{{Short description|English singer-songwriter}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}} {{Multiple issues| {{Notability|music|date=July 2020}} {{BLP more sources|date=July 2020}}}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Malika Ferguson | image = | image_size = | caption = | background = solo_singer | alias = Meleka, Malika | birth_name = Malika Ferguson | birth_place = London, England | origin = | genre = Soul, R&B, dance | years_active = 2000s–present | label = | website = [https://soundcloud.com/hernameismalika Website] }}
'''Malika Ferguson''', known professionally as '''Malika''' and formerly as '''Meleka''', is a British singer-songwriter from London. <ref>{{Cite web |title=HERITAGE: Crazy Cousinz Flip Singer Malika’s (fka Meleka) Funky House Anthem "Go" (2009) |url=https://trenchtrenchtrench.com/news/heritage-crazy-cousinz-flip-singer-malikas-fka-meleka-funky-house-anthem-go-2009 |access-date=2026-05-14 |website=trenchtrenchtrench.com |language=en-US}}</ref>She is known for the 2009 funky single "Go (Now It's Over Boy)", whose Crazy Cousinz remix reached the BBC 1Xtra A List and was named Urban Record of the Month by ''Mixmag''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Radio |first=N. T. S. |title=Meleka {{!}} Discover music on NTS |url=http://www.nts.live/artists/44593-meleka |access-date=2026-05-14 |website=NTS Radio |language=en}}</ref> Malika provided lead vocals on Nathan Dawe's 2019 cover of "Flowers", for which she was uncredited on the original release.<ref name=":1">{{Citation |title=Flowers - Nathan Dawe {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/flowers-mt0057950700 |access-date=2026-05-14 |language=en}}</ref> <ref name=":2">{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/how-burton-born-dj-nathan-dawe-scored-a-top-40-smash-with-a-cover-of-flowers__29448/ |title=How Burton-born DJ Nathan Dawe scored a Top 40 smash with a cover of Flowers |website=Official Charts |access-date=2026-05-14}}</ref> the single peaked at number 12 on the UK Singles Chart in 2020<ref name=":2" /> and was certified platinum by the BPI. <ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=BRIT Certified Awards |url=https://www.bpi.co.uk/page/certified-awards |access-date=2026-05-14 |website=BPI Membership Community |language=en-GB}}</ref>Dawe's 2018 debut single "Cheatin'", which also features Malika, was certified platinum by the BPI in May 2025. <ref name=":3" /><ref name="auto">{{Cite web |title=Everything you need to know about DJ Nathan Dawe |url=https://www.hellorayo.co.uk/kiss/entertainment/music/nathan-dawe |access-date=2026-05-14 |website=KISS |language=en}}</ref>In 2017, she received a grant from the PRS Foundation Momentum Fund.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=Malika: Momentum |url=https://prsfoundation.com/grantees/momentum-malika/ |access-date=2026-05-14 |website=PRS for Music Foundation |language=en-GB}}</ref>
==Biography== Malika grew up in the Northwest London. <ref name=":0" />In interviews, she has described winning her first singing competition at the age of five, performing "Weak" by SWV.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=MALIKA |url=https://www.revamp-magazine.co.uk/malika |access-date=2026-05-14 |website=REVAMP MAGAZINE |language=en}}</ref> <ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Wonderland |date=2017-06-02 |title=New Noise: Malika {{!}} Wonderland Magazine |url=https://www.wonderlandmagazine.com/2017/06/02/new-noise-malika/ |access-date=2026-05-14 |website=Wonderland |language=en-GB}}</ref>Her father ran a pirate radio station called Time Radio in North West London and worked as a music manager during the 1980s and early 1990s.<ref name=":6" /> <ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last=Magazine |first=Niji |date=2022-11-21 |title=Niji Magazine {{!}} Meet UK Soul singer-songwriter MALIKA |url=https://nijimagazine.com/2022/11/uk-soul-artist-malika-talks-inspirations-career-advice-and-the-creative-process-behind-her-latest-release-bless-her-soul/ |access-date=2026-05-14 |language=en-GB}}</ref>Her aunt, Sonia Ferguson, recorded a UK Lovers Rock version of Smokey Robinson's "Ooh Baby Baby", which Malika has cited as an early musical influence.<ref name=":8" /> Her stated musical influences include Mary J. Blige, Whitney Houston, Brandy, Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, the Spice Girls, Christina Aguilera, the Sugababes, and SWV.<ref name=":8" />
== Career == Malika began her professional music career around 2006 under the stage name Meleka. Working with vocal producer Shaun "Hypertone" Barrett and songwriter Zeus "Mr Starz Up" Charalambous, she wrote and recorded "Go (Now It's Over Boy)".<ref name=":0" />
In 2008, Malika won the MTV Base talent competition ''Hugo Urban Rules'', whose judges included Grammy Award-winning singer Estelle and Sabrina Washington, formerly of Mis-Teeq. <ref name=":0" /> As her prize, she licensed "Go" to Xtaster Records, which released it as her debut single in September 2009. The Crazy Cousinz remix reached the BBC 1Xtra A List and received airplay on Kiss FM, Choice FM, and the Galaxy Network;<ref name=":0" /> it was named Urban Record of the Month by ''Mixmag''.<ref name=":0" />
