We’re delighted to introduce Winnie Ama as this year’s Artist in Residence.  Winnie is part of a new breed of electronic artists blending conscious lyrics, soulful alternative RnB vocals with dance, house and pop rhythms.

Winnie will be playing the closing night of the festival (8th May) at the Black Box:
Book here:https://cqaf.ticketsolve.com/shows/873634004

You can also catch Winnie in support of Altered Images, Sarah McQuaid, Michael Janisch and Dani Larkin.

The Belfast-born-and-raised Northern-Irish-Ghanaian artist has had success with multiple MusicWeek UK Club Chart top 10’s and support from BBC Introducing and BBC Radio Ulster referencing her fresh writing style and distinctive voice.

Winnie Ama’s writing style is inspired by Ella Fitzgerald, Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone and Amy Winehouse. She switched from writing poetry and stories to writing music.

Winnie studied jazz vocals before making her commercial music debut in 2019 writing 3 songs in collaboration with Francis Groove that made the top 10 in MusicWeek’s UK Urban/Black Club Chart – Can’t Wait #1, I Swear #7 and Born to Win #6.

She also appeared in Photo Vogue in 2019. Her solo debut What Are We was in MusicWeek’s Black Club Chart for 6 weeks, peaking at number 11.

Winnie Ama is also a lead data analyst for the Why Not Her? movement which campaigns for gender equality in the music industry and mentors other artists.

In 2022 she has a series of singles starting with electronic pop track Here I Go produced with Simon Le Saint on 25 February and a pop house collaborative track with two New York Producers Genpop and Pommy – Awe of You out on 25 March.

Winnie’s full schedule of CQAF shows will be released in the coming weeks.

Winnie Ama – Here I Go (exclusive new track!)