Rising star Sekou Sylla raised the roof of Ashby’s Venture Theatre last night, ahead of the release of his debut single ‘Better Man’.
The talented teen, who is currently based in London, travelled back to Ashby in order to put on two special performances for residents in his beloved hometown.
Tickets for the gigs sold out in seconds, with many keen to see Sekou live before he drops his debut single ‘Better Man’ on May 12, and launches his music into the world.
Sekou is currently sitting on the cusp of stardom, thanks to his deep, soulful vocals, which have already earned him legions of fans.
Since going viral on TikTok back in 2021, his musical career has been going from strength to strength, and he has been busy writing and recording down in London.
He signed a deal with ‘Good Soldier Records’ – home to well known artists including The 1975, Freya Ridings and Biffy Clyro, and since then, has notched up a string of enviable achievements – a Glastonbury performance, celebrity fans and a chance to sing at Brooklyn Beckham’s wedding last year after being handpicked by the star.
Addressing the crowd on Wednesday (April 26), Sekou, 18, said: “Hopefully right now you’re witnessing something that could be very legendary and incredible.
“It’s so important for me to play in Ashby and to be here tonight. Obviously I was born and raised here, and I may never get this opportunity to do this again in my hometown. Whatever happens, thank you for allowing me the opportunity to do that.
“I left Ashby at the end of GCSE year, and knew that I wanted to get into music and make it into a career. I was always posting covers on Instagram and everyone was saying negative things – they would bully me in school and say things like ‘why are you doing this, you’re never going to get anywhere.’ A year later, I got a record deal…
“To be able to move to London and hopefully do something huge in music, I’m very grateful.”
Since moving away to London, Sekou has been writing with artists who have worked with artists like Adele, Sam Smith, Amy Winehouse and Whitney Houston – one of the teen’s ultimate idols. Other musical heroes include Miles Davis and Otis Redding.
As part of his set, he performed a cover of Stevie Wonder’s ‘Superstition,’ rousing the crowd with a spirited and soulful rendition.
Sekou also performed a mix of ballads and up-tempo numbers from his upcoming EP, including the lead single ‘Better Man’- a powerful, soul stirring ballad which shows off his impeccable tone and timbre.
Sekou urged the crowd to pre-save the track ahead of its release, as he begins his campaign to get it into the UK charts when it drops on May 12.
To do so, visit: https://link.fans/sekou-better-man?fbclid=PAAaa7Vww3fD4EgWLOq1oV4IGF5SSSe4Zldf9HjM0VteRPn2lQE75uH5WAlXI
By Louise Steel