In 2009, Malika appeared on "Scars", a track from the Basement Jaxx album of the same name, also featuring American singer Kelis and rapper Chipmunk (now known as Chip), released through XL Recordings.<ref>{{Citation |title=Basement Jaxx - Scars |date=2009 |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/2035147-Basement-Jaxx-Scars |access-date=2026-05-14 |language=en}}</ref>
'''2010–2016: Independent releases and''' '''features'''
Following the release of "Go", Malika released "Miss Me", also produced by Crazy Cousinz, through her independent label Malika Music Ltd. In the early 2010s, she formed a short-lived collective called P45 alongside producer TS7, Maxwell D of Pay As You Go Cartel, and Piers Aggett of Rudimental.<ref name=":0" />
In 2014, Malika signed a publishing deal with Ultra Records.<ref name=":0" />
Malika released her debut solo EP, ''Songs About C'', in October 2017,<ref name=":5" /> preceded by lead singles including "Put It On Me" and "Run".<ref name=":7" />Around the same time, Snakehips featured her on "Falling", from their 2016 ''All My Friends'' EP. Speaking to ''The FADER'', Snakehips said of the collaboration: "With 'Falling,' we felt like making a more classic-sounding soul and R&B record...and Malika's voice worked so good with the vibe." <ref>{{Cite web |title=Snakehips Go Back To Basics With London Singer Malika On “Falling” |url=https://www.thefader.com/2016/04/14/snakehips-malika-falling |access-date=2026-05-14 |website=The FADER |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Listen To Snakehips New Soulful Single ‘Falling’ Feat. Malika |url=https://www.capitalxtra.com/news/listen-to-snakehips-new-single-falling-feat-malika/ |access-date=2026-05-14 |website=Capital XTRA |language=en}}</ref>
'''2017–2020: PRS Foundation Momentum Fund and Tension EP'''
In 2017, Malika received a grant from the PRS Foundation Momentum Fund, which she used to fund promotional activities for ''Songs About C'', including live sessions with Mahogany, Red Bull, and BBC Introducing, and to record her second EP.<ref name=":5" />
Malika second EP, ''Tension'', was released in September 2020. ''Voice Online'' described it as "the UK artist's coming of age". <ref>{{Cite web |last=Campbell |first=Joel |date=2020-09-04 |title=Following the release of 'The Difference Between Us' Malika drops Tension EP |url=https://www.voice-online.co.uk/post/video/section/interviews/following-the-release-of-the-difference-between-us-malika-drops-tension-ep/ |access-date=2026-05-14 |website=Voice Online |language=en}}</ref>An acoustic reworking, ''Tension (Acoustic)'', followed in November 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-11-27 |title=Malika Distills Her Sound in Acoustic Release of "Tension" - Sounds So Beautiful |url=https://soundssobeautiful.net/2020/11/27/malika-distills-her-sound-in-acoustic-release-of-tension/ |access-date=2026-05-14 |website=soundssobeautiful.net |language=fr-FR}}</ref>
In 2018, Malika featured on "Cheatin'", the debut single by DJ and producer Nathan Dawe, which was certified platinum by the BPI in May 2025.<ref name=":3" /> <ref name="auto"/>In October 2019, Dawe released a cover of "Flowers" originally recorded by Sweet Female Attitude in 2000, featuring rapper Jaykae; Malika provided lead vocals on the track but was not credited on the original release.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> The single reached number 12 on the UK Singles Chart in 2020 and was certified platinum by the BPI.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" />
'''2022: Bless Her Soul'''
In August 2022, Malika released the single "Bless Her Soul", co-written with Zeus Charalambous and Ian Henry and produced by Piers Aggett and Shaun Barrett.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |date=2022-08-17 |title=Malika - Bless Her Soul [Stream] |url=https://www.thepitldn.com/pitnews/bless-her-soul |access-date=2026-05-14 |website=The Pit London |language=en-GB}}</ref>''Wonderland Magazine'' premiered the accompanying music video,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Wonderland |date=2022-11-14 |title="Bless Her Soul" is MALIKA's New Uplifting Anthem |url=https://www.wonderlandmagazine.com/2022/11/14/premiere-malika-bless-her-soul/ |access-date=2026-05-14 |website=Wonderland |language=en-GB}}</ref> while ''The Pit London'' described the single as "a monumental addition to Malika's already formidable discography". <ref name=":9" />An acoustic version followed in December 2022.<ref name=":6" />
'''Music Consultancy'''
Malika is the founder of Sounds Write, a music consultancy based in London. <ref name=":10">{{Cite web |title=Malika Ferguson - Sounds Write Consultancy |url=https://www.udmusic.org/speakers/malika-ferguson-sounds-write-consultancy/ |access-date=2026-05-14 |website=UD Music |language=en-GB}}</ref>She has also served as a trustee of Grounded Sounds, a music charity that offered workshops for aspiring music industry professionals.<ref name=":10" />
== References == {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ferguson, Malika}} Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:English women singers Category:English women songwriters Category:21st-century Black British women singers Category:21st-century English women singers Category:Singers from London