Malaya Watson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Malaya Watson
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Watson in March 2020
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Malaya Tina Bandico Watson |
| Born | September 24, 1997 Southfield, Michigan, U.S. |
| Genres | Soul, R&B |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Instruments | Vocals, tuba |
| Years active | 2014–present |
Malaya Tina Bandico Watson (born September 24, 1997) is an American singer. She is from Southfield, Michigan. Malaya became well-known after finishing in eighth place on the thirteenth season of American Idol.
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Early Life and Music
Malaya Watson has a mixed background. Her mother is Filipino American and her father is African-American. Her dad, Ronald Watson, is a professional guitar player. Her mom, Marian Bandico Watson, is a nurse from Manila, Philippines.
When she was in high school, Malaya played the tuba. She was part of the marching band at Southfield High School. She also loved to sing and act. Malaya was a member of the Mosaic Youth Theater of Detroit. There, she performed in shows like Singsation and Hasting Street. She also sang with the Michigan Opera Theatre Children's Chorus. With them, she appeared in operas such as Carmen and Tosca.
Musical Inspirations
Malaya says her two grandfathers and her father helped her love music. She also looks up to famous singers. She describes her singing style as being inspired by Sly Stone and Beyoncé.
Malaya's Singing Career
Malaya Watson's career began to shine in 2014.
American Idol Journey
When she was just 15 years old, Malaya tried out for American Idol. She sang "Ain't No Way" by Aretha Franklin for her audition in Detroit. She was one of the youngest contestants ever to reach the live finals.
During the show, judge Jennifer Lopez and many fans thought Malaya could win. However, Malaya received the fewest votes during the Top 8 reveal night. The judges no longer had a "save" option, so Malaya was eliminated. She sang "I Am Changing" as her final song. All three judges gave her a standing ovation after her last performance.
Memorable Performances on American Idol
Malaya sang many songs during her time on American Idol. Here are some of her notable performances:
- Audition: "Ain't No Way" by Aretha Franklin
- Hollywood Round: "Brand New Me" by Alicia Keys
- Top 20: "Hard Times (No One Knows Better Than I)" by Ray Charles
- Top 13: "Runaway Baby" by Bruno Mars
- Top 11: "I Am Changing" by Jennifer Holliday
- Top 10: "When I Was Your Man" by Bruno Mars
- Top 9: "The Long and Winding Road" by The Beatles
- Top 8: "Through the Fire" by Chaka Khan
After American Idol
After American Idol, Malaya joined the American Idols Live! Tour 2014. The tour ran from June to August 2014. During this time, she started working on her first music collection, called an EP, and an album.
On October 19, 2014, Malaya sang the U.S. national anthem. This was at the Detroit Lions versus New Orleans Saints football game in Detroit.
In 2018, Malaya released her first single, "Time." A single is usually one song released on its own. Two years later, in 2020, she released her second single, "Worry About Myself." Also in 2020, she was featured on a song called "Love You Bad." This song was part of an EP called Dinner Party: Dessert.
On December 4, 2020, Malaya released her first EP, My Diary: The Prelude. An EP is like a mini-album with fewer songs. The next year, she released her second EP, Father's Law. In 2021, Malaya also sang on two songs for Snoop Dogg's album Algorithm. She also appeared on the song "Evil Eye" from the album Drones.
In 2022, Malaya was featured on the song "Joint 3." This song was named one of the best songs of the year by NPR, a well-known radio network.
Malaya's Music
Here are some of the music projects Malaya Watson has released.
EPs (Extended Plays)
- My Diary: The Prelude (2020)
- Father's Law (2021)
Singles
- "Time" (2018)
- "Worry About Myself" (2020)
Songs with Other Artists
Malaya has also sung on songs by other artists:
- "Love You Bad" (2020) with Terrace Martin, Robert Glasper, 9th Wonder, Kamasi Washington, Phoelix
- "Happy Feet (for dancers)" (2021) with Theo Croker
- "Runnin Away" (2021) with Tall Black Guy, Ozay Moore
- "Evil Eyes" (2021) with Terrace Martin, YG
- "Anxiety" (2021) on Snoop Dogg's Algorithm
- "Inspiration" (2021) on Snoop Dogg's Algorithm
