Hamzaa has been rising steadily into the public consciousness this past year: there was her sold-out debut headline show at London's St Pancras Old Church, followed at the start of 2019 by another sell-out performance, this time at Omeara - the show got a four star review in the Evening Standard, who compared her to a 19-era Adele. She has supported Ray BLK; been called "the real deal" by The Line Of Best Fit; received radio support across tastemaker platforms like Repezent, national stations like Radio 1Xtra, and Julie Adenuga's Beats1 show; not to mention co-signs from Stormzy, Wretch32 and Ghetts, who both hopped on part two of her sublime track 'Breathing'. On top of all this, last year when when she only had two songs out, the executive producer for BBC institution 'Later... with Jools Holland' heard her on the radio - what followed, very quickly, was a sublime debut performance on the show.
Hamzaa's journey, however, starts long before all that - and, as she puts it, "I want people to fall in love with the journey and the story rather than just the hype and excitement."
Her childhood in East London's Hackney was one full of creativity, growing-up singing-along to a diet of artists she describes as "old school classics" at home (she cites the likes of Aretha, Beyoncé, John Legend, and even Dolly Parton), with her mum encouraging that passion for performance by sending her to various performing arts and stage schools. Aged 11, Hamzaa went to boarding school ("mum wanted me to get a chance to be out of our area"), where she became deeply involved in directing plays, arranging songs, and participating in singing competitions.
Halfway through A-Levels, however, she decided to drop-out and pursue music properly. Via a stint working the cloakroom at Brixton Academy, she was: "Always writing, always singing, always dancing and putting it into whatever aspect of my life."
Indeed, underpinning her rise to prominence was that Hamzaa had started writing songs when she was just nine years old. It was around the same time she had started learning piano, and she began to put her poetry to music. An only child, creating her own place for self-expression was vital - "I had no one to talk to, really, but myself - obviously I could talk to my mum, but it's a bit different when you're younger! So any of the thoughts that I had, I was very good at putting it down on paper and then getting on the piano finding some chords."
Via a now lost EP (the files were on her old laptop), almost a decade later Hamzaa's songwriting process comes from the same place - putting down her thoughts, diary-like, to process things, while also giving other people a space to relate: "I want to open a conversation and make people be fearless in their speech," she says.
'First Signs Of Me' reflects that boldness of intent, self-interrogating her mental space in the aftermath of a break-up, "rather than sitting in my sadness". This is particularly striking on opening track 'Red', which softly speaks of fear and suicidal thoughts and grappling with self-love. The beautiful accompanying video, filmed at Southend-on-Sea and directed by Filmawi Efrem, sees a dancer on the water, keeping above it all while everyone watches from the shore. "I'm very sensitive and very anxious," explains Hamzaa, "I've suffered from severe depression and anxiety, so I really advocate for talking about mental health. I want people to try and be in the best mental space possible, or working towards that - so I try to emulate that myself. It's tough sometimes, but I like to be the strong friend, the backbone of things. It makes me happy when I feel other people are good. I know what it's like not to feel good."
Comparisons with the likes of Amy Winehouse make sense - indeed, Hamzaa even lists her off when she talks about her aims for the future: this is timeless, universal, emotionally resonant music topped with a spellbindingly powerful voice. Not that Hamzaa needs to be compared to anyone but herself - what she's creating is deeply personal, and she's keen to highlight that the only trajectory she's focussing on is her own. Accordingly, she's not in a rush to put out a load of music, instead happy to let people take their time with 'First Signs' - "I don't wanna rush and put out something that I don't completely love," she explains, "I don't want people to see or hear something and just be like 'mmm, it's alright' when I know I didn't fully love it in the first place."
For now, there's a slew of singles she's planning - 'London' is the first post-EP, and is full of evocative, uplifting gospel warmth, as she talks about never giving up and her enduring love for her, at times, overwhelming city. Another forthcoming track, 'Write It Down' is one she describes as "powerful". Hamzaa doesn't like swearing, but admits the track is a "fuck you" to people who don't understand what she's about - to so-called friends trying to invalidate what she's doing and what she's talking about in her music while she's putting her all into it.
