The Mamas
The Mamas are a Swedish-American vocal trio specializing in soul, gospel, and pop music, formed in 2019 by American singer Ashley Haynes, Swedish singer Loulou Lamotte, and Swedish-Eritrean singer Dinah Yonas Manna.[1][2] The group initially rose to prominence as backing vocalists for John Lundvik's entry "Too Late for Goodbyes" at the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 in Tel Aviv, where their performance contributed to a fifth-place finish in the grand final.[1] In 2020, The Mamas competed as lead artists in Melodifestivalen, Sweden's national selection for Eurovision, winning the competition with their debut single "Move"—written by Melanie Wehbe, Patrik Jean, and Herman Gardarfve—securing them the opportunity to represent Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 in Rotterdam.[3] However, the contest was cancelled in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, preventing their participation, though "Move" achieved commercial success by topping the Swedish Singles Chart.[3] The group returned to Melodifestivalen in 2021 with "In the Middle" but did not advance to the final, marking their primary achievements as tied to the Eurovision ecosystem without major international controversies or further chart-topping releases noted in primary sources.[1]Members
Current members
The current members of The Mamas are Ashley Haynes, Loulou Lamotte, and Dinah Yonas Manna, forming the trio that has defined the group's sound since late 2019.[1] Ashley Haynes, an American singer born in Washington, D.C., provides the group with roots in soul, R&B, and gospel music, genres she has performed since childhood.[4] Her vocal style emphasizes rich harmonies and has included lead parts in tracks like those on the debut EP Tomorrow Is Waiting.[5] Loulou Lamotte, a Swedish vocalist from Malmö, brings prior experience as a solo artist, including a appearance on Swedish Idol in 2008.[4] She contributes to the group's emotional depth and commanding stage presence, enhancing their live performances with expressive delivery.[6] Dinah Yonas Manna, an Eritrean-Swedish singer and choir director based in Stockholm, infuses the ensemble with gospel influences drawn from her background in jazz, soul, gospel, Afrobeat, and hip-hop.[7][8] Her ad-libs and dynamic interplay strengthen the trio's vocal layering and group cohesion.[9] The members' shared experiences as mothers inspired the group's name, reflecting themes of nurturing and family in their music and identity.[10]Former members
Paris Renita, an American-born choral singer based in Sweden, founded The Mamas in 2019 at the request of John Lundvik to assemble backing vocalists for his Melodifestivalen entry "Too Late for Goodbyes."[11] As the original quartet alongside Loulou Lamotte, Ashley Haynes, and Dinah Yonas Manna, the group participated in rehearsals and performed as Lundvik's support during Melodifestivalen 2019 and the Eurovision Song Contest in Tel Aviv.[12] Renita departed the group on August 21, 2019, following the completion of a fall tour with Lundvik, citing commitments to her solo career as the primary reason.[13] This reduction to a trio marked a pivotal shift, allowing the remaining members to rebrand as "three super divas" and pursue independent performances, including their successful Melodifestivalen 2020 entry "Move" without Renita's involvement.[14] The lineup change streamlined the group's dynamic, emphasizing the vocal synergy of the core trio in subsequent gospel-soul presentations.[2]History
Origins as backing vocalists
Prior to their formation as a group, the members of The Mamas—Loulou Lamotte, Ashley Haynes, and Dinah Yonas Manna—pursued careers as session and backing vocalists within Sweden's music industry, drawing on roots in gospel, soul, and jazz traditions that informed their harmonic expertise.[1] Lamotte, born in Malmö in 1981, gained early visibility through her participation in the 2008 season of the Swedish Idol competition, where she performed tracks showcasing her vocal range, though she did not advance far.[15] Haynes, originally from Washington, D.C. and born in 1987, contributed to vocal ensembles emphasizing American-influenced soul styles, while Manna, with Eritrean-Swedish heritage, directed choirs and performed in jazz and gospel contexts, honing techniques central to layered live harmonies.[16] These individual experiences culminated in their selection as a backing ensemble for high-profile performances, underscoring their professional credibility through consistent delivery of robust, synchronized vocals without taking lead roles or composing originals. Their most notable pre-group showcase occurred supporting John Lundvik at Melodifestivalen 2019 with "Too Late for Love," where their gospel-infused harmonies elevated the live presentation, contributing to the song's victory and subsequent fifth-place finish at the Eurovision Song Contest in Tel Aviv before an audience exceeding 180 million viewers.[17] This performance empirically validated their skill in dynamic, multi-part vocal arrangements, fostering recognition in Sweden's competitive pop and contest circuit despite no prior recorded compositions under their names.[10] No evidence indicates involvement in original songwriting or front-stage roles before 2019, aligning with their established niche in supportive, harmony-driven contributions.[17]Formation and early performances (2019)
