Although HAWA’s first-ever song was released just over a year ago and she graduated from high school this past spring, the 19-year-old has already lived many lives. Born in Berlin to West African parents and raised in New York City, as a pre-teen HAWA was one of the youngest-ever composers for the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, with whom she toured the world. But soon HAWA’s insatiable creativity became stifled by the classical world’s limitations, forcing her to break out.

2020 has already been a whirlwind year for HAWA. In January, she closed Telfar’s runway show in Florence by performing atop an ornate table above Solange, Kelela and Juliana Huxtable, and followed up with a performance that grabbed Vogue’s attention at Gap x Telfar’s event in Paris. After signing to future-facing label b4, we have no doubt that HAWA is one to watch this year.

Today marks the release of  her debut EP The ONE which includes singles ‘MY LOVE’ and ‘IPHONE’ and is produced by New York underground staple Tony Seltzer along with beats from Cadenza, Kashaka & Australia’s own Oscar Key Sung. To celebrate her new EP, we caught up with the young musician to get her insight on some of the most exciting artists in the ever-evolving New York underground scene.

Follow HAWA here, stream her EP The ONE, and check out the list below!