FOLLOWING her passion for music in the United States has been successful for Felicia Alima, with the former Canning Vale resident scooping three Madison Area Music Awards.
Alima won three of her seven nominated categories – Urban/R&B Performer of the Year and Urban/R&B Album of the Year for her release titled Trade and Compilation Album of the Year for Bratfest.
The 27-year-old singer said she hoped she could raise awareness of the human trafficking scourge through the music on her maxi-single which features rapper Chino XL.
“I was inspired to write the song after watching the movie of the same name, Trade. I feel like it’s a subject that is rarely spoken about, and it’s important to help spread the message to make people more aware that human trafficking really does exist,” she said.
“If this song can create even the slightest awareness, I won’t feel like my voice is going unheard.”
The song is cleverly remixed into a variety of versions, including heavy hip-hop, Latin and European mixes.
Not content with reaching people through her music, Alima will donate part of the proceeds from sales of her album to the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women, an organisation dedicated to fighting human trafficking across the world.
Alima, who described her music as a mix of pop, R&B and reggaeton, said the move to the US had given her music career a real boost.
“I have been able to network with music industry people including other artists, producers, DJ’s and publishers that I probably wouldn’t have met in Perth,” she said.
“It’s about accessibility… it’s definitely an advantage to do it from the States.”
The recently-released Trade follows the release of her first full-length album Know Me in 2007.
The MAMA aims to support the development of musicians in Madison, Wisconsin, and recognise their achievements.
Votes for the nominees were recorded online, with the winners announced at a red-carpet ceremony earlier this month.