In 2019, choral director Paris Renita, originally from the United States, founded The Mamas as a quartet to provide backing vocals for Swedish singer John Lundvik's entry "Too Late for Love" at Melodifestivalen.[11] Renita assembled Loulou Lamotte, Dinah Yonas Manna, and Ashley Haynes—experienced vocalists with prior session work—for the project, forming an initial lineup unified by their gospel-influenced harmonies and shared experiences as mothers, which inspired the group's name.[10] The ensemble focused on studio rehearsals to synchronize with Lundvik's lead performance, emphasizing tight vocal layering without pursuing independent material at this stage.[1] The Mamas' debut occurred at the Melodifestivalen final on March 9, 2019, where their contributions helped Lundvik secure victory and advance to the Eurovision Song Contest.[2] They reprised the backing role at Eurovision in Tel Aviv, Israel, on May 18, 2019, during the grand final, contributing to Sweden's fifth-place finish with 334 points.[18] Post-Eurovision, their activities remained tied to Lundvik, including a Northern European promotional tour starting October 1, 2019, featuring live renditions of "Too Late for Love" across select venues.[19] No original releases or standalone performances marked this period, with the quartet's efforts centered on supporting Lundvik's momentum. Founding member Paris Renita departed in August 2019 to focus on solo endeavors, concluding her involvement after the tour preparations.[13]Melodifestivalen victory and Eurovision selection (2020)
The Mamas entered Melodifestivalen 2020, Sweden's national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest, with the song "Move", a gospel-influenced pop track written by Melanie Wehbe, Patrik Jean, and Herman Gardarfve.[20] The group advanced to the grand final held on March 7, 2020, in Stockholm, competing against seven other acts including Dotter with "Bulletproof".[3][21] In the final's voting, which combined scores from an international jury (50%) and Swedish televote (50%), The Mamas and Dotter tied with 65 jury points each.[22] The televote broke the deadlock, awarding The Mamas 72 points to Dotter's 71, securing victory by a single point with a total of 137 against Dotter's 136.[21][17] Raw televote figures showed The Mamas receiving 1,610,446 votes compared to Dotter's 1,489,636, confirming public preference despite close competition.[23] This win qualified them to represent Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020's first semi-final in Rotterdam, Netherlands.[24][25] The Eurovision Song Contest 2020 was scheduled for May 12–16, 2020, but was cancelled on March 18, 2020, due to the escalating COVID-19 pandemic, preventing The Mamas from performing on the international stage. No official contest placement or alternative competitive outcome was assigned, though the group participated in subsequent virtual Eurovision-related events and national broadcasts of "Move".[2]Post-Eurovision releases and activities (2021–2022)
Following the cancellation of the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest, The Mamas entered Melodifestivalen 2021 with "In the Middle", qualifying directly to the final from the fourth heat held on February 27, 2021.[26] In the grand final on March 13, 2021, the song earned 50 points from the jury and 56 from the televote, totaling 106 points and securing third place. The track later appeared in Sweden's airplay charts, peaking at number 50 in week 30 of 2021.[27] In September 2021, the group released the single "Sun Go Down", which previewed their forthcoming EP and highlighted their soul-influenced harmonies.[28] On November 12, 2021, they issued the EP Won't Let the Sun Go Down, comprising six tracks: the new single "Let You Go", alongside "Sun Go Down", "Don't Kill The Groove", "Just a Little", "Say So", and another previously released song.[29] This release built on the momentum from "Move", incorporating a mix of original material and covers arranged for a cappella and minimal instrumentation.[30] Live activities in this period centered on high-profile television appearances, including performances of "In the Middle" during Melodifestivalen 2021, where the group demonstrated their layered vocal techniques without backing tracks.[31] No extensive tours were undertaken, but the EP's promotion emphasized their strengths in live vocal arrangements, with select festival and event slots reinforcing their gospel-pop style. In December 2022, they released the holiday single "Joy to the World", adapting the classic for their quartet harmonies.[32]Final EP and hiatus announcement (2023–present)
In April 2023, The Mamas announced an indefinite hiatus, citing the desire for members to pursue solo careers individually.[33] This decision followed a period of reduced group activity after their prior releases, with no further collaborative projects undertaken. The announcement effectively concluded their tenure as an active ensemble, shifting focus to personal artistic endeavors. Members have since engaged in separate pursuits, exemplified by Loulou Lamotte's contributions to tracks like "Don't Kill the Groove," which highlighted individual creative directions even prior to the formal pause.[34] No joint performances or recordings have occurred in the intervening years, and as of October 2025, there are no reported plans for reunion or reactivation of the group.[35]Musical style
Influences and genre