It all comes back to that focus on self-expression rather than on expectation; taking her time to evoke emotions that last, rather than riding the hype wave: "The way I want my path to go is longevity, I want to be remembered for my music and for what I was able to do with my music. And that longevity comes when you play your cards... not right, but you play them smart. You could play the wrong card, but if you've taken your time grinding and you've worked for it, it's gonna connect somehow."
And with that attitude, Hamzaa looks set to have a straight flush.
"Music inhabits the soulful jazzy space left by Amy Winehouse. A star is born." - Evening Standard
"There is no doubt about it - we're going to be hearing a lot more from Hamzaa and we are so, so ready for her." - The Line Of Best Fit
"Knows how to sing emotions that you didn't even realise you were feeling." - Julie Adenuga
Santa Baby
Hamzaa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ahh
Yeah
Santa Baby
Just slip a sable under the tree
For me
Been an awful good girl
So hurry down the chimney tonight
Santa baby
A '54 convertible too
Light blue
I'll wait up for you, dear
Santa baby
So hurry down the chimney tonight
Think of all the fun I've missed
Think of all the Fella's that I haven't kissed
Next year I could be just as good
If you'll check off my Christmas list
Santa Baby
I want a yacht and really that's not
A lot
Been an angel all year
Santa Baby
So hurry down the chimney tonight
Santa honey
One little thing I really need
The deed
To a platinum mine
Santa Baby
So hurry down the chimney tonight
Santa cutie
And fill my stocking with a duplex
And checks
Sign your 'x' on the line
Santa cutie
And hurry down the chimney tonight
Come and trim my Christmas tree
With some decorations bought at Tiffany's
I really do believe in you
Let's see if you believe in me
Santa Baby
Forgot to mention one little thing
A ring
I don't mean on the phone
Santa Baby
So hurry down the chimney tonight
Hurry down the chimney tonight
Hurry down the chimney tonight
In Hamzaa's song "Santa Baby," the singer speaks to Santa Claus with a sultry tone in her voice. She starts off by requesting her first gift, "a sable under the tree." A sable is a type of animal known for its black fur. She then requests a 1954 convertible in light blue. She notes that she has been good this year, and asks Santa to come down the chimney tonight.
The singer wistfully thinks about all the fun she's missed and all the men she hasn't kissed. She implies that she will try to be just as good next year if Santa will check off her Christmas list. She then goes on to request a yacht and the deed to a platinum mine. She reminds Santa that she's been an angel all year, and he should hurry down the chimney.
Line by Line Meaning
Santa Baby
Hamzaa addresses Santa and requests him to gift her items
Just slip a sable under the tree
Hamzaa wants Santa to gift her with a sable fur coat
For me
Hamzaa wants Santa to gift the sable fur coat to her
Been an awful good girl
Hamzaa reminds Santa that she has been a good person throughout the year, in the hope that he will agree to grant her request
So hurry down the chimney tonight
Hamzaa urges Santa to come quickly and deliver her gifts via the chimney
A '54 convertible too
Hamzaa wants Santa to gift her with a 1954 convertible car
Light blue
Hamzaa wants the color of the car to be light blue
I'll wait up for you, dear
Hamzaa promises to stay awake and wait for Santa to arrive
Think of all the fun I've missed
Hamzaa reflects on the good times she could have had if she had been in relationships or dating
Think of all the Fella's that I haven't kissed
Hamzaa desires to have romantic relationships or experiences with men
Next year I could be just as good
Hamzaa hopes that she will remain a good person even in the coming year
If you'll check off my Christmas list
Hamzaa wants Santa to grant all her Christmas wishes
I want a yacht and really that's not
Hamzaa desires to have a yacht as a gift from Santa
A lot
Hamzaa believes that asking for a yacht is not an unreasonable request
