Faraway Look

Yola (born Yolanda Quartey) is a singer-songwriter from Bristol, England. She had a difficult start, bought up in poverty by an unsupportive parent who banned music. Quartey started her musical career as the lead singer of the country and soul band Phantom Limb, who released three albums between 2012 and 2018. After they disbanded, she sang backup for a number of artists, including Massive Attack and Iggy Azalea, and was the chief vocalist on dance hits by DJ Fresh ("Believer"), Sub Focus ("Turn Back Time") and Duke Dumont ("Won't Look Back"). Quartey came to the attention of Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys, who signed her to his Easy Eye Sound label. "Faraway Look" was recorded for her debut album, Walk Through Fire.

Here, Yola recounts some of her experiences when people doubted her talents while she was still trying to find her footing as a female artist. That faraway look in your eyes It's getting harder to disguise "'Faraway Look' makes me think of a time in my life where I was encouraged to stay in my lane and be thankful for my lot, which it led to a lot of inner reflection," Yola explained. "The people around me at the time, especially those in the music industry, were discouraging to say the least. In a world that questions a woman's every objection as well as every ambition, the faraway look is king."

Yola received four nominations at the 62nd Grammy Awards: "Faraway Look" for Best American Roots Performance and Best American Roots Song, Walk Through Fire for Best Americana Album and the singer herself in the all-genre Best New Artist category.