North Star: Show celebrates Belfast’s anti-slavery heritage

Up until that point she was working in an office for a data publishing firm.

“There was like zero creativity – super normal, average,” she recalled.

Fast-forward a few years, and Ama’s brand of “soulful pop” has secured support act slots for legendary 1970s soul group Sister Sledge and R&B singer Macy Gray.

“That was crazy. They were doing the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival and I actually emailed and said – and it was one line – ‘Can I open for Sister Sledge?’

“And then two weeks before the gig, they were like: ‘Yeah.’

“The very same with Macy Gray. A single email, one line. I need to actually do that more, because that’s the only two I’ve sent!” she laughed.

Those emails also included a link to Ama’s YouTube channel, which was enough to get her name on the bill.

The songstress is very excited to be part of the North Star event, describing it as an “ode to Belfast”.

“It’s songs written for Belfast in a way which highlights Belfast’s commitment to inclusion which is a very import thing to recognise,” she said.

“I don’t think people know that Belfast resisted slavery for example, I don’t think that’s common knowledge.”