UNA MIA
It wasn’t hard for me to fall in love with UNA MIA’s latest single “Better Care”.
With the help of Ty Léon, Jhyve, Kevin Theodore, KyleYouMadeThat, Euro and Dayo, the Toronto-based artist has created a captivating and honest r&b record.
UNA MIA recently released another version of the song featuring American r&b artist Lekan. This new version definitely takes the song to another level and I think Lekan’s verse made the song even better. A must listen.
“Better Care” (remix) is out now !
Photo credit: Joelle Grace Taylor
Introduce yourself - what’s your story?
I’m UNA MIA and I’m an Alt-R&B Pop artist who’s born and based in Toronto. I’m also Bosnian-Canadian and my parents immigrated to Canada from Bosnia shortly before I was born. My first introduction to music was through the cultural influence of listening to Balkan rock and folk. Being so immersed in the Balkan community in Toronto made the city feel like from a really early age.. However, I ended up moving to a much smaller town in Ontario called Belleville when I was around eight years old with my mom. She started to play R&B music very often at that time and I felt instantly connected to the soulfulness of it. Listening to singers like Aretha Franklin, Etta James, and Sam Cooke was part of my daily routine growing up and they most definitely inspired my passion for singing as a form of artistic expression. I loved singing so much that I ended up picking up classical voice as an extracurricular which I committed myself to for ten years. Nevertheless, I continued to hone into my love for R&B music at home simultaneously throughout those years as well.
In my last year of high school, I felt an immense amount of pressure to pursue an academic career completely separate from music from my family and peers. Being raised by a single mother who is also an immigrant, I was aware of the many sacrifices she made to make sure we were secure and stable, and felt scared to take a risk with pursuing my dreams.
I ended up attending Queen’s University for two and a half years, majoring in English Literature. While I was there, I also felt extremely disconnected from myself, like I was living life for somebody else. It started to affect my mental health in a negative way and I found my solace by reconnecting with music. I started posting covers on social media and singing at local pubs to re-engage with my inner child. During my third year at school, I had a few producers from Toronto start reaching out to me to book sessions. I didn’t hesitate to say yes and started networking in the music scene there. Shortly after, COVID happened and things slowed down. I decided to leave school to pursue music and the rest is history…
What did you grow up listening to?
Even though I grew up listening to Balkan folk/rock and classic soul music, pop and the many sub-genres of R&B have always been my personal favorites. I’ve always looked up to artists like Beyonce, Lauryn Hill, Justin Timberlake, Drake, and so many more. In high school, I started to gravitate more to Alternative R&B artists like SZA, Brent Faiyaz and the Weeknd too. Generally though, I listen to everything and always try my best to keep an open mind with music.
When did you know you could sing?
I always believed I could sing from a really young age, but for the longest time I was afraid to sing in front of people. I always tried to mimic my favorite singers as early as six years old and just had a feeling that I knew what I was doing. Others found out I could sing when I started doing recitals around the time I was nine, singing theater. I remember my parents were so shocked, but I’m so glad I had opportunities like that to practice performing at a young age.
Who was the first person to ever believe in you professionally?
The first person to ever believe in me professionally is my manager and producer, Ty Léon. He really has empowered me from the very beginning and is my right-hand in my career pursuits. He first reached out to me when I was still in school through seeing one of my covers on Instagram. He was the only person who sincerely saw a superstar in me during a time where I felt completely lost and hopeless. Ty helped me cultivate a sound of my own and always makes sure to put me in the best rooms possible. I feel very grateful to work with someone who’s been willing to take the time to develop me as an artist and dedicate themselves to the long-game of building something magnificent. I deeply appreciate his dedication, passion and fierce work ethic.
When did you know you had to become an artist and release your original music?