The Mamas' core sound fuses soul and gospel genres, drawing from African American musical traditions that emphasize emotive vocal delivery, intricate harmonies, and spiritual undertones.[17][10] This style emerged from the members' collective experiences as backing vocalists, leading them to formalize as a soul and gospel ensemble in 2019.[17] Their music incorporates R&B elements through rhythmic phrasing and dynamic ranges, while integrating pop songwriting conventions—such as verse-chorus structures and accessible melodies—to suit Swedish selection formats like Melodifestivalen.[36] However, the group's approach prioritizes raw vocal interplay over electronic instrumentation, mirroring gospel choir aesthetics with call-and-response patterns and minimalistic production in live and recorded settings.[12] Specific tracks like "Move" exemplify this blend, combining uptempo pop rhythms with soulful grooves and gospel-infused harmonies to evoke communal uplift without diluting harmonic complexity.[36] Members Ashley Haynes, Loulou Lamotte, and Dinah Yonas Manna have backgrounds in gospel and soul performance, including Dinah's training in gospel alongside jazz and Afrobeat, which underpin the trio's undiluted focus on vocal purity as a stylistic hallmark.[4]Vocal techniques and live performances
The Mamas utilize layered vocal harmonies as a core technique, stacking multiple voices in close intervals such as thirds and octaves to achieve a dense, resonant blend that evokes gospel traditions adapted to contemporary pop-soul arrangements. This is prominently featured in their 2020 single "Move," where the trio—comprising Loulou Lamotte's soprano leads, Ashleigh Haynes' mezzo support, and Dinah Yonas Manna's alto depth—creates interlocking lines that build dynamically from verse to chorus without instrumental dominance.[1][37] Vocal coaches have noted the precision in their pitch matching and breath control, enabling seamless transitions in multi-part sections recorded on March 7, 2020.[38] Ad-libs and improvised runs further distinguish their delivery, adding spontaneous emotional inflection; for instance, during live segments, members interject melismatic flourishes and shouts that heighten intensity, as observed in their Melodifestivalen performance on March 7, 2020, where such elements amplified the song's motivational theme.[36] Their a cappella proficiency, honed from prior backing roles, allows sustained unaccompanied passages in rehearsals and acoustic renditions of "Move," demonstrating blend stability and tonal purity absent in many amplified pop acts reliant on auto-tune or pre-recorded aids.[38][5] In live settings, The Mamas prioritize raw vocal projection over heavy production, performing with minimal amplification to highlight natural timbre and power, contrasting norms in mainstream pop where backing tracks often mask inconsistencies. Footage from unplugged television spots and Eurovision previews confirms their capability for full live execution, countering occasional skepticism about vocal authenticity in high-stakes broadcasts by evidencing consistent delivery without evident lip-syncing or overdub dependence.[39][37] The group's shared motherhood—Lamotte, Haynes, and Manna all being mothers—infuses performances with causal emotional depth, lending genuine conviction to themes of perseverance in "Move," as their real-life resilience translates to heightened expressiveness in phrasing and dynamics.[10][5]Discography
Extended plays
The Mamas released their debut extended play, Tomorrow Is Waiting, on September 25, 2020, via Universal Music, featuring a mix of group harmonies and individual member spotlights following their Eurovision performance of "Move".[40] The six-track EP emphasizes soulful pop and gospel influences, with production credits including Herman Gardarfve and Melanie Wehbe on select cuts.[41]| No. | Title | Lead artist(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Touch The Sky" | The Mamas | 3:00 |
| 2. | "You Got Me" | Loulou LaMotte feat. The Mamas | 3:28 |
| 3. | "Let It Be" | The Mamas | 3:06 |
| 4. | "The Lows" | Dinah Yonas Manna feat. The Mamas | 3:13 |
| 5. | "Whitney In The 80's" | Ash Haynes feat. The Mamas | 2:58 |
| 6. | "Tomorrow Is Waiting" | The Mamas | 3:12 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Sun Go Down" | 2:54 |
| 2. | "That's Ok" | 3:00 |
| 3. | "Let You Go" | 3:05 |
| 4–6. | Additional tracks (e.g., "Won't Let The Sun Go Down") | Varies |
Singles
The Mamas' primary singles include their breakthrough track "Move," released on February 22, 2020, written by Melanie Wehbe, Patrik Jean, and Herman Gardarfve.[49] The song secured victory in Melodifestivalen 2020 through decisive public televoting support, earning 131 points from the audience compared to 65 from the jury, narrowly topping Dotter by one overall point.[17] It debuted at number one on the Swedish Singles Chart, also topping Spotify and iTunes streams in Sweden.[50] In 2021, the group released "In the Middle" on February 27, written by Jimmy Jansson, Robin Stjernberg, and Emily Falvey.[51] Performed in Melodifestivalen 2021, it placed third in the final.[52] The track did not enter the main Swedish Singles Chart but received airplay and streaming attention tied to the competition. "Don't Kill the Groove," featuring Loulou Lamotte and released in October 2021, was written by Joy Deb, Linnéa Deb, Loulou Lamotte, and Pat Davidson.[53] It peaked at number five on the Swedish Heatseeker Chart.[54]| Title | Release date | Writer(s) | Peak (SWE) |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Move" | February 22, 2020 | Melanie Wehbe, Patrik Jean, Herman Gardarfve | 1[55][49][50] |
| "In the Middle" | February 27, 2021 | Jimmy Jansson, Robin Stjernberg, Emily Falvey | —[56][51] |
| "Don't Kill the Groove" (feat. Loulou Lamotte) | October 2021 | Joy Deb, Linnéa Deb, Loulou Lamotte, Pat Davidson | 5 (Heatseeker)[57][53][54] |