She spent her formative years in ecclesiastical choral groups; playing the piano from as young as seven and performing for anybody who would heed. That taught her the crux of tonal pattern! Boosted in faith, home loved her more; she fully witnessed her parents’ deep affection for Rhythm & Blues, soul and soca music. Sensing deep pride, American berceuse supreme beings like Rhythm & Blues vocal trio from New York City — SWV, Barry White a singer and composer, vocalist Chaka Khan, as well as British singer and ballad maker Craig David; blared through the household’s hi-fi speakers.
On rotation donuts radiating energy, it would further “catch fire” her wide treasuring of euphony, thereupon, establishing the basis of her artistry. In this day and age, South London artist Jaz Karis’ refreshingly spick-and-span, yet intimately conversant sound; occupy a space between Rhythm & Blues, Soul, Amapiano as well as Afropop. By uniting for a pretty smooth harmonious moment with parallel singer songwriter and actress Mahalia; a collusion of profound confidence is fated to deeply impress.
Positioned as most likely than not, one of British Rhythm & Blues’ extremely triumphant contemporary faces; the latter — a recipient of myriad Grammys, BRIT, Soul Train and MTV Push nominations over the eons, as well as a couple of MOBO laurels for Best Female Act and Best R&B / Soul Act — lives by a conviction in her auditory range, that has stood excavated with supplementary assembled robust ruminations sonically.
An overarching devotion to doggedness is what has driven her to gawp inward, grow and in the fullness of time — challenge herself with each and every release to date; as she continues to escalate as well as establish herself in her tact as an artist. Subsequently, not ever having to choose between their passion and faith; it is so powerful that — ‘Nice Girls’ — is an offshoot of a thunderclap Quislingism between Jaz Karis and Mahalia.
Foaled via MNRK Music Group; on the melody, both birdcall goddesses diagnose the vulnerable honesty that comes in the backwash of a breakup. In the chorus, Jaz divulges: “nice girls they lose, I can’t get caught up falling for you.”
With the video to her eclectic-extolled performance of the ditty ‘Petty Lover’ on ‘COLORS’ — a cantabile composition oeuvre that is just as delicate with its lax production, as it would be acoustical — building up over 16 million plus views; Jaz Karis jockeyed on a skyward trajectory since snatching 100 million plus global streams. Making her, good-as-possibly-can, to “kick ass” on her newest hit!
Having toured with the likes of English trill lords: singer-songwriter Raye, Tom Misch a musician and producer, as well as Ghanaian Afropop, dancehall and reggae musician Stonebwoy; Jaz Karis — who likewise recognises the sovereignty of filling so many gaps on ‘Nice Girls’ — would deservedly “break a leg” with two sold-out headline shows of her own. Today, hers and Mahalia’s ethereal voices mix as well as layer impeccably, as they hover across the latter jam.
“This song is about karma. This song is about how it feels now being on the other side of the story and why good girls never win. A collaboration of two hurt lover girls — I love this song so much because everyone has felt like this at some point,” Jaz Karis said.
Mahalia’s feat becoming even more bona fide, both on her home turf and abroad too (she has cracked the US Adult R&B Charts three times to date); similarly, to how she was chiefly incessant on doubling down on vulnerability, internal reflection, and a desire to feel, in the realms of love on her second full-bodied toil of beats — aptly titled IRL: more of the multifaceted artist’s personality is depicted on this up-to-the-second number (‘Nice Girls’).
“I have been a lover of Jaz’s music for so long that I still can’t believe we didn’t have a song together until now. When she sent me ‘Nice Girls’, I knew immediately that it would be the perfect one to duet on. It’s a moment for two women to share the pain over a lost love. I couldn’t be happier to be a part of this record and am honoured to have been asked,” Mahalia said.
‘Nice Girls’ follows Jaz Karis’ tap of American singer, songwriter and record producer Tone Stith — on the gem blast called ‘Met You at A Bar’. The sensual tune and accompanying retro-stirred means of animated revelation through graphics, chronicle a rapport that gets off to a rocky start in a smoky billiards bar. The audio to the banger is tracking at over 125 000 streams on Apple Music, over 375 000 streams on Amazon Music, and over 394 500 streams on Spotify. Jaz and Tone also adorned the cover of the latter ginormous Swedish audio streaming and media service provider’s ‘R&B Rising and Riffs & Runs’ playlists.
Having earned her backing from the likes of NME, Line of Best Fit, Clash, and Wonderland; in 2020 Jaz Karis dazed her lilt stalwarts as well as opus aficionados alike, after being revealed as the lead vocalist on — ‘Soweto Blues’ — an anthem by Juls a British-Ghanaian record producer, disc jockey and musician.
While it is a monumental moment which saw Jaz pace out of her comfort zone, switching gears into the world of Afrobeats and Soulful House; for Mahalia — with her legion of 3.3 million monthly Spotify listeners, an opener performance for English singer-songwriter Adele at Hyde Park in summer 2022, as well as a stellar prime-time Commonwealth Games closing ceremony set — there are more territories to break!
Jaz Karis conceived a considerable mature sound both vocally and sonically; her fourth EP (extended play) termed ‘Dear Jaz’, hatched in 2022, was a calculated “hop step jump” forward from her erstwhile output. An introspective letter to the ancient, current and about to happen version of herself; it was Jaz as she would on no occasion have been heard before.
Not only would the canon hotshot’s preceding single — ‘Little Blue Moon’ — feature as the British Broadcasting Corporation’s ‘BBC Introducing Track of the Week’, the smash chanted creation has by now been on rotation across 10 different shows. Above and beyond walking on air, credit to the latter lullaby piling up over 1.69 million streams across DSPs; crooning Jaz Karis has also been acknowledged with the MOBO nomination for Best R&B / Soul Act.
Grant Moyo is a prolific writer, innovative media personality, entrepreneur and a creative artist who is passionate about using his creative mind for the betterment of society. Follow him on X: @TotemGrant