UMI: The Soulful Voice of Modern R&B

Tierra Umi Wilson, known professionally as UMI, is an American singer-songwriter and producer crafting a unique blend of R&B, soul, and lo-fi beats. Born in Seattle, Washington, she first captured widespread attention with her 2018 single "Remember Me" and has since solidified her place in contemporary R&B with her introspective debut album "Forest in the City".

Early career

UMI was born in 1999 and grew up in Seattle, drawing early musical influence from her mother's gospel singing and her own Japanese and Black heritage. She began writing songs and posting covers on YouTube as a teenager, eventually moving to Los Angeles to study at the University of Southern California. Her first official single, "Butterfly," was self-released in 2017, showcasing her soft vocal delivery and intimate songwriting style.

Breakthrough

UMI's breakthrough arrived in 2018 with the viral success of her self-released single "Remember Me". The song's nostalgic, lo-fi R&B sound resonated deeply on platforms like SoundCloud and YouTube, amassing millions of streams and leading to a record deal with Keep Cool/RCA Records. This major label partnership provided a platform for her subsequent EPs, "Interlude" (2019) and "Love Language" (2020), which expanded her audience.

Key tracks

Remember Me — This breakout 2018 single defined UMI's early sound and launched her career through organic online virality.

Butterfly — Her debut 2017 single introduced her delicate vocal tone and personal lyrical style to the world.

Sukidakara — A 2021 release that beautifully blended English and Japanese lyrics, reflecting her cultural heritage.

Sorry — A standout track from her "Forest in the City" album that showcases her evolved production and songwriting maturity.

Whatever u like — This popular 2022 collaboration with singer V demonstrated her ability to create smooth, contemporary R&B duets.

Building on her EP success, UMI released her debut studio album, "Forest in the City," in 2022 via Keep Cool/RCA. The project was a conceptual exploration of finding peace within urban chaos and featured production work from talents like Linden Jay. She has also collaborated with notable artists across genres, including 6LACK on the song "Wish That I Could," and performed at major festivals like Coachella, further establishing her live presence.

Fans of UMI's ethereal and introspective take on R&B and soul often enjoy the music of similar artists featured on our radio stations. Discover SZA for another visionary voice in modern R&B blending personal narrative with innovative production. Explore Snoh Aalegra for a similarly lush and emotive soul-influenced sound. Listen to Daniel Caesar for a comparable mastery of vulnerable lyricism and smooth vocal delivery within the R&B genre.

UMI's growing catalog of soothing R&B and soul music makes her a perfect fit for rotation on our network's variety of stations. Her tracks frequently appear on our curated neo-soul channels, contemporary R&B streams, and independent music radio stations that champion the next generation of vocalists.

You can hear the soulful music of UMI regularly on the radio stations featured here on onairium.com. Tune in to our dedicated R&B and modern soul stations to discover her hit songs and deep cuts, and experience the calming, introspective sound that defines her acclaimed career.