New Music: Doja Cat

Meet the L.A-raised 23-year-old, ready to bring her viral hits and quality discography to the international stage.

Ticketmaster New Music is a carefully curated selection, showcasing artists we are expecting to make waves in the live music scene. Working closely with record labels, live event promoters and talent agents, our in-house experts handpick the most exciting emerging music.

Doja Cat is rapper, singer, writer and occasional producer Amala Zandile Dlamini, 23 years old from Los Angeles, California. Although she was discovered as a teenager back in 2014 through her impressive Soundcloud material, and since has unveiled an attention-grabbing EP and an acclaimed debut album, Doja Cat is only now dipping her paws into the live scene internationally.

Have a look at her recent Colours performance of new single Juicy:

Doja Cat - Juicy | A COLORS SHOW

Watch this video on YouTube

Doja Cat is very comfortable in her own skin, showcasing a distinct style and thought-out aesthetic. Her hybrid of singing and rapping allows Doja the fluidity to express herself fully through her songs and facilitates her confident personality taking centre stage. Stylistically she welcomes comparisons to clear influences such as Cardi B and Nicki Minaj, but make no mistake, Doja Cat is very much a multi-faceted artist carving out her own lane.

The world was introduced to Doja Cat through a spaced-out, trippy contemporary R&B lens. The lo-fi lead single So High – from her 2014 debut Purrr! EP – rapidly became a streaming sensation. Subsequently she was championed by the likes of Pigeons and Planes and The Fader, building significant online hype. At the time still in High School, Doja couldn’t yet make a sizable mark on the live circuit. Aside from supporting Lizzo and Theophilus, Doja Cat played the waiting game, surfacing in the mainstream again with the release of her official debut album Amala last year.

Doja Cat pulls elements of R&B, electro-pop, house, trap and dancehall into her excellent debut full-length. Amala unfolds like a pop album rather than a typical rap record; a fun listen that also tackles issues of body image, sexuality, female empowerment and relationships. The album has grown in popularity and garnered traction on streaming platforms. It also found a home on a number of “Best of 2018” lists from tastemakers including NPR.

Doja Cat reached new fans with the deliberately ridiculous video for MOOO! in late 2018. It’s viral success bolstered the shelf-life of her debut, which saw a deluxe re-release earlier this year. Doja Cat’s recent collaboration with Rico Nasty – Tia Tamera – followed on from the success of MOOO!, finding further fame with the beat-laden Juicy. At the time of writing, Doja Cat is set to play three headline shows across England, including a headline show at London’s Heaven, undoubtedly the start of a huge live career here in the UK.