Duchess

A singer whose passionate, searching songs are steeped in '90s R&B inspirations, Duchess emerged from the open mikes of London in the 2010s. Her debut EP, Early Days, was released in 2019. Luisa Phillips was born and raised in the capital city, where her early music education included taking in her father's Bob Marley and Gregory Isaacs records. She later discovered the Spice Girls and Beyoncé on her own, and she and her seven siblings would put on shows involving music when relatives came to visit. Throughout childhood hardships, including a lengthy illness that eventually took her father's life, she found solace in writing poetry and, as a teen, freestyling at open mikes. Adopting the stage alias Duchess from a childhood nickname, she continued to perform after being forced to leave college to join the workforce full-time. As word spread of her performances, she drew the interest of multiple labels, ultimately signing with Lost Ones/Virgin EMI. Featuring production by Maths Time Joy, who also co-wrote the song, her debut single, "Why Can't We?," followed in April 2019. It was included on the EP Early Days the following year. ~ Marcy Donelson