by      

Jen Squires

Emerging singer Chynna Lewis is taking center stage with the release of her debut single "Mind and Soul."

The lush, simply enamoring track is premiering today on Variance and it's the culmination of years of hard work behind the scenes. Born in Taiwan, the Lewis' family moved to Canada when she was 10, opening the doors to her discovery of a love for singing with soul and R&B records, pointing to influence from the likes of Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder.

"I wrote 'Mind and Soul' about a friend that I fell in love with in my mid-twenties," says Lewis of the new song. "We were 'in the grey' and I didn’t know where he stood with the relationship, so I was afraid to tell him that I wanted more than just a casual fling. Finally, I got the courage to call him and tell him how I felt. I was scared of getting hurt, but I felt empowered by taking my life into my own hands and asking for what I wanted."

The new single officially arrives Friday (Feb. 28), and it follows the singer's previous time in the industry, singing backup for the likes of Ed Sheeran and Jessie Reyez. Now, she's finally taking the spotlight herself.

Hear "Mind and Soul" below and stay tuned for her debut EP, expected later this year.