Aqyila is a name you need to know. The ultra-talented R&B singer/songwriter has garnered rave reviews and a large following for her velvety tone, heartfelt songwriting, and magnetic aura.

A native of Toronto, Ontario, and a JUNO Award winner, she first came to prominence after going viral on social media for her incredible renditions of popular songs. In 2021, she released her first single, “Vibe for Me (Bob for Me),” which had 10 million streams worldwide and she was named ambassador for TikTok #RnBmonth in November 2022. Her 2023 debut EP, For the Better, received critical acclaim for her blended R&B, pop, and soul musicality. She followed up in 2024 with “Bloom,” and is preparing to release her new project, Falling Into Place. Keeping her momentum going, she was included in InStyle’s 25 Musicians of 2025 and Complex’s 15 R&B Artists" to Watch in 2025.

“I remember being five or six years old, watching American Idol when Fantasia won. I was in awe of her vocal abilities and enjoyed her journey. You could just tell she had a love for music and I was like, ‘Whoa, that's so cool to be a singer,” Aqyila told BET. “Also, I listened to a lot of Whitney Houston and I'd run around the house trying to imitate her. Whenever I hear Whitney Houston, I do get semi-emotional because she was a heavy part of my childhood.”

“When I was in the fifth grade at a talent show, I had written a song for my mom titled “Mama” and she loved it. It was acapella. When I think about it now, just to go up there and be like, 'Yep, this is what I'm showcasing.' And the crowd loved it. Ever since then, I've been just songwriting.”

Another aspect of Aqyila’s artistry is her fluidity with various styles and sounds, which was sparked by her upbringing in Toronto. According to her perspective, “a good artist should have a vast knowledge of different genres.”

“Toronto is a mix of many different backgrounds and different sounds so that has helped to inspire my music. It’s a melting pot of different vibes even down to my friend group and it's just so cool. There's a lot of Caribbean influence and a lot of music here, and I'm Jamaican as well,” she explained. “That plays a factor in my music.”

Taking to social media to share her gift of song, Aqyila talked about the experience of going viral.

“I started on YouTube by posting covers and then I jumped on Kik. Then I was on Vine, and Twitter where I had my first viral moment. I did a mashup of “Work” by Rihanna, a PARTYNEXTDOOR song, and a Bryson Tiller song. After I put it on Twitter, everything changed. All these labels were reaching out to me at the time but I was finishing my exams in high school, so didn't even engage in any of those conversations. But I remember the Fader wrote about me and Party retweeted me. It was a big moment for me,” she recalled.

Currently touring with Pink Sweat$, Aqyila is excited about the release of her new single “Wolf,” which has been well-received by her fans.

“I'm very excited that my new song “Wolf” is coming out soon. This one is so cool because it is like the play on the boy who cried wolf,” Aqyila said. “You cried wolf too many times and I see through it now. Really fun to kind of sing about that because we’ve all experienced a person who isn't who they say they are. You can't fool me again.”

"The reception has been amazing. All the people that were coming up to me during the meet and greet were like, ‘Wolf was so good.'” she continued.  “I think people are gonna enjoy that track a lot. “Wolf” is going to be a fun one.”

Performing in front of her hometown was a full-circle moment for Aqyila, who shared that it was an incredible experience.

“Going across the States is so cool to realize how my songs connect with people. Recently, I did my hometown show in Toronto, and that was amazing,” Aqyila said. “That was the first time I've ever gotten the whole  flashlights, people waving their phones,  everybody stood up moment. I've never experienced that before. And it was just so beautiful.”

As a vocalist and songwriter, Aqyila says her growth has been undeniable, and she is excited to explore her talents.

"I feel like vocally, as I've gotten older, I've gotten able to, like, you know, do so many more things with my voice, especially after Hello, I realized how much I do enjoy vocal layering and harmonies and all those things. So I feel like there's a blend of that on the album, which I'm very proud of, because, like, a lot of the times I'm in the studio, it's me being like, Okay, I want to add this. I want to add this, and let me try these notes and just feeling super creative with the music." 

With her new album Falling Into Place out now, Aqyila feels like her career is coming together.

“I feel like so many big things are happening at once, but it's all blessings and steps in the right direction.  I do feel like there are so many moving parts that are allowing me to grow and try new things and not be afraid to try new things as well,” she said. “Although things are moving fast, I'm still enjoying the moments as they come. I'm filming things to capture it in the moment so I could look back at it and be like, ‘Oh my gosh, I was there.’ Things are ramping up and going by faster than last year. But I know it's all going to be fun.”