Malaya Watson

Malaya Tina Bandico Watson (born September 24, 1997) is an American singer from Southfield, Michigan, who finished in eighth place on the thirteenth season of American Idol.

Malaya Watson
Background information
Birth nameMalaya Tina Bandico Watson
Born (1997-09-24) September 24, 1997[1]
Southfield, Michigan, U.S.
GenresSoul, R&B
Occupation(s)Singer
InstrumentsVocals, tuba
Years active2014–present

Early life

Watson is of half Filipino American and half African-American descent, the daughter of Ronald Watson, a professional guitar player, and Marian Bandico Watson, who hails from Manila, Philippines and is a nurse.[2] In high school, she played the tuba in Southfield High School marching band. She is an alumna of the Mosaic Youth Theater of Detroit,[3] where she sang in Singsation and Hasting Street. She is also an alumna of the Michigan Opera Theatre Children's Chorus.,[4] where she starred in Carmen, Tosca, Pied Piper of Hamlin, The Very Last Green Thing' and The Nut Cracker.

Musical influences

She cites her two grandfathers and her father as her personal musical influences. She described her style in singing from Sly Stone and Beyoncé.[5]

Career

2014: American Idol
Main article: American Idol (season 13)

At 15, Watson auditioned in Detroit with Aretha Franklin's "Ain't No Way." She is the third youngest contestant in American Idol's history to reach the live finals after Lauren Alaina and Daniel Seavey.[6]

After being deemed as a front-runner to win by judge Jennifer Lopez and fans, Watson was announced as the act with lowest number of votes for Top 8 reveal night. With the Judges save gone, Malaya was eliminated from the competition. She sang "I Am Changing" as her farewell song. After her final performance Watson received a final standing ovation from all three judges.

Performances on American Idol
Episode Theme Song choice Original artist Order Result
Audition Auditioner's Choice "Ain't No Way" Aretha Franklin N/A Advanced
Hollywood Round, Part 1 A Capella "Brand New Me" Alicia Keys N/A Advanced
Hollywood Round, Part 2 Group Performance "I Want You Back"
with Christina Collins, Olivia Diamond, and Queen Bulls		 The Jackson 5 N/A Advanced
Hollywood Round, part 3 Solo "I Believe" Fantasia Barrino N/A Advanced
Top 20 (10 Women) Personal Choice "Hard Times (No One Knows Better Than I)" Ray Charles 10 Advanced
Top 13 This Is Me "Runaway Baby" Bruno Mars 2 Bottom 3[lower-alpha 1]
Top 12 Home "Take Me to the King" Tamela Mann 10 Safe
Top 11 Songs from the Cinema "I Am Changing" Jennifer Holliday 11 Safe
Top 10 Billboard Top 10 "When I Was Your Man" Bruno Mars 5 Safe
Top 9 I'm with the Band! "The Long and Winding Road" The Beatles 4 Safe
Top 8 Back to the Start Solo "Ain't No Way" Aretha Franklin 6 Bottom 3[lower-alpha 2]
Duet "Lucky"
with Sam Woolf		 Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat 8
Top 8[lower-alpha 3] Songs from the 1980s Solo "Through the Fire" Chaka Khan 4 Eliminated
Duet "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)"
with C.J. Harris 		Aretha Franklin & George Michael 8
  1. When Ryan Seacrest announced the results in this particular night, Watson was among the bottom 3, but was declared safe second, as Kristen O'Connor was eliminated.
  2. When Ryan Seacrest announced the results in this particular night, Watson was among the bottom 3, but was declared safe, as Sam Woolf was saved by the judges.
  3. Due to the judges using their one save on Sam Woolf, the top 8 remained intact for another week.

Post Idol

Watson took part in the American Idols Live! Tour 2014 from June 24 through August 24, 2014. Throughout the duration of tour and to date, she worked on her debut EP, My Diary, and her unnamed album.

Watson sang the U.S. national anthem at the Detroit Lions versus New Orleans Saints game at Ford Field in Detroit on October 19, 2014.[7]

In 2018, Watson released her debut single "Time", and released her second single "Worry About Myself" two years later in 2020. Later in the year, she appeared on Terrace Martin, Robert Glasper, 9th Wonder and Kamasi Washington's collaborative EP Dinner Party: Dessert, contributing guest vocals to the song "Love You Bad" with Phoelix.

On December 4, 2020, Watson released her debut EP, My Diary: The Prelude.

Discography

Digital singles (American Idol)
Year Song
2014 "When I Was Your Man"
"The Long and Winding Road"
"Ain't No Way"
"Through the Fire"

Singles
Year Song
2018 "Time"
2020 "Worry About Myself"

Guest appearances
Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"Love You Bad" 2020 Terrace Martin, Robert Glasper, 9th Wonder, Kamasi Washington, Phoelix Dinner Party: Dessert

References
  1. 'American Idol' Season 13: Malaya Watson Is the Youngest Finalist in Series History – Hollywood Reporter
  2. RAWatson – Rock, Blues, R & B, Inspirational and Jazz Music *THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE*
  3. Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit – History Archived March 1, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  4. Michigan Opera Theatre Children's Chorus
  5. Road to Hollywood: Malaya Watson
  6. Fred Bronson. "'American Idol' Season 13: Malaya Watson Is the Youngest Finalist in Series History behind Daniel Seavey". Hollywood Reporter.
  7. http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2014/10/detroit_lions_new_orleans_sain_2.html
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