Born in Catalonia to a British mother, trained in Performance Art, and a Thai father, working in a hospice in the slums of Bangkok, the Barcelona-based singer-songwriter’s upbringing of travel and diversity in encounters has inspired chords of empathy; the affinity to those around her bleeds naturally into her music.

Uma has found innovation in various genres and performers, citing Joni Mitchell, Buika, Ella Fitzgerald, Nico, Macy Gray, Bebel Gilberto, Shakira and Florence and the Machine, as well as initially classically trained in violin from the age of four years old. “I spent a lot of time studying classical music. Later on, becoming more exposed to the likes of pop, I realised how much I enjoyed the fluidity of genres and sounds.”

She pursued her natural gift with help from a BA in music, creating with like-minded young talent at the music residency “Can Obert” in her house in Spain with Luke Bower (Lucy Lu). Over twenty-five young artists and musicians, including Alice Bloomfield, Max Pope, Amy May Ellis and Nilüfer Yanya collaborated to create over twenty songs in a week, becoming increasingly experimental over the numerous years.

She released the debut EP ‘Bel-li’ earlier this year, a combination of classical arrangements, Spanish guitar and folk-pop, “all about home and falling into a great love. Late night bowls of spaghetti in your belly. Endless summers watching the sunset from my roof.”

She follows it with upcoming project ‘Moth & The Dove’, a continuation of her calming sonic presence, with interjections of bossa nova and more electronic influences in places. Collaborating with Lucy Lu, who flew to Spain at the beginning of the pandemic, the duo has been carving cathartic sounds as a tonic for a hectic year: “the song writing process became a kind of therapy, a way to approach subjects we couldn’t talk about. It was only after we’d finished, we realised we’d made records,” explains Luke.

+ Orange vinyl. 

Previous single ‘Bring Me The Mountain’ was an introduction into the blend of the two artists’ sounds: “there’s definitely an exploration of acoustic and electronic sounds,” Uma explains. Now comes the tranquil cut, ‘Black Bees’. Another intimate sonic insight into the creative relationship between the two, Uma describes the track as “a reconciliation after the battle," ‘Black Bees’ is about learning to love someone through the darkness and the light. "We are both stubborn and competitive but the collaborative space we’ve created together is very freeing and extremely honest and I think you can hear that in the songs we’ve written,” she continues. “Uma brings a sense of clarity to the writing process along with a playfulness,” adds Luke.

Uma continues to establish herself as a unique creator of timeless folk-pop, perfectly timed to provide solace during a tumultuous time.

Side A - The Moth & The Dove

1. Bring Me the Mountain (Ft. Lucy Lu)
2. Nebula
3. Talking Walls
4. Black Bees (Ft. Lucy Lu)
5. EWSK (live)

Side B - Bel-li

1. Overture
2. Mockingbird
3. Silver Tongue
4. Astronaut
5. Pride
6. Standing In The Sun