Being 10 Summers’ latest signee at 18 years old is no easy feat, but it’s a journey Amirah is willing to take. Her debut EP has taken the world by storm, featuring hits such as “Tokio,” “Wish It Wasn’t You,” “Beautiful,” and “Found You.”

Amirah’s musical journey is one filled with resilience and pure determination. Amirah Hall was born in Norfolk and raised in Hampton, Virginia, where she picked up the rich musical heritage of the area. At the age of 3, she began learning to play the piano, and by age 7, she was singing in the church choir—a place where Amirah recalls her love for music first began.

Her development continued into middle school, where she joined the school band, playing percussion. Inspired by her mother, who was a poet, Amirah began writing about her feelings, which would later transform into songwriting.

After the world completely shut down due to the global pandemic during her 8th-grade year, Amirah started releasing covers on TikTok while at home. Her first video was published in March 2021, and three months later, she became a viral sensation after covering Billie Eilish’s “Happier Than Ever.”

The cover now has over 11 million views. Six months after its release, Amirah found herself signed to Mustard’s Grammy-winning label, 10 Summers/Interscope Records, which includes acts such as Mustard, Ella Mai, Kiana Ledé, and DSTRCT.

“Wish It Wasn’t You” is a 6-song project executively produced by Mustard, destined to entertain listeners of all ages throughout its playtime. It’s an innocent journey through the unfiltered thoughts of an 18-year-old girl consumed by love and self-discovery. Anchored by the playful single “Tokio,” which premiered exclusively on Teen Vogue, the powerhouse title track “Wish It Wasn’t You,” and the self-love anthem “Beautiful” make for a great listen.

Following the release of her debut EP, Amirah sat down with Nounouche Magazine to candidly discuss her life, music career, balancing school, and being 10 Summers’ newest act.

“I like to think that my journey really started when I was 7 because I used to sing in the church. I love being a solo act, so I started writing music more during Covid because I felt like I needed an outlet to get my thoughts out. Since we were all stuck in one place, that’s when I really tuned into my thoughts and started writing them down and playing chords on the piano. My journey as an artist has been really fun, and I appreciate being able to turn my feelings into words,” Amirah shares as she explains how her music career was heavily influenced by her upbringing in the church.

Singing in church opened Amirah’s eyes. She recalls her first solo performance, which sparked her desire to become a solo artist. “Being able to sing in church was such a big influence. We were singing a song about bluebirds, and I was told, ‘Amirah, you can have the solo.’ When I performed at that sermon, I loved having all the eyes on me. It felt like everyone was paying attention to my voice. I’ve always loved that feeling, and that’s what made me go straight into music,“ she shares enthusiastically.

Amirah’s musical inspirations come from many sources, starting with her Virginia roots. “I love Missy, Pharrell, and Amy Winehouse. I also adore Rihanna and Billie Eilish.” As we delve into Virginia’s music scene, Amirah reflects on the legends who paved the way for newer acts like herself. “Virginia’s music is very suave and hip. When you think of Missy, you think of the video where she reversed a song—it was so innovative. Pharrell, with N.E.R.D., also created a new sound and style. That’s what music in Virginia is about: making something that seems weird at first but ends up being cool.”

When asked where she draws her inspiration from, Amirah says it comes from life. “I think most of my inspiration comes from life experiences. I’ve graduated, but this EP specifically came from relationships and friendships—people who made me feel a certain way, and I put it all on paper. I’m quick to make a song about someone if it bothers me, whether it’s good or bad. I think it all comes from life situations, even in high school, because as teenagers, we have a lot of feelings too.”

Amirah likens balancing school and her music career to having a “Hannah Montana” moment. While music is her passion, adjusting to this lifestyle has been difficult, she admits. “I got signed officially when I was 16, but I didn’t tell anyone. Everyone at my school only knew me from TikTok. This really is my Hannah Montana moment. It was super hard because kids would tell me to take music seriously, not knowing I was already making music but hadn’t released anything yet. Now that I have music out, it’s easier, but I still get a lot of questions about when the next song is coming out or what’s next. There are a lot of unanswered questions, and I try to deal with them the best I can.”

Even though she has music out, it has been one of the hardest things for her to adjust to. “The most difficult thing to get used to was having my music out. In the first week, everyone started coming up to me to say how much they loved the songs.”

Being 10 Summers’ latest signee, Amirah is confident in her abilities, especially surrounded by so many talented artists on the label. Looking ahead, Amirah shares her aspirations: “In the next five years, I’d love to win a Grammy. A Grammy would change my family’s life, and I just want to be a blessing to others. Hopefully, I’ll be coming off my world tour by then too.”

Amirah also shares insight into her family dynamic and the support her parents have given her, which has been instrumental in her success. “I’m very blessed to have parents who support me. I actually hid my TikTok for a while before it went viral. My parents are a bit older, so I had to explain everything to them. My mom knows who Ella Mai and Mustard are but didn’t understand all the label aspects. Luckily, both my parents started reading up on the music business, which helped me a lot. I’m really blessed to have them.”

As we conclude, Amirah talks about signing with 10 Summers and what she hopes to learn. “I’m hoping to learn more about the process of making music. I’m so grateful for my management and my team, who helped break down the reality and allowed me to develop as an artist. Rather than putting out music immediately, I’ve had time to grow. Looking back, I wasn’t as grateful when I was 15, but now I am. I hope to learn more about the process, especially when it comes to making another EP or a full album.”