 2 hours! and I knew it would be my first single, it had us singing along to it for days and I wanted the world to have it but there's so much that goes into a release, I am managing myself so I have to do all the admin, marketing and creative bits but I'm blessed and enjoy it all!! 

You also go live on TikTok, and have had various opportunities arise from that, what makes TikTok, one of your favorite platforms, to promote music on?

TikTok has changed my life, I wouldn't have been able to release my first single without the support from everyone on that platform, it gave me an audience who made me find the confidence to release my music, I had no confidence to take the risk to show the world my songs and now I have I've never seen so much support on the app! I can't believe how many are using sound! I've been in total shock! The app can change your career! 

What can we see from you next? 

SO many more songs! I'm creating my world right now so jump on in for the journey!