Her debut track “Hard to Love Somebody” got the attention of a publisher, who eventually passed it on to rapper Nas. After hearing the track, Nas approached Arlissa to feature on it. “Hard to Love Somebody” was chosen as Scott Mills’ record of the week on BBC Radio 1 in November 2012. Arlissa was named as one of the BBC’s one to watch for 2013, when she made the longlist for the Sound of 2013.

Her first official single “Sticks & Stones” was released on 3 March 2013, and was described as a ‘stomping break-up anthem’ and ‘a fierce pop song’. The song peaked at number 48 in the UK Singles Chart. In 2017, Nelly Furtado covered “Sticks and Stones” for her sixth studio album The Ride.

In January 2018, she collaborated with British DJ/producer Jonas Blue on an EDM version of her song “Hearts Ain’t Gonna Lie”. She was picked in March 2018 as Elvis Duran’s Artist of the Month, and was featured on NBC’s Today show hosted by Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford, broadcast nationally in the United States on 21 March 2018 where Arlissa performed a live acoustic version of her single.

In January 2020, Arlissa confirmed the title of her debut album, The Broken Hearted.