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23 | THE VOICE JUNE 28 - JULY 4, 2012
TO THE RESCUE
Pharrell defends Miley Cyrus
GODFATHER OF STONE
Fans petition for Wiley statue
JAHMENE DOUGLAS Gospel’s gent
24 ! THE VOICE OCTOBER 17 - 23, 2013
THE BEST OF BRITISH
In our penultimate Black History Month series, we list a small selection of British stars who have achieved great things during their time in the spotlight
TINIE TEMPAH:
The UK rapper released his first mixtape in 2005. His first album, Disc-Overy, debuted at No.1 in the UK and was preceded by two British No.1 singles. In February 2011, he won a Brit Award for Best British Breakthrough Act
LEONA LEWIS:
The singer first entered the limelight after winning The X Factor in 2006. Her debut album, Spirit, was released in 2007 and sold over eight million copies worldwide. The album's most successful single, Bleeding Love, reached No.1 in over 30 countries around the world
DIZZEE RASCAL:
The UK rapper began making music on the school's computer. His debut album, Boy In Da Corner, won him the 2003 Mercury Prize. Follow-up albums have been critically-acclaimed and certified gold, his last going platinum for sales exceeding 300,000 units in the UK
SHYSTIE:
The UK MC started gaining fame in 2003 with her label response to Dizzee Rascal’s hit I Luv U. She was later scooped up by Polydor. She is also the leading actress in successful MTV television series Dubplate Drama and a number of hit British films
TAIO CRUZ:
Cruz, who began writing songs when he was 15, achieved notoriety in 2005 when he was awarded a BRIT Award for co-writing Will Young’s single Your Game. His debut album Departure, which he wrote, arranged and produced, earned him a MOBO Award nomination
WRETCH 32:
Wretch was a member of grime collective Combination Chain Gang, before forming The Movement with Scorcher, Ghetts and Mercston. He had three top five songs from debut album Black and White and has amassed over a million record sales
CHIP:
SO SOLID CREW:
The pioneering garage collective achieved success in the early 2000s with a number of hits, including UK No.1 21 Seconds. They are generally credited with having paved the way for the current generation of crossover UK hip-hop stars
The British boyband, were runners-up of the fifth series of The X Factor. They then signed to Epic Records. Their first two singles, Beat Again and Everybody In Love, both went to No.1 on the UK chart. Their debut album has since sold over one million copies in the UK
ESTELLE:
The west London rapstress rose to prominence after her single American Boy, taken from her second album, shot to No.1 in the charts. After meeting US singer John Legend, Estelle signed a record deal with V2 and Atlantic Records and has been based in the US since
LABRINTH:
The Hackney-born star rose to prominence after the release of Tinie Tempah’s hit Pass Out, which he produced. He signed to Simon Cowell’s Syco Music, becoming Cowell’s first non-talent show signing in six years. Labrinth's first solo single Let The Sun Shine reached No.3 in the charts
JLS:
WILEY:
Wiley is known as the ‘godfather of grime’ because of his pioneering contribution to the UK grime scene. As well as producing a number of well-known singles, Wiley has himself released top 10 hits, including Wearing My Rolex, Never Be Your Woman and UK No.1 Heatwave
V V BROWN:
Brown was first offered a record deal when she was 14, but due to educational commitments she declined. Her debut album, Travelling The Light spawned the hit Shark In The Water. Her music has also been used in TV shows such as CSI, Sex In The City and Ugly Betty
The Scottish singer shot to public consciousness after featuring on Chip’s Diamond Rings. SandÊ released Heaven, her first solo single in 2011. She gained three No.1 singles across the UK with the debut album Read All About It
The north London rapper has successfully released five top 10 hits in the UK chart – Oopsy Daisy debuted at No.1. He released debut album, I Am Chipmunk in 2009, which charted at No.2. He has two MOBO awards and last year announced he had signed to American rapper T.I.'s Grand Hustle Records
EMELI SANDÉ:
ALEXANDRA BURKE:
Burke rose to fame after winning The X Factor in 2008. After the show, Burke released debut single, Hallelujah, which became the European record holder for single sales over a period of 24 hours, selling 105,000 in one day
MISHA B:
The singer rose to fame following her appearance on The X Factor. Her debut single Home Run reached No.11 on the charts, with the follow-up Do You Think Of Me reaching No.9. In 2012, she supported US rapper Nicki Minaj on the UK leg of her tour
KREPT AND KONAN:
The UK double act have put in a honest graft throughout their journey to the top, proudly standing at No.10 on the official UK album charts with Young Kingz - an impressive feat achieved without a record label or mainstream support. They have also been nominated for a MOBO Award
By Dami Fawehinmi
'DYLG 3HSUDK David Peprah, 18, from east London, achieved three A*s in biology, chemistry and maths at Sir George Monoux College. While studying, he mentored younger students in maths as well as assisting them with their university applications, and has just begun a degree in medicine at University College London (UCL). Speaking at a ceremony at the House of Commons, honouring Britain’s “outstanding� black students, he said: “Today has been
absolutely brilliant. I’m so thrilled to have won something. It’s really good to be able to get appreciated after you have had such a hard job. When others congratulate you, it encourages us to go from strength to strength.� The awards were founded by Labour MP Diane Abbott, who represents Hackney North and Stoke Newington and has for many years campaigned on the issue of poor attainment for black children in her constituency and beyond.
