Faya (duo)

Lore & Background

FYA originally had three members: Kezia (Kizzy) Bennett, Tenza Foster and Emma Nhamburo. Nhamburo, originally from Harare in Zimbabwe, and Foster, from Montego Bay in Jamaica, met Bennett and formed FYA in Slough. They were discovered performing at a Slough youth centre and released their debut single, "Boops '03"—a cover of "Boops (Here to Go)" by Sly and Robbie—in November 2003.

After the release of "Boops '03", FYA were signed to Def Jam Recordings. Their second single, "Must Be Love", was released in March 2004 and featured guest vocals from Smujji. It peaked at No. 13 on the UK Singles Chart and was licensed to more than fifteen countries. The single's strength led to FYA being featured alongside acts such as Franz Ferdinand and Natasha Bedingfield as part of a BBC Radio 1 series on new British music.

A third single, "Too Hot", was released in July 2004 but peaked at No. 49 on the UK Singles Chart. The band were subsequently dropped by Def Jam and released their debut album, For Your Attention, through the label Jamdown in 2005. The album was also released in Japan by Toshiba EMI. A second album, Feel the Heat, was released by Universal Music in 2007, with the track "Season on Fire" taken as a single. After Bennett left the group, Foster and Nhamburo continued to perform together under the name Faya, and are currently based in West London.

Reader's Guide

Faya (formerly FYA) represent a brief but notable moment in early 2000s British R&B, achieving their greatest success with the single "Must Be Love" in 2004. The group's journey from a Slough youth centre to a major-label deal with Def Jam Recordings illustrates the potential for grassroots discovery in the UK music scene. Their debut album For Your Attention earned gold certification in Japan, highlighting international appeal beyond their home market. Though their commercial peak was short-lived—"Must Be Love" remains their only top-20 UK single—the duo's persistence through label changes and member departure demonstrates resilience. Their inclusion in a BBC Radio 1 series alongside Franz Ferdinand and Natasha Bedingfield underscores their role in showcasing new British music at the time. The group's later work as a duo under the name Faya, releasing a second album in 2007, shows an evolution from their original trio formation. Their legacy is primarily tied to the enduring popularity of "Must Be Love" and the gold-certified album in Japan.

Did You Know?

• FYA originally stood for 'For Your Attention'.
• 'Must Be Love' was licensed to more than fifteen countries.
• The group's debut album For Your Attention was released in Japan by Toshiba EMI.