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.
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, a nurse who hails from Manila, Philippines.RAWatson – Rock, Blues, R & B, Inspirational and Jazz Music *THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE* In high school, she played the tuba in Southfield High School marching band. She is an alumna of the Mosaic Youth Theater of Detroit,Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit – History where she sang in Singsation and Hasting Street. She is also an alumna of the Michigan Opera Theatre Children's Chorus.,Michigan Opera Theatre Children's Chorus 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.Road to Hollywood: Malaya Watson
Career
2014: American Idol
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.
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 EpisodeThemeSong choiceOriginal artistOrderResultAuditionAuditioner's Choice"Ain't No Way"Aretha FranklinN/AAdvancedHollywood Round, Part 1A Capella"Brand New Me"Alicia KeysN/AAdvancedHollywood Round, Part 2Group Performance"I Want You Back"with Christina Collins, Olivia Diamond, and Queen BullsThe Jackson 5N/AAdvancedHollywood Round, part 3Solo"I Believe"Fantasia BarrinoN/AAdvanced Top 20 (10 Women) Personal Choice "Hard Times (No One Knows Better Than I)" Ray Charles 10 AdvancedTop 13This Is Me"Runaway Baby"Bruno Mars2Bottom 3Top 12Home"Take Me to the King"Tamela Mann10SafeTop 11Songs from the Cinema"I Am Changing"Jennifer Holliday11SafeTop 10Billboard Top 10"When I Was Your Man"Bruno Mars5SafeTop 9I'm with the Band!"The Long and Winding Road"The Beatles4SafeTop 8Back to the StartSolo "Ain't No Way"Aretha Franklin6Bottom 3Duet "Lucky" with Sam WoolfJason Mraz & Colbie Caillat8Top 8Songs from the 1980sSolo "Through the Fire"Chaka Khan4EliminatedDuet "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" with C.J. Harris Aretha Franklin & George Michael8
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.
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.. This was followed by her second EP, Father's Law, which was released the following year. Later that same year, Malaya would appear on the Terrace Martin album Drones, contributing vocals to "Evil Eye" with rapper YG. She also appeared on two tracks from Snoop Dogg's compilation Algorithm.
In 2022, Malaya was featured on the track "Joint 3" with Cisco Swank and Luke Titus, which was named by NPR as one of the year's best songs.
Discography
EPs My Diary: The Prelude (2020) Father's Law (2021)
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 "Happy Feet (for dancers)" 2021 Theo Croker BLK2LIFE // A FUTURE PAST "Runnin Away" Tall Black Guy, Ozay Moore Of Progress and Progression "Evil Eyes" Terrace Martin, YG DRONES "Anxiety" rowspan="2" Algorithm "Inspiration"
References