What are Mahalia's top 10 albums of all time?

Ahead of National Album Day, singer songwriter Mahalia gave us an insight into her most loved albums of all-time. Mahalia is also an official Album Champion for Album Day 2020- you can find her top album picks on display as part of the 'Sounds of...' exhibition which is currently touring Network Rail train stations.

Talking about her relationship with the album, Mahalia said "I've always been an 'album girl'. Ever since I was a kid. I've always been more interested in a 40 minute listen over a 4 minute one. I'm not too sure why - I think It came from the way my parents used to play music around the house. Mum and dad would put on different albums with dinner and so I got really used to listening to full projects whilst eating together and talking about our days. I found it comforting when I was little and I still do now. I've always seen myself as an 'album artist'. What that means I still don't really know. In my world, I think it means a few things. It's timeless music. Music that you don't skip past. Music that's played around other families dinner tables. I want to make whole pieces of work that other little girls like me find comfort in listening to. A 40 to 60 minute dreamland where they can be away from the world. That's why I'm supporting National Album Day. Streaming has changed everything. I want the kids younger than me to feel about albums how I did. "

Here are Mahalia's top 10:

Album picks:

Daniel Caesar

Freudian.

This album is just a 'one of those' moments. The second I heard the first song, I was sold. Hearing Daniel Caesar for the first time was such a special moment for me. I really felt his heart in this album and as a listener, that meant a lot to me.

Billie Eillish

WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?

I loved listening to this album. I think Billie is such an important and wonderful voice for this generation. I love what she has to say and how fresh her music is. This record to me felt thought through and effortless. It was pieced together in a way that I found really fun and exciting to listen to.

Bon Iver

For Emma, Forever Ago

My brother introduced me to this album a few years ago. There was a time when this album was all I listened to. Again, I felt like I could feel him in it. It's emotional. It's heartbreaking - yet somehow always manages to leave me feeling full. I love all of Bon Iver's albums but, this one will always have a really special place in my heart.

ADELE

This album was one of the first albums I ever listened to when I first started writing music. It was the first album I uploaded onto my iPod shuffle and the only album I listened to the summer it came out. Adele has always been one of my favourite songwriters. I loved how vulnerable she was in this album. I felt every single word. Every melody. Every second of it.

Corinne Bailey Rae

(self-titled)

My parents bought me this one. I remember - it was so special to me because it came with a poster and I put it above my bed. It was the first album I ever owned that was solely mine and nobody else's. Its such a special moment from her and so well put together. Her voice, with the lyrics and production is just perfect.

Lauryn Hill

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

This album was so incredibly important for me and for so many others. There were so many different moments on it that I would use for different times in my life. And among everything, there was a clear message of empowerment. It was an all time favourite for me and my mum. It was our special album - one that I'll pass onto my kids for sure.

Frank Ocean

Blond

Frank Ocean is a genius in my eyes. His albums always do something different and I find that so amazing to listen to. 'Blond' opened me up to a whole new part of him. Somewhere completely different to his album, "Channel Orange". As a listener, that is so exciting. This, to me, is a current example of what it means to be a true album artist.

Amy Winehouse

FRANK

I was pretty young when this one came out. My older brother was playing it out of his CD player. I heard it through the wall so I went into his bedroom to listen to it and completely fell in love. I loved Amy's storytelling. From start to finish, she always took me on a journey and thats what always made her albums so fantastic.

Arctic Monkeys

Whatever people say I am, that's what I'm not

Growing up in Leicester, this one was a huge one in the city. Me and all my friends were such huge fans of these lads. I felt like it was the first time I'd heard somebody who's accent slightly sounded like mine. I remember all of us playing this album over and over again. Screaming along to every lyric. You'd go into any shitty pub in Leicester where a local band was playing and they'd be covering one of the songs! It was a moment for all of us.

Elli Ingram

Love You Really

I loved this album so much. The first time I heard it, I couldn't believe how great it was - as a whole project. It flowed so fantastically and just felt seamless. The music. The storytelling. Everything. Elli is really special. This was definitely my favourite project of 2017.