Been an angel all year
Hamzaa has been a good person throughout the year, and is reminding Santa of this to encourage him to give her a yacht
Santa honey
Hamzaa uses an affectionate term to address Santa and emphasize her request
One little thing I really need
Hamzaa has another request that she refers to as 'one little thing'
The deed
Hamzaa wants Santa to gift her the ownership of a platinum mine
To a platinum mine
Hamzaa wants Santa to give her the deed to a platinum mine
Santa cutie
Hamzaa again uses an affectionate term to address Santa and request more gifts
And fill my stocking with a duplex
Hamzaa wants Santa to insert a duplex into her stocking as a gift
And checks
Hamzaa wants Santa to include checks (money) in her stocking as a gift
Sign your 'x' on the line
Hamzaa wants Santa to sign checks for her as a gift
Come and trim my Christmas tree
Hamzaa wants Santa to help decorate her Christmas tree from the store Tiffany's
With some decorations bought at Tiffany's
Hamzaa wants Santa to buy decorations from Tiffany's to decorate her Christmas tree
I really do believe in you
Hamzaa expresses that she truly believes in Santa Claus
Let's see if you believe in me
Hamzaa challenges Santa to fulfill all her requests to prove his belief in her as a good person
Forgot to mention one little thing
Hamzaa suddenly remembers she has one more request to make before Christmas is over
A ring
Hamzaa wants Santa to gift her a ring
I don't mean on the phone
Hamzaa clarifies that she means a ring to be worn, not a phone call
Hurry down the chimney tonight
Hamzaa implores Santa to deliver all her gifts to her before Christmas is up
Hurry down the chimney tonight
Hamzaa repeats her request for Santa to come quickly and deliver her gifts via the chimney
Hurry down the chimney tonight
Hamzaa repeats her urgency for Santa to deliver all her gifts to her before Christmas is up
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, TAMIR MUSIC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Joan Ellen Javits, Philip Springer, Tony Springer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TheRealForrestGeorge
[Verse 1]
Santa baby, just slip a sable under the tree
For me
Been an awful good girl
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight
[Verse 2]
Santa baby, a '54 convertible too
Light blue
I'll wait up for you dear
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight
[Chorus]
Think of all the fun I've missed
Think of all the fellas that I haven't kissed
Next year I could be just as good
If you'll check off my Christmas list
[Verse 3]
Santa baby, I want a yacht
And really that's not a lot
Been an angel all year
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight
[Verse 4]
Santa honey, one little thing I really need
The deed
To a platinum mine
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight
[Verse 5]
Santa cutie, and fill my stocking with a duplex
And checks
Sign your 'X' on the line
Santa cutie, and hurry down the chimney tonight
[Chorus]
Come and trim my Christmas tree
With some decorations bought at Tiffany
I really do believe in you
Let's see if you believe in me
[Verse 6]
Santa baby, forgot to mention one little thing
A ring
I don't mean on the phone
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight
[Outro]
Hurry down the chimney tonight
Hurry, tonight
@ferociousgumby
She's the best because she doesn't over-sing it. Most singers just squirm around and strain to sound seductive. She doesn't have to try. Her voice is like velvet.
@thejupiter2574
She was / still is 'purrrrrrr fect' She will always be my favorite Catwoman
@borganon3022
ferociousgumby exactly.
@yourname9840
ferociousgumby velvet is a perfect description for her voice
@DragonHeir92
This comment, yes! I love the vocal lilt she does, whimsical and flirty.
@Jobe-13
ferociousgumby Yep
@kayla3618
Eartha Kitt sings THE BEST version of Santa Baby. This is not up for discussion.
@beautifulfoster4458
Ofc this is her song❤❤❤
@jaysonseraile
She jus sings it so easily.....
@galinadodd2318
It's her song. The rest are cover versions.