Mahalia review, Scala, London: Fans enjoy a party atmosphere at singer's biggest show to date

Rising singer celebrated her 20th birthday with family, friends, fans... and a few surprise guests

Mahalia performs at Scala in London (Chloe Newman)

Mahalia played her biggest gig to date as she sold-out London’s Scala with her very own headline show. Fresh from touring with her equally talented fellow Midlander Jorja Smith, the Birmingham-born singer took no time transitioning from support to headline act.

Brimming with confidence and dressed in a wonderfully ostentatious giant fur coat, Mahalia picked up her acoustic guitar and took to the mic for the aptly titled opening track “No Pressure”. She's no stranger to the limelight; she’s been penning songs since she was eight, signed her first record deal with Atlantic Records at the age of 13 and even appeared in Noel Clarke’s Brotherhood alongside Stormzy in 2016.

Her smile and vigour for life is contagious, the evening flowed like an evening with friends as opposed to a gig at one of London’s most famous venues. This relaxed atmosphere was aided by the fact that the night was also her 20th birthday and her family and friends were also in attendance.

Latest single “Proud Of Me” which was dedicated to her parents, included a surprise appearance by perhaps one of the most underrated rappers out there, in the form of Little Simz. The party atmosphere continued into the evening with younger brother Zane also taking to the mic to rap a prelude her biggest track to date, “Sober”, which was performed traditionally and then again in a capella. Mahalia is forging her own path and she’s powering her way through it with aplomb.