We all start to get a bit more introspective during the last few months of a year and think, “What have I accomplished in the past 365 days?” For singer Fousheé (pronounced “foo-shay”), the answer would be A LOT. After coming forward as the voice behind one of 2020’s most viral TikTok sounds (The Deep End freestyle by Sleepy Hallow) in a video that has racked up 6 million views, the New Jersey-born songstress’ career took off. “It’s incredible, I never thought ‘Deep End’ would get so big,” she said. However, TikTok was just the beginning for the singer/songwriter. If her New Year’s resolution was to have the best year ever, we can confidently say that Fousheé achieved that, and with time to spare.
Although the past year seemed to fly by, the genre-bending multi-instrumentalist born Brittany Fousheé made the most of 2021. After she turned “Deep End” into a hit single — earning her the distinction of being the first Black woman to top the Billboard alternative charts since Tracey Chapman in 1983 — she signed a record deal with RCA. In 2021, Fousheé even toured with English singer James Blake, and her follow-up singles “single af” and “my slime” reached 1.2 and 1 million Youtube views, respectively. The star even made her directorial debut, appearing both in front and behind the camera for the “my slime” video. With a year like that in the books, how will Fousheé follow it up? Easily, by being herself.
Like most “overnight success” stories, she was a longtime coming. The talent been honing her sound since the age of 6 when she was introduced to musical legends such as Bob Marley, Toni Braxton and Etta James by her Jamaican mother. Young Fousheé was heavily inspired by the legends her mom listened to, and wrote music all through school — even forming several girl groups with friends. After graduating and enrolling in university, she kept her love of music alive by performing at a variety of New York venues before a life-changing car accident forced her to take a step back from classes to take care of her mother. Her time caring for her mom was the inspiration to pursue music more intensely and in early 2020, she penned and recorded the sample for “Deep End” as part of a free sample pack for other musicians. “I knew that I was making a sample pack,” Fousheé previously told BAZAAR.com. “I just didn’t know where it would go, and I never imagined for it to be used in that way.”
As if touring wasn’t enough, Fousheé also released her debut project, time machine, this year. The albums’s genre-blending, soulful music reflects on young love and self-discovery hint at what’s important to the star: positivity and a growing sense of self. She effortlessly blends her airy vocals with several VIP features including Lil Wayne, Lil Yachty, and Steve Lacy. To top it off, the artist, who rose to fame during the pandemic, made her mark as a live performer by gracing the stage at Afropunk Atlanta and “The Tonight Show,” among others.
It’s safe to say Fousheé has had an incredible year. The young performer credits her personal growth and newfound confidence as key components, “I was always very shy but very creative,” she shared in another interview. Changing her mindset and confronting her fears was truly what helped her take off and “finally breaking through and finding the confidence to be everything that I imagine myself to be as an artist.”
So what does the next year hold for Fousheé? As more venues open, we’re hoping to see her on stages across the country, and she even teased a deluxe version of time machine in an Instagram post. Whatever she does, we know that she will stay true to her roots while exploring all she can be, and we love that for her.