Ella Mai Bio
Ella Mai Howell, known professionally as Ella Mai, is an English R&B singer and songwriter. Born in London, she gained international recognition after being discovered on social media by American producer DJ Mustard, who signed her to his label 10 Summers Records, an imprint of Interscope Records. Her 2017 single “Boo’d Up” became a crossover hit that established her as a leading voice in contemporary R&B music.
Mai first captured mainstream attention with her self-titled debut studio album in 2018, which included the singles “Boo’d Up” and “Trip”. Over the following years, she continued to release music and tour internationally, cementing her reputation as one of the most promising British R&B artists of her generation. She is also known for her relationship with basketball player Jayson Tatum and the birth of their son in 2024.
Early Life and Background
Ella Mai Howell was born on 3 November 1994 in London, England, to a Jamaican mother and an English-Irish father. Her mother, an admirer of American jazz music, named her after the legendary jazz vocalist Ella Fitzgerald. Growing up in a culturally rich household, Mai was introduced to soul, jazz, and R&B music from an early age, which shaped her artistic sensibility.
When she was 12 years old, Mai moved with her mother to New York City, where her mother had taken a teaching position. The transition was challenging for Mai, who experienced bullying because of her British accent. Despite the difficulties, she found comfort in music and the diverse cultural environment of the city.
Mai graduated from Queens High School of Teaching in Glen Oaks, Queens, before returning to England at the age of 17. After settling back in London, she enrolled at the British and Irish Modern Music Institute (BIMM London) in 2014 to formally study music. Her early influences include Lauryn Hill, Chris Brown, Brandy, Beyoncé, Destiny’s Child, Alicia Keys, and Mariah Carey.
Path to Music
Mai’s professional music career began while she was studying at BIMM London. During this time, she auditioned for the 11th season of The X Factor as part of a trio called Arize, though the group did not advance past the initial audition. The experience was brief, but it gave Mai her first exposure to a large entertainment industry audience.
Following the dissolution of Arize, Mai began working on solo material. In 2015, she uploaded a four-track extended play titled Troubled to SoundCloud, showcasing original songs that she had written and recorded. The tracks caught the attention of viewers on Instagram, including American record producer DJ Mustard, who signed her to his label 10 Summers Records, which operates as part of Interscope Records.
This discovery marked a turning point in Mai’s career. She followed her debut EP with the release of Time in February 2016, which featured the single “She Don’t” with Ty Dolla Sign, and then Change in November 2016. These early projects laid the groundwork for her breakthrough in 2017.
Ella Mai Career
Early Career (2015–2017)
Between 2015 and 2017, Ella Mai built a growing audience through a series of independent EPs. Her debut EP, Troubled, was released on SoundCloud and demonstrated her songwriting skills. After signing with 10 Summers/Interscope, she released Time in February 2016 and Change in November 2016, expanding her reach within the R&B community.
Her third EP, Ready, arrived in February 2017 and included the track “Boo’d Up”. The song began to gain traction on social media and in nightclubs, gradually building momentum throughout the year. By late 2017, Mai had opened for Kehlani on her SweetSexySavage World Tour, which helped introduce her to a wider audience.
Breakthrough (2017–2019)
The release of “Boo’d Up” transformed Ella Mai’s career in 2017 and 2018. The single climbed the charts, eventually peaking at number five on the US Billboard Hot 100, and broke the record for the most weeks at number one on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart by a woman. Rolling Stone later described it as one of the biggest singles by a breakout female R&B singer in a decade.
Following the success of “Boo’d Up”, Mai released “Trip” in August 2018, which peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. Her self-titled debut studio album, Ella Mai, was released on 12 October 2018, featuring guest appearances from Chris Brown, John Legend, and H.E.R. The album debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200, selling 69,000 album-equivalent units in its first week.
In 2018, Mai joined Bruno Mars on the 24K Magic World Tour after Cardi B withdrew, and she performed on Saturday Night Live. She also received two Grammy nominations for “Boo’d Up”, winning Best R&B Song at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards in 2019. The song also earned her the 2019 Billboard Music Award for Top R&B Song.
Notable Works and Milestones
Ella Mai’s most notable works include her 2017 EP Ready, her 2018 self-titled debut album, and the singles “Boo’d Up” and “Trip”. Her signature achievement is the Grammy Award for Best R&B Song, won in 2019 for “Boo’d Up”. That same year, she also received Billboard Music Awards for Top R&B Artist and Top Female R&B Artist, further establishing her as a major R&B artist.
Continued Success (2020–2024)
Mai’s second studio album, Heart on My Sleeve, was released on 6 May 2022, preceded by singles “Not Another Love Song” and “DFMU”. The album debuted at number 15 on the Billboard 200. In 2023, she embarked on the Heart on My Sleeve Tour across North America. In November 2024, following the birth of her first child, Mai released her fifth EP, titled 3, as a surprise project to mark her 30th birthday.
Ella Mai Award Nominations
Throughout her career, Ella Mai has received recognition from several major music award organizations. In 2019, she was nominated for British Breakthrough Act at the Brit Awards. She also received a nomination for Song of the Year at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards, in addition to her Best R&B Song nomination. In 2020, she earned a third Grammy nomination for Best R&B Album at the 62nd Grammy Awards for her self-titled debut.
Ella Mai Awards Won
Ella Mai has won multiple awards across her career, including a Grammy Award, three Billboard Music Awards, three iHeartRadio Music Awards, three NAACP Image Awards, and two Soul Train Music Awards. Her Grammy win came in 2019 for Best R&B Song with “Boo’d Up”, while her Billboard Music Awards included Top R&B Artist, Top Female R&B Artist, and Top R&B Song in 2019. Her Soul Train Music Awards include the Songwriter’s Award.
Ella Mai Family
Ella Mai was born to a Jamaican mother and an English-Irish father. Her mother, who worked as a teacher, played a significant role in introducing her to music during her early years. Mai’s family relocated from London to New York City when she was 12 years old, where her mother took a teaching position, before returning to England several years later.
Personal Life
Ella Mai has been in a relationship with American basketball player Jayson Tatum since 2022. In 2024, the couple welcomed their first child together, a son. Mai has spoken publicly about how motherhood has influenced her personal and professional life, including inspiring the surprise release of her EP 3 in November 2024.