Bio

Mama Yaya is a Chicago based, singer/songwriter of Palestinian and Jewish descent. She showcases a unique blend of musical skills to tell her story. Despite clashing with her conservative upbringing, she continues to pursue a career in music and body positivity activism. 

She began her music/acting career officially in the 5th grade and has since performed at venues such as U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago Symphony Center, Pritzker Pavilion, Uncommon Ground, Refuge Live, Underground Wonder Bar, B.L.U.E.S. on Halsted, Kingston Mines, Skokie Theater, and many more. She performed with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra for the Deaf and Loud Symphonic Experience. 

In the summer of 2018, Mama Yaya signed with Detroit producer Jake Bass at Boca J Music. In the fall of 2019, she was invited to audition for American Idol where she received the golden ticket from all three celebrity judges and made it up to round 2 during Hollywood week. They have since released her EP "Broken Record" which debuted at number 48 on the ITunes Pop Charts. It also reached number 14 on Amazon's Hot New Pop Releases and number 62 on Amazon's Best Seller's Chart in Pop. Mama Yaya continues to use her voice and her music to speak out on traumas, mental health and injustice. As of January 2021, she became a Certified Grief, Loss & Trauma Coach.

​

In 2021, Mama Yaya performed as Siren on Fox TV's new singing competition show - "Alter Ego". She performed "I Put A Spell On You", "I'm Going Down" and "Rise Up." She was judged by will.i.am, Grimes, Alanis Morissette, and Nick Lachey. She has been mentioned in the Rolling Stones Magazine, The Atlantic, in other publications and featured in several television interviews.

​

Most recently and throughout 2022, she has performed with Sofar Sounds Chicago, The NAMM Show, Buddy Guy Legend's, The Fly Honeys at Thalia Hall, WGN Morning News in Chicago, Fox 32 Chicago, Fox 2 Detroit, Arts Beats and Eats in Michigan, iO Chicago for Brandon Johnson, and backup vocals for Leon Bridge's tour in Chicago.