Major Lazer’s sound just gained a new energy and it comes in the form of America Foster. The London-born, Jamaican-rooted artist is Major Lazer’s first-ever female vocalist, and she wears that title with pride, humour, and a deep sense of purpose. Her debut on ‘Gyalgebra’ – a riotous, women-led mixtape full of energy, profanity, softness, and swagger shows her moving effortlessly between fun, rebellion, and femininity.
The 28-year old British-Jamaican artist sees this moment as the sum of years of small steps. “There’s a combination to it,” she says. “Manifestation, dedication, and knowing yourself.” She learned early on to trust her instincts, experiment, and refine her voice. “When I first started, my freestyles were very literal. I would just rhyme about whatever was around me,” she says. Over time, she found her rhythm, a raspy, playful style she calls her “Red Ratesque energy.”
A few viral clips caught Diplo’s attention, and that quickly turned into a connection. Not long after, Foster found herself in a whirlwind 36-hour studio session in Jamaica with Major Lazer. Tracks like ‘GOAT’ started coming together, and by June, she made her live debut with the group at Paris’ Fête de la Musique. It was later announced on Instagram that she was officially part of Major Lazer. After that, it’s been a full speed ahead.
Clash caught up with America to discuss her journey, joining Major Lazer, the making of ‘Gyalgebra’ and what’s next for the soundsystem crew.
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Looking back at your journey, how do you feel about everything that’s led you to this point?
Step by step. Every little step I’ve made and taken has brought me to where I’m standing today. I’ve really had to digest both the highs and the lows of life, because without the lows, you wouldn’t be able to experience or appreciate the highs, and vice versa.
I’m grateful for every single thing that has led me here, whether it was positive or negative. When I say positive or negative, I mean how it made me feel at the time. But ultimately, all of it has been positive because it brought me here.
My life has finally changed. It’s finally become the dream I’ve always seen inside my head. Now it’s about processing that, really sitting in this new space, understanding everything that’s brought me here, and then amplifying it to get to the next level.
You’ve said your name is a gift from your mum. How does it feel carrying that name on a global stage?
It feels like she’s with me, honestly. I’m going to keep using the word grateful because that’s exactly how I feel. Gratitude has been part of the method of how I’ve gotten here. I feel like I have my mum is with me everywhere I go. She gave me this name, and it feels like she knew something that no one else did. None of my siblings have a name like mine, and I’m the only one without a middle name. It feels intentional.
Maybe it was subconscious. I don’t even know how conscious she was when she named me but I get to travel the world with this name. I genuinely feel that “Mama, we made it” energy. Not just I made it, we made it. The day she passed, it felt like she jumped inside of me and said, “Okay, cool. How are we going to do this? How are we going to absolutely boss and dominate life?”
You’ve talked about growing up in a big family with mostly boys. What did that environment teach you?
It wasn’t easy at all. It was constant competition. You had to be correct when you spoke or you might as well shut up. It gave me a bit of perfectionism. I can’t show anyone my work until it reaches a level where I feel good about it. And even then, sometimes I still need to sit with it for a bit longer before I know others will really mess with it.
If I showed my brothers something too early, they’d be like, “What the hell is this?” They are my biggest critics.
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You have both Jamaican and British influences. How do those perspectives shape your music and identity?
Musically and identity-wise, there’s definitely a bit of rebellion in me. Especially in the sound I’m creating right now. A lot of the slack talking, the swearing, the profanity, that’s not really celebrated by elders in the Jamaican community. And it’s probably the same in African communities too. They’ll say, “Why do you have to speak like this? You’re a lady, speak nicely.”
So when I’m swearing or talking very explicitly, they’re like, “Why do you have to say that?” But I’m just expressing myself. I’m expressing with no filter. Right now, I’m just having fun. That’s the main creative energy behind the music I’m making with Major Lazer right now: real, girly fun. I’ll play with lyricism more later. Right now, I want to show people that I’m multifaceted. I can’t be boxed in.