I knew I had to become an artist while being in the confusing period of leaving school and embracing my passion for music in 2020. I felt like I had so many signs telling me that my purpose is within my artistry. When I started creating my own songs with a producer for the first time during the end of that year, I knew it was my calling. I’d never felt that kind of rush, excitement, and fulfillment ever before in my life. I fell in love with these songs and truly enjoyed the process of making them, which started a whole journey of artist development for me.
What biggest lessons have you learned since the beginning of your music career? What advice would you give to young artists?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned so far is the importance of constantly working towards your goals and to keep things moving. The saying ‘you're only as good as your last thing’ might be a hard truth to hear, but I also understand the validity of it. Even though I’m still a young artist who is still learning and growing, the advice I’d give to others is to always prioritize your mental health and fill your own cup first. We need to remember to nurture ourselves and protect our peace.
“Better Care” is your latest single - what’s the story/inspiration behind the single?
The inspiration behind ‘Better Care’ is about the desire to please oneself. Initially, I had the intention to make it about a partner, but decided to spin around the narrative and dedicate it to the self. Often in love songs, there’s a focus on another person, so I thought it would be interesting to approach it from a different yet relatable angle that honors self-love. What I like most about it sonically is that it mirrors a sensual slow build that eventually reaches a climax full of beautiful layers and nuances. It is surely one of my favorite songs that I’ve ever created.
Could you describe the songwriting/production process for this song? Who helped you work on it?
The making of ‘Better Care’ first started in LA during a session with my producer, Ty Léon; co-writer, Jhyve; and producer, Kevin Theodore. That day, we laid out the foundation of the song and wrote the hook and pre. Eventually when Ty, Jhyve, and myself returned to Toronto, we got together with Toronto-based producers, KyleYouMadeThat and Euro, and UK-based singer-writer, Dayo. We added a lot of cool additions in the production, recorded a second verse, and had fun with arranging. Overall, it was a really cool process of creation.
What did you feel when recording “Better Care”?
When recording ‘Better Care’, I tried my best to embrace feelings of passion, intimacy, vulnerability and femininity. It felt cathartic and fun! My favorite parts were recording all the harmonies and adding the ad-libs at the end of the song.
You recently released the remix version of ‘Better Care’, featuring Lekan. What made you want to collaborate with him on this record?
What made me want to collaborate with Lekan is that I knew he’d give the perfect response to my narrative in the song. His voice is truly unmatched and he really communicated the message of wanting to please a partner so elegantly in his verse. It’s a pleasure to have him on the record and he’s so great to work with!
What can you tell us about the music video?
We shot the music video in one day in LA and it was super smooth! It was my first time working with a female director (Boni Mata), which was such a great experience and the whole crew was super supportive too. My favorite scene was the one where I’m behind the fogged glass because, to me, it looked really mysterious, sexy and cinematic. There was also one scene where I was drenched in a freezing wet sheet, which had its moments but I’m glad I pulled through because it turned out so awesome!
What do you want people to feel when listening to this song?
When listening to ‘Better Care’, I want people to feel authentic in intimacy and embrace their own sense of pleasure completely. The song is all about feeling good in your skin and being enamored with the thought of sensuality.
As an artist, what is the hardest part? And what is the best part?
For me, the hardest part of being an artist is maintaining balance. Throughout the past year, I’ve learned a lot about the importance of staying organized and managing my time practically, but I’m still growing and working to get better at that every day. The best part of being an artist is that it’s very empowering. It allows you to stand in your truth confidently and fearlessly. You feel so free and one with the divine as well. I also really enjoy connecting with others through my music. It always means so much to me when fans tell me that my songs made them feel seen or understood because it reminds me of the beauty of human connection.
What can we expect to see/hear from you in the next couple of months?
Regarding what’s coming in the next couple of months, I’m going on my first tour ever in Spain, opening for Eva Ruiz. I’ll also be performing at ‘The Great Escape Festival’ in the UK and will further be part of Riverfest in Elora, Canada during the summertime. However, new music is most definitely on the horizon, so stay tuned!!
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