English singer Ella Mai Howell was born November 3, 1994 in London, England. She moved to New York City at the age of 12 and later returned back home after graduating from Queens High School of Teaching in Glen Oaks, Queens.
While studying at the British and Irish Modern Music Institute in London in 2014, she competed on season 11 of The X Factor as part of a trio, Arize, but didn’t advance beyond the initial audition. The group broke up shortly thereafter.
The following year, Mai uploaded a four-track solo EP of originals to SoundCloud entitled ‘Trouble’. After being discovered on Instagram, she signed to DJ Mustard’s label, 10 Summers Records. Today, she is known for her hit singles “Boo’d Up“ and “Trip“.
She is currently signed to Interscope Records and resides in Los Angeles, California.