Some days I’m serious. Some days I’m sophisticated. Some days I’m sexy. Some days I’m thuggy. Some days I’m gangster. Sometimes I’m straight patois, sometimes it’s something else. It just depends on the day. Right now, I’m in a fun era shaking my ears and enjoying myself.
This project feels very different from what people might expect. How intentional was that?
Very intentional. The project is everywhere, and I love that people can feel the fun in it. There are so many unique features. It’s literally oozing girl power.
That’s why we called it ‘GyalGebra’. It’s the addition of all these women on one mixtape, plus Major Lazer. It was an explosion of femininity.
You started out doing playful freestyles and even voice acting. When did you realise music was a serious path for you?
The first proper recording session I ever had. When I heard my vocals back, they weren’t as strong as they are now, and I wasn’t as confident playing with my voice. But I could hear where it could go. Anything I do, I want to do properly and to the best of my ability. That recording wasn’t ready to be packaged and sold yet, so I kept it.
Now, I feel like my sound is more settled within myself. My voice feels more palatable, more resonant. Sonically, it feels like the right vibration and pitch. I’m having fun right now. I think a certain character within me has come to the surface and that’s the one leading the music at the moment. It’s almost like a Red Ratesque energy. That raspy, peppery tone is not even my natural voice. I’m just having fun with it.
When Diplo first reached out to you, what was going through your mind?
I literally asked my friends to pinch me physically because I felt like I was dreaming. Everything was happening so fast. Every day, there was a new celebrity in my DMs or notifications. People whose names I’d known my whole life. I was like, “How do you know who I am? Why are you on my page?”
After the first four or five times, the shock started to wear off and it became part of my everyday life, which was wild. But I try to remind myself not to let it feel too normal.
Just yesterday, this was a dream. I want every day to still feel brand new because it is.
You flew to Jamaica and recorded several tracks which sounds very intense. What was that experience like emotionally and creatively?
Emotionally, I was all over the place. I’m my biggest critic aside from my brothers and imposter syndrome was hitting me hard.
But I kept reminding myself: there’s a reason you’re here. There’s a reason you’re being flown to Jamaica, a reason you’re in this studio. Don’t get so stuck in your head that it stops you from creating something special. Once I arrived, I instantly felt welcomed. I felt like I was meant to be there.
What was the energy like once you arrived?
We just cracked on. The synergy was there literally from the first day. Synergy is one of my favourite words, alongside gratitude.
From the jump, me and Walshy were cracking jokes. Some of it wasn’t even about making music. It was more like, how do we get on as people? I think that was something they were paying more attention to than I was.
I was very focused on, I was like I need to make music they’re going to like. I was definitely overwhelmed, but I managed to control it and get through it.
How long were you there for that first session?
I only had 36 hours, and then I had to fly back to London to get ready for my next job in England. It was crazy, fast-paced, and intense. Looking back, I would never have thought it was only 36 hours. We packed so much into that time.
The first night I arrived, we went to a party. The next day, we were in the studio pretty much the whole day from around midday until past midnight. We even did a yoga session in the morning. Then the next day, before flying back to England, it was like, why not get back in the studio for two hours?
Is that when ‘GOAT’ started coming together?
Yeah. ‘GOAT’ started right then. I had about 15 to 20 minutes before I had to leave for the airport.
The beat was being produced, the intro was being scratched out, and I jumped on the mic really quickly. I honestly can’t even remember exactly what I put down first because it was so fast. Something went down, very quickly, and then I literally had to leave the property and go straight to the airport. That’s how quickly it started. From there, we developed it, tightened it up, and shaped it into what it became.
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Going from a regular job into this world so quickly. Did it ever feel overwhelming?
Honestly, No. Like I said, every step got me here. There’s a combination to it. I haven’t fully cracked the equation yet but manifestation, dedication, and knowing yourself are major parts of it.
