Mapei (musician)

Mapei

Mapei at Way Out West in Gothenburg, Sweden, August 2014
Background information
Birth name Jacqueline Mapei Cummings
Born (1983-12-20) December 20, 1983
Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Origin Stockholm, Sweden
Genres Indie pop, hip hop, hip hop soul
Years active 2009–present
Labels Downtown Records
Associated acts Major Lazer

Jacqueline Mapei Cummings (born December 20, 1983), known by her stage name Mapei, is a Swedish-American recording artist best known for her single "Don't Wait," which was released via Downtown Records in 2013. Her debut EP, The Cocoa Butter Diaries, was released in 2009 also via Downtown Records. Her debut album, Hey Hey, was released September 23, 2014.

History

Early life

Mapei was born in Providence, Rhode Island, but moved before she turned ten years old.[1] She began splitting her time between America and Sweden after her Liberian mother and Swedish stepfather moved to Stockholm, living in Stockholm during the school year and returning to America for the summers.[2] She moved to Brooklyn at age eighteen, working as a bartender in a Swedish restaurant in New York's Chinatown neighborhood.[2] She stayed for three years, taking in the local scene and even living with Lykke Li for a period before deciding to return to Sweden and immerse herself in Stockholm's pop scene.[3]

The Cocoa Butter Diaries (2009–2012)

Mapei released her debut EP as a rapper on Downtown Records in 2009. After the release of The Cocoa Butter Diaries, Mapei began work on her debut album with French electronic duo Justice.[4][5] However, she was not happy with the final result, and decided to scrap the record. After realizing that she was hitting a wall creatively, she came to the conclusion that she wanted to start singing, telling W: "I was just out there freestyling without writing any songs ... I needed to find some inspiration."[1] She spent the following years traveling, which led to extend stays in Tunisia, Portugal, and Brazil.[1] After a particularly inspiring stint in Brazil, she decided to return to Stockholm and began working with producer Magnus Lidehäll.[2]

"Don't Wait" and Hey Hey (2013–present)

"Don't Wait" premiered on the website of influential magazine The Fader in October 2013.[6] The track went viral immediately, repeatedly reaching #1 on the Hype Machine charts.[4] It received universally positive reviews, with W declaring the song a "devilishly crafted piece of pop perfection" and Vogue praising it for possessing "catchy pop sensibility without falling into the trap of soft-edged lyricism."[1][7]

The song was remixed by a number of high-profile producers, including a very popular edit by Australian DJ Brynny, and others from Frankie Knuckles, Kingdom, and Giraffage.[2][8][9] A version featuring Chance the Rapper was released in March 2014.[10] A remix EP and a video for the original version of "Don't Wait" were released on April 1, 2014.[11] The song debuted on the Billboard Hot Dance Club chart in May 2014 at number 48.[12] The song also charted in UK's and Italy's Airplay Charts at number 173 and 88 respectively.

Mapei's released her second single "Change" on June 10, 2014, followed by "Believe" on August 18.[13][14] Her debut album Hey Hey was released September 23, 2014 and debuted at #29 on the Heatseeker chart.[15][16] Mapei performed "Don't Wait" on the Late Show With David Letterman on November 6, 2014.[17] She has cited Radiohead, Donna Summer, Irene Cara, Diana Ross, Missy Elliott, Brandy, Queens of the Stone Age, and Michael Jackson as influences.[4][18][19]

Discography

Albums

Year Album Peak positions
SWE
[20]		 US Heat
[16]
2014 Hey Hey 35 29

EPs

Singles

Year Single Peak chart positions Album
BEL
[21]		 NED
[22]		 UK
[23]		 US Club
[24]
2013 "Don't Wait" 43 88 117 27 Hey Hey
2014 "Change" — — — —
"Believe" — — — —

Appearances

"Mary Jane" (2009) – Major Lazer

"Cardiac Arrest" (2010) – Teddybears

Music videos

Title Year Director(s)
"Don't Wait" 2014 Dori Oskowitz[11]
"Change" 2014 Philippe Grenade & Jarret Egan

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Thale, Taea (November 21, 2013). "Don't Wait For Mapei". W Magazine. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Brown, Jacob (February 26, 2014). "With a New Remix of Mapei's Hit Single "Don't Wait," the Countdown to Her Summer Release Begins". Vogue. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  3. ↑ "What's Next For Mapei, The Swedish Singer/Rapper Who Made One Of The Catchiest Indie Songs Of The Year". Pigeons & Planes. November 29, 2013. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 Zafar, Aylin (November 27, 2013). "Meet Mapei, The Singer Out To Reinvent Modern Soul". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  5. ↑ Street, Kai. "Justice - Heads". The French Shuffle. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  6. ↑ Zeichner, Naomi (October 3, 2013). "Stream: Mapei, "Don’t Wait"". The Fader. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  7. ↑ Brown, Jacob (November 19, 2013). "Vogue Radio: Our Song-a-Day Playlist for Fall". Vogue. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  8. ↑ Dixon, Floyd (April 23, 2014). "Mapei: Don't Wait Frankie Knuckles/Eric Kuppers Director's Cut Club Mix". Lazer Magazine. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  9. ↑ Beauchemin, Molly (November 5, 2013). "Mapei: "Don't Wait" / "Don't Wait" [Kingdom remix]". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  10. ↑ Ortiz, Edwin (March 11, 2014). "Mapei Grabs Chance The Rapper for the Remix of Her Sweeping Love Tune "Don't Wait"". Complex. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  11. 1 2 Gordon, Jeremy (April 1, 2014). "Mapei Shares "Don't Wait" Video, Releases EP With Chance the Rapper Remix". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  12. ↑ Trust, Gary (May 12, 2014). "Chart Highlights: Trey Songz Tops Rhythmic Songs With 'Na Na'". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  13. ↑ Hambro, Maya (June 11, 2014). "Mapei announces debut album Hey Hey, streams new track "Change"". The Line Of Best Fit. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  14. ↑ "Believe by Mapei on Soundcloud". Soundcloud. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  15. ↑ "New Mix: The New Pornographers, Mapei, Moon Hooch And More". NPR Music. National Public Radio. June 10, 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  16. 1 2 "Heatseeker Albums: Oct 11, 2014". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  17. ↑ Stern, Bradley (November 7, 2014). "Mapei Performs "Don’t Wait" On ‘Late Show With David Letterman’: Watch". Idolator (website). Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  18. ↑ Lamphier, Jason (February 11, 2014). "The Young and the Restless: Mapei". Out. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  19. ↑ Sheppard, Ferrari (June 10, 2014). "Interview: Mapei’s Only Constant Is Change". The Fader. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  20. ↑ "Mapei discography". swedishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  21. ↑ "Mapei - Don't Wait". Ultratop. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  22. ↑ dutchcharts.nl: Mapei discography
  23. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 236. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  24. ↑ "Dance Club Songs: July 19, 2014". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
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