Tamera Foster
English afrobeat singer
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Tamera Cuthbert, professionally known as Tamera Foster is an English singer who competed in the tenth series of The X Factor in 2013. She was the eighth contestant eliminated (finishing in fifth place) and was subsequently signed to a Syco Music record deal.
Early life
Tamera grew up listening to many genres of music, but was most inspired by Whitney Houston, Missy Elliott, Erykah Badu, Sammy Davis Jr., James Brown, and Beyonce.[1] She also enjoyed drawing and painting, which became more serious hobbies in her early teens.[2] After being encouraged by her mother and grandmother, Tamera performed at church, as well as several local talent shows. She decided to audition for The X Factor one week before the show, at the age of 16.[3] She has claimed to have synesthesia.[4]
2013: The X Factor
She competed in the tenth series of The X Factor in 2013. In week four, Foster was in the bottom two with Kingsland Road, but Foster was saved by a majority vote. However, voting statistics revealed that Kingsland Road received more votes than Foster, which meant that if the result went to deadlock, Kingsland Road would have been saved. She was eventually eliminated in the quarter-final.[5] Former Judge Simon Cowell subsequently signed her to his label Syco Music after dubbing her "the British Rihanna".[6][7]
2014–2022: Syco Music and Afrodite
After her stint on The X Factor, Tamera was signed to a deal with Syco Music in March 2014,[8] at the age of 17.[9]
Tamera was sent to writing camps in LA, New York, and Sweden, and worked with producer Kamille in early pop-influenced album writing sessions.[3] In a now-deleted December 2014 YouTube vlog upload of a behind-the-scenes studio session, a song titled "Hit You Like A Bullet" was teased alongside a jazz cover of "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town". Failing to agree with the label on a musical direction, the music from Syco never materialized, with Tamera instead waiting for the 3 year contract to expire.[10] She parted ways with the label in 2016.[2] Tamera was credited as a co-writer on 2017 Bakermat single "Don't Want You Back". In 2019, Tamera signed an undisclosed record deal with London-based label Moonshyne Music Ltd. and music distributor AWAL, subsequently releasing her debut single "Romeo" produced by Parker Ighile.[11] She later released second single "Don't Phone", as well as third single "Flipside" produced by Future Cut and Oscar Scheller.[12][13] Billboard described the sound of her fourth single "Wickedest" as "the embodiment of smoothness".[14] Tamera released her debut EP Afrodite, executive-produced by P2J, in 2021. The Clash reviewed it positively, describing it as a "warm embrace of feminine energy... spotlight[ing] the singer's African and Greek heritage amongst silky riffs and intimate songwriting."[15] In November 2022, she released the single "Insensitive", which received "track of the day" honors on Clash and was heralded as a "superb return".[16]
2023–present: Lost In Translation
In February 2023, Tamera released "Frozen", an electro-dance single co-written by OVO Sound artist Majid Al Maskati. Her second EP Lost In Translation was released in November 2023, which contained "40 Days", her first charting single on the UK Afrobeats Singles Chart.[17] In December 2023, Tamera was nominated for "Best Newcomer" at the 26th edition of the MOBO Awards.[18]
Discography
Studio Projects
- Afrodite EP (2021)
- Lost In Translation EP (2023)
Singles
| Title | Year | UK Afrobeats Singles Chart [19] |
Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Romeo" | 2019 | — | Non-album single |
| "Don't Phone" | — | Non-album single | |
| "Flipside" | 2020 | — | Rocks (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) |
| "Wickedest" | 2021 | — | Afrodite EP |
| "Strong For Me" | — | ||
| "Good Love" (Feat. Tay Iwar) | — | ||
| "New Hobby" | — | ||
| "Insensitive" | 2022 | — | Non-album single |
| "Frozen" | 2023 | — | Non-album single |
| "Diversion" | — | Lost In Translation EP | |
| "Poison" | — | ||
| "40 Days" (Feat. CKay) | 16 | ||
| "Supernova" | 2024 | — | TBA |
| "Angel in Disguise" (Cover) (With No Guidnce & Rodney Jerkins) | 2025 | — | Spotify Exclusive Single |
| "Blessings" | — | ||
Guest appearances
| Title | Year | Other performer(s) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Dynamite" | 2017 | Kojey Radical & Pote | In God's Body |
| "Identify" | Parker Ighile | Non-album single | |
| "Wanna Be With You" | 2023 | Steel Banglez & Mowgs | The Playlist |
| "Honest" | Spinall, Tay Iwar & TSB | Top Boy | |
| "I'm So High" | p-rallel & Toddla T | Movement | |
| "Options" | Kamille & Bellah | K1 | |
| "Shivers" | Nonso Amadi | When It Blooms | |
| "Girlfriend (London Girls Mix)" | 2024 | Ayanna & Mnelia | In A Perfect World (Complete Set) |
| "Wrist On Freeze" | Ms Banks & Stay Flee Get Lizzy | Stars Aligned | |
| "Locked In" | 2025 | Aitch | 4 |
Songwriting Credits
| Title | Year | Artist | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Don't Want You Back" (Featuring Kiesza) | 2017 | Bakermat | Non-album single |
| "Family Ties" (Featuring Anariii) | 2024 | Carla Prata | Pupa |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Ceremony | Award | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 26th MOBO Awards | Best Newcomer | Nominated | [18] |
Tours
Supporting
- Jessie Reyez - Paid In Memories Tour (2025)