Sara James
Polish singer and songwriter (born 2008)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sara Zofia Egwu-James (born 10 June 2008) is a Polish singer and songwriter.[1] She won the fourth season of the Polish talent show The Voice Kids in 2021, and represented Poland in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2021 with the song "Somebody", finishing as a runner-up. James was also a finalist in the 17th season of America's Got Talent in 2022. She released her debut studio album, Playhouse, in 2024.
Early life and education
Sara Zofia Egwu-James was born on 10 June 2008 in Słubice, Poland, to Polish mother Arleta Dancewicz, and Nigerian father John Egwu-James, who is also a singer.[2] Her parents were married, and divorced.[2] James has younger half-siblings, sister Michelle James, and brothers, John James Junior and Jakub Dancewicz.[2]
During her school years, James experienced racism from her peers due to the colour of her skin, which prompted her to change schools.[3] In 2022, she graduated from the Maria Skłodowska-Curie Primary School in Ośno Lubuskie, Poland, and the Stanisław Moniuszko First Degree State Music School in Słubice, where she studied piano.[2][4] She then enrolled at the Academic Secondary School for General Education in Słubice.[2] James also studied singing at the Słubice Municipal Cultural Centre.[2]
In 2024, she revealed that she had been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).[5]
Career
At six, James won a festival of Christmas music in Szczecinek, Poland.[6] In 2020, she came third in the World Talent Show, and won an award in the final of the Lubuski Song Festival "Pro Arte" where she also placed third.[7][8]
In 2021, she competed in the fourth season of the Polish talent show The Voice Kids. She advanced to the final, and was voted the winner.[9] Through another Polish talent show, Szansa na Sukces (English: A Chance for Success), she was selected to represent Poland in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2021 with the song "Somebody".[10] At Junior Eurovision, she finished in second place with 218 points (102 points from online voting and 116 points from the jury), six points behind the Armenian representative and eventual winner, Maléna.[11]
In 2022, James auditioned for the 17th season of America's Got Talent. Her performance of Billie Eilish and Khalid's song "Lovely" resonated with the judges and led Simon Cowell to push the Golden Buzzer, sending her directly to the live shows.[12] She qualified for the final, where she performed with The Black Eyed Peas, but did not make the top five.[13] In 2023, she appeared on the show's spin-off, America's Got Talent: All-Stars.[14]
James won the 2023 Fryderyk award for Phonographic Debut of the Year.[15] She voiced Ariel in the Polish-language version of Disney's 2023 musical fantasy film The Little Mermaid, and recorded songs for its soundtrack.[16] Her debut studio album, Playhouse, was released under Polydor Records on 8 November 2024.[17] It earned a Fryderyk nomination for Album of the Year – Pop.[18]
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Studio album details | Peak chart position |
|---|---|---|
| POL [19] | ||
| Playhouse |
|
28 |
Reissues
| Title | Reissues album details |
|---|---|
| Playhouse... the Full Story |
|
Extended plays
| Title | Extended play details |
|---|---|
| Jak co roku |
|
| Spotify Singles |
|
| Babie Lato 2025 (with Margaret and Zalia) |
|
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart position | Certifications | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| POL [21] | ||||
| "Czarny młyn" (with Kuba Szmajkowski) |
2021 | — | Czarny młyn | |
| "Somebody" | 1 | Non-album single | ||
| "Jak co roku" | — | Jak co roku | ||
| "Lecę" (with AniKa Dąbrowska and Marcin Maciejczak) |
2022 | — | Non-album singles | |
| "Nie jest za późno" | 18 | |||
| "Na sam szczyt" | — | |||
| "Magia jest w nas" | — | |||
| "My Wave" | — | |||
| "Taka sama" | — | |||
| "Rocketman" | — | |||
| "Running Up That Hill" | — | |||
| "Lovely Christmas" | — | |||
| "Bloodline" | 2023 | — | ||
| "Hula Hoop" | — | |||
| "Naprawdę chcę" | — | The Little Mermaid (Polish-language version) | ||
| "Tylko mnie poproś do tańca" (with Igor Herbut) |
— | Non-album singles | ||
| "Ctrl Alt Del" | — | |||
| "Brighter Day" (with Ben Cristovao) |
9 | |||
| "Dziś mnie mija cały świat" (with Szczyl) |
— | |||
| "Blue" | 2024 | — | Playhouse | |
| "I Tell Everyone About You" | — | |||
| "Detox" | — | |||
| "Sunshine State of Mind" | — | |||
| "Psycho" | — | |||
| "River" | — | Non-album single | ||
| "Salty" | 17 | Playhouse | ||
| "Tiny Heart" | 2025 | 27 | ||
| "Co za noc" (with Margaret and Zalia as Babie Lato)[23] |
20 | Babie Lato 2025 | ||
| "Tattoo" (with Margaret and Zalia as Babie Lato)[24] |
— | |||
| "Kiki" | — | Playhouse... the Full Story | ||
| "Passport" | — | |||
| "M.I.A" | — | |||
| "—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart. | ||||
