15 Facts About Lamya

Lamya Al-Mugheiry, better known as her mononym Lamya, was a Kenyan-born English singer-songwriter and record producer.

Lamya was recording on her second album Hiding in Plain Sight, which was scheduled to be released later that year.

Lamya Hafidh Sultan Al-Mugheiry was born in Mombasa, Kenya to Omani parents.

Lamya was ultimately raised in Oman, then entered the American University in Cairo, Egypt, and later in Sheffield, United Kingdom.

Lamya's mother enrolled her in vocal lessons, training with a voice coach of the Metropolitan Opera.

In 1990, Lamya performed lead vocals on the songs "Love Come Through" and "In the Heat of the Night", which appeared on Soul II Soul's second album Vol.

Lamya joined them for their two-year Wedding Album tour, and related television appearances, including MTV Unplugged.

In 1994, Lamya contributed background vocals for Charlotte Kelly's single "Queen of Hearts", which was produced by friend and her former group Soul II Soul member Jazzie B In 1995, she contributed background vocals for Soul II Soul's album Volume V: Believe.

In 2001, Lamya contributed background vocals on fellow Soul II Soul colleague Kym Mazelle's song "I Wanna Go Dancing ".

In July 2002, Lamya released her debut album, Learning from Falling, which reached number 16 on Billboard's Top Heatseekers chart.

Lamya produced and composed the songs, using poems she had written since the age of eleven.

Lamya was among the many singers scheduled to perform at Nelson Mandela's South African AIDS awareness concert before it was cancelled due to problems over broadcast rights and sponsorship.

Lamya was scheduled to release her second album, Hiding in Plain Sight in 2009, but died of a sudden and unexpected heart attack on 8 January 2009, while in Oman.

Lamya was a classically trained soprano who had a five-octave vocal range with ability to reach the whistle register.

Lamya was briefly in a relationship with Chic musician Nile Rodgers.