I’ve manifested this from a young age. Everything I’ve done has been with being on stage in mind: dancing, performance, vocals. Singing wasn’t even something I initially saw for myself, but it all led here. Knowing yourself is also about not being delusional. If I’m not good at something, I’ll be honest with myself. If something needs work, I’ll work on it.
How did your freestyling evolve over time?
When I first started, my freestyles were very literal. I’d just rhyme about whatever was around me. Now it’s different. I can pull from my brain, my memories, and other people’s stories. It’s just growth. Everything has happened for a reason. I even have it tattooed on me in Tibetan calligraphy. I truly believe nothing happens by accident.
How has the reception been since the project came out?
The reception has been ridiculous. The crowd’s energy is beautiful. Major Lazer fans are amazing. I can’t even lie. They’re fantastic.
You’re officially the first female vocalist for Major Lazer. How does that feel?
Oh my gosh, listen. If I could wear a medal every day that says First Lady, I would wear it with pride. I’m even thinking about getting outfits made with “First Lady” incorporated into them. I’m really enjoying that title. It’s fucking amazing.
Major Lazer has worked with so many female artists over the years, but to be gifted this opportunity to be the First Lady is ridiculous. I’m incredibly grateful.
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Correct me if I am wrong but ‘Bruk Down’ started as a freestyle, right?
Yeah, actually, all of my songs start as freestyles. There’s always an element of freestyling that we then build from.
For ‘Bruk down’, the hook was freestyled. I record everything on my phone. I have over a thousand voice memos. Once I heard it back, I knew it sounded sick sonically, so I laid it down properly.
How did SadBoi and Parris Goebel get involved?
Originally, ‘Bruk Down’ was meant to be a solo track. The first verse I did wasn’t strong enough. It was a throwaway verse just to catch the vibe.
Diplo told me he wanted to bring other artists on it. When he said SadBoi, I didn’t even clock who it was at first. Same with Parris. I didn’t realise it was Paris Goebel until later. When I heard their vocals, I restarted my verse completely. SadBoi’s verse especially, it had this ethereal, sexy attitude that inspired me to step it up.
Do you have a favourite track on the mixtape?
I’m biased, I don’t care… but ‘Peppa Pot’ is my favourite. It gets me hype every single time. I also love ‘Guayando’, but it’s a guilty pleasure because the beat changed last minute. It’s darker, eerie almost horror-movie energy. I love that contrast. It’s sexy and dark.
What was it like having your own solo tracks on the project?
Having ‘Peppa Pot’ and ‘Pendulum’ felt like a stamp. Like, okay, I’m really part of this. I’m the vocalist. Peppa Pot is one of my favourite songs I’ve ever made. I even have an unreleased track that sits right next to it creatively
Do you have a favourite memory from making the mixtape?
Two, actually. One was hilarious. we were live-streaming. Diplo played a pitched-down instrumental, and I freestyled for four minutes straight. Everyone was crying with laughter. We have it recorded from multiple angles.
The second was really wholesome. We went moonlight rafting in Jamaica as a bonding moment. No music, just us connecting as humans under the moon. That moment stays with me.
What message do you hope young Black women, especially in the Caribbean, take from your journey?
Be yourself authentically. Don’t let anyone push you into a lane that doesn’t feel right. You can respect tradition, ancestry, and culture while still being honest about who you are. Take your time. Don’t rush decisions out of desperation. I was homeless last year. I had money put on the table, but I waited because not everything good-looking is good for you long-term. Know yourself. Be graceful. Be kind to yourself and others.
Looking ahead, what can people expect from your live shows next year?
Expect Major Lazer but with more. Because I’m here now.If you’ve never been to a Major Lazer show, 2026 is the year. Ultra, Bonnaroo, Coachella and more to come. We’re going to fuck it up. Major Lazer style.
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‘Gyalgebra’ is out now.
Words: Temiloluwa Adeyemo
Photo Credit: Julian Burgueño
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