UNA MIA
Worldwide except Europe
about the artist
UNA MIA is a Canadian singer-songwriter. She was born in Toronto and was raised by a single mother who is also a first generation immigrant from Bosnia. From a young age, UNA was influenced by Balkan folk music along with blues and R&B that her mother would play in their home. Artists that were listened to included Etta James, Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles. By the time she turned eight, they moved from the city to a much smaller town called Belleville. The music scene was culturally very limited compared to Toronto, but UNA still desired to grow as aMore
UNA MIA is a Canadian singer-songwriter. She was born in Toronto and was raised by a single mother who is also a first generation immigrant from Bosnia. From a young age, UNA was influenced by Balkan folk music along with blues and R&B that her mother would play in their home. Artists that were listened to included Etta James, Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles. By the time she turned eight, they moved from the city to a much smaller town called Belleville. The music scene was culturally very limited compared to Toronto, but UNA still desired to grow as a young singer. She decided to use what was available to her and began classical voice lessons which she continued until she was eighteen. Throughout UNA's years of vocal training, she performed in local competitions singing theater and opera. At the same time, she continued to hone in on her love for R&B and Soul music when at home.
UNA MIA dreamed of a future in music for herself after she graduated high school but was expected and pressured into choosing an academic route by family and peers because it was the safer and more stable option in their eyes. As a result, she was enrolled at Queen's University in Kingston to study English Literature. However, in her third year, UNA stepped away from school to pursue her true dream of becoming a professional artist. Throughout her pursuit, she came to know the complicated reality of being a woman in an industry run by men. She took notice of the unfortunate pattern of female artists being undervalued and taken advantage of and yearned to make a statement through her music that would empower women to take charge of their own narrative.
In recent years, she's embarked on a new journey and has devoted her time to creating an EP that tells an emotional, yet beautiful story. At twenty-three, she is poised to take her career to the next level while nurturing her steadily growing TikTok and Instagram fanbases. Thematically, the project is a "coming of age" tale centered around healing, fighting for one's autonomy, navigating womanhood, and coming to terms with an unknown future. To UNA, music has always been a form of storytelling and release, which is why it is often written in the form of a diary entry. Each lyric feels carefully chosen and thoughtful, allowing the listener a peek into her experience. UNA MIA aims to connect with her audience through her personal yet powerful message of the importance of reclaiming one's freedom.