youngvoicesmagazine
@youngvoicesmag
OCTOBER 17 - 23, 2013 THE VOICE ! 25
www.voice-online.co.uk/entertainment
Former X Factor contestant Jahmene Douglas talks to YV’s Dionne Grant about spreading the gospel in the UK, topping the charts and performing at the MOBOs
“I
THINK a lot of people have an assumption of who I am when I’m someone completely different,” says X Factor runner-up Jahmene Douglas. And he’s right. Ahead of our interview, I was of the mindset that the 22-year-old singer, who lost out on lifting the X Factor trophy to fellow contestant James Arthur last year, would be one of three things; nervous, shy, or an amalgamation of both. After all, that’s how he came across on the popular ITV 1 talent show, right? “Right,” he replies in a way that tells me he’s none of the three. But at least his signature giggle, which follows his matter-of-
fact response, shows one of his much-loved traits remains. “Before I went on The X Factor, I had some reservations because I knew that you could be perceived a certain way,” he explains. “I turned into this nervous character who I wasn’t. And even the way I sang on the X Factor was completely different.” Under the mentorship of former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger, Jahmene secured a spot in the public’s affections with his bashful and nervous disposition and a pitch-defying voice, which had been seemingly touched by the heavens. It’s no surprise then, that he wants his voice - and acquired ‘celebridom’ - to be used as a platform to spread the Good News around the world, starting
with the UK. “I wasn’t allowed to do the gospel songs I wanted to do [on the show],” Jahmene, an avid Christian, reveals. “I only picked one song throughout my time on the show and that was Whitney Houston’s I Look To You. They were like, ‘this isn’t the gospel factor Jahmene,” he laughs. “If I did it all over again, I would definitely be more stern with my song choices.” Although his debut album Love Never Fails – a collection of reworked hits – shot to No.1 in the UK charts, Jahmene is keen for the world to hear his original material, which he promises will be deeply rooted in gospel and his faith. “I just feel as an artist, being original is one of the most
important things. When people are criticising you because you’ve done an album of covers, you’re like, ‘ok, I get it’. But with all the stuff I’m making now, I don’t care what people say because I know that it’s good.” Asked whether there is a big enough market for gospel in the UK, “humungous”, is Jahmene’s quick reply. He continues: “It’s quite upsetting when you’re speaking to record labels and they’re like, ‘the audience isn’t there’ when you know that [the church] Hillsong has a festival of 20,000 people every year. Plus, there are churches in every town. England is missing out” Citing influences from successful gospel duo Mary Mary and solo artists Yolanda Adams and CeCe Winans, Jahmene says it’s his mission to spread the gospel without being dictatorial. “CeCe Winans and Whitney Houston were doing ballads talking about love, but in a spiritual way rather than preaching to people because a lot of people don’t want to hear, ‘God this, God that’. They’ll switch off. I’m trying to do it in a way where they stay turned on and they’re listening to the lyrics and getting the Word in a different way - on the sly. They don’t know they’re getting it.” He adds: “For me, the plus side to fame is having a platform to influence people in a
positive way. So things like Women’s Aid [a domestic violence charity of which Jahmene is an Ambassador] is one of them.” Another plus side, must surely be the recognition? The singer was recently nominated for a Best Newcomer gong at the upcoming Music Of Black Origin Awards (MOBO), but he’s even modest about that. “I was shocked when I saw the list I was in because I just didn’t feel worthy enough to be in there. I haven’t got my original stuff yet. I haven’t done a sound that I want to do, I’ve done a sound that the record label have pushed. I just didn’t feel worthy enough to be up against [fellow nominees] Sam Smith and Shakka.” Still, the singer will take to the stage at the annual event on
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October 19 alongside Best Gospel nominees IDMC Choir for a show-stopping performance, a mixture of his muchloved genre alonsgide his current musical output. That’s got to provide some relief? “I’ve never worked with this choir before as I’ve been doing a lot of work with the London Gospel Community Choir (LGCC), but I think it’s going to be a good show,” he says. “You have R&B, you have rap, you have grime and the whole London sound. I’m trying to bring the gospel sound, hopefully it goes down well with the audience.” The MOBO Awards take place on October 19 at Glasgow’s brand-new SSE Hydro. For tickets, visit www.mobo.com For more information on Jahmene, visit www.jahmenedouglas.com
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BUFF 25 BUSTED?
Dear Kat,
I’ve been seeing an older woman for a while, but I’ve been keeping it from my friends and family because I know they won’t approve. She’s a great woman, but at 18, she’s 15 years older than me and has a child from a previous relationship – all the ingredients to make my parents flip. I met her through my older cousin, but even he doesn’t know what’s going on. The reason I’m writing to you is because things have gotten pretty serious between us, to the point where her son is calling me ‘dad’. I don’t mind at all, I love them both, but would be so much happier if my parents were involved. What’s the best way to tell them, if at all? Thanks, G
Hi G,
We can’t help who we fall in love with and this proves true in your case. Although your partner is 15 years older than you, in the eyes of the law, you’re considered an adult and therefore able to make your own decisions. What’s difficult is that in the eyes of your parents, you’ll always be their baby. They’ll always want to protect you. There is no easy way to tell them about your new relationship, as there are many factors they may have a problem with. Your only role will be to show them that you have thought long and hard about their concerns and believe you are able to make the commitment. Be prepared for some upset, but remain strong in the fact you’re doing this for the one you love. Maybe once you have broken the news to them, suggest that they meet your partner and her child, so they can ask her some questions too. It may help to alleviate their fears. Let me know how you get on.
BUFF
BUFF NICOLE SCH ERZINGER: Effortless!
TAMERA FO STER: Street chic
PHARRELL WILLIAMS:
LORNA SIMPSON:
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26 ! THE VOICE OCTOBER 17 - 23, 2013
BLACK HISTORY MONTH SPECIAL