Awa Santesson-Sey

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Awa Santesson-Sey

| image = AWA a singer from Sweden (cropped).jpg

| caption =

| birth_name = Awa Matilda Isakine Santesson-Sey

| alias = Awa

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|7|6|df=y}}

| death_date =

| origin = Stockholm, Sweden

| instrument =

| genre = Pop, R&B, soul

| occupation = Singer

| years_active = 2012–present

| label = Columbia Records

| associated_acts =

| website = {{URL|www.thisisawa.co/}}

}}

Awa Matilda Isakine Santesson-Sey (born 6 July 1997), known mononymously as Awa (stylised as AWA), is a Swedish singer based in London. Her father is Senegalese, her mother Swedish.

At age 12, deciding she wanted to study classical music, she applied to and later attended Adolf Fredrik's Music School in Stockholm.{{cite web |url=https://mrradar.com/projects/awa/ |title=AWA |publisher=Mr Radar |accessdate=20 November 2019 |date=n.d. |archive-date=1 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901195850/https://mrradar.com/projects/awa/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.expressen.se/noje/awa-jag-vill-bli-en-internationell-artist |title=Awa: "Jag vill bli en internationell artist" |author=Therese Färsjö |publisher=Expressen (Swedish daily newspaper) |date=30 November 2012 |accessdate=3 December 2014 |archive-date=4 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150104223136/http://www.expressen.se/noje/awa-jag-vill-bli-en-internationell-artist/ |url-status=live }}

Career

Awa was the winner of the first series of the Swedish version of The X Factor in 2012, at age 15.{{cite web |url=http://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/article15898993.ab |title=Awa vann 'X factor'-finalen | Nöjesbladet |newspaper=Aftonbladet |date=7 December 2012 |accessdate=11 December 2012 |archive-date=10 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121210032124/http://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/article15898993.ab |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.expressen.se/noje/awa-i-tarar-efter-vinsten-i-x-factor/ |title=Awa i tårar efter vinsten i "X factor" | Nöje | Expressen Nöje | Nöjesnyheter Musiknyheter Filmnyheter |work=Expressen |date=7 December 2012 |accessdate=11 December 2012 |archive-date=10 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121210115718/http://www.expressen.se/noje/awa-i-tarar-efter-vinsten-i-x-factor/ |url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.tv4.se/x-factor/deltagare/awa-santesson-sey |title=Awa Santesson-Sey i X Factor |publisher=tv4.se |accessdate=30 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012003724/http://www.tv4.se/x-factor/deltagare/awa-santesson-sey |archivedate=12 October 2012 }} In 2013, she won a Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award{{cite web |url=https://www.last.fm/music/Awa/+wiki |title=Awa |publisher=Last.fm |accessdate=20 November 2019 |date=4 November 2019 |archive-date=18 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210618120140/https://www.last.fm/music/Awa/+wiki |url-status=live }} and released the single "Not Ready to Say Goodbye". Taking her time to work out her sound, she released the single "Obvious" in 2015. During this time, Awa worked with producers and collaborators including Aston Rudi and Show N Prove.{{Citation needed|date=September 2020}}

In 2019, Awa was signed to Columbia Records. She released three songs on the label, followed by a six-track EP titled cry.baby.{{cite web |url=https://mrradar.com/projects/awa/ |title=AWA |publisher=Mr Radar |accessdate=20 November 2019 |date=n.d. |archive-date=1 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901195850/https://mrradar.com/projects/awa/ |url-status=dead }} "F**kin' Love Songs (ft. Ebenezer)" was premiered by Julie Adenuga on Beats 1 and was Yasmin Evans' 'Track of the Week' on BBC Radio 1Xtra. Complex premiered the official video.{{cite web | url=https://www.complex.com/music/2019/08/premiere-awa-fuckin-love-songs-feat-ebenezer | title=Premiere: AWA And Ebenezer Arrive With "F**kin' Love Songs" | publisher=Complex | first=Tobi | last=Oke | accessdate=20 November 2019 | date=August 2019 | archive-date=10 August 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810130042/https://www.complex.com/music/2019/08/premiere-awa-fuckin-love-songs-feat-ebenezer | url-status=live }} In November 2019, Vevo named Awa one of its "Artists to Watch" for 2020.{{cite web |url=https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/vevo-unveils-its-artists-to-watch-for-2020/ |title=VEVO UNVEILS ITS ARTISTS TO WATCH FOR 2020 |publisher=Music Business Worldwide |accessdate=20 November 2019 |date=4 November 2019 |archive-date=5 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105205539/https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/vevo-unveils-its-artists-to-watch-for-2020/ |url-status=live}}