SOUNDS FROM THE WORLD | Sekou (UK)

It’s no news that Britain’s full of hidden musical gems, but you’re not going to want to sleep on the one I have to introduce you to today: Sekou. 

Hailing from Central England and now based in London, the 19-year-old has been making waves in the UK for the past year or so, already playing stages such as the infamous Glastonbury Festival or even the BBC Introducing stage.

At his young age, Sekou already has a very peculiar idea of the direction he wants his artistry to take and an undeniable vocal prowess. The singer offers a deeply soulful sound, drawing inspiration from the likes of Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, or Stevie Wonder. The Ashby native isn’t afraid of digging into his emotions to offer a raw perspective on love, compassion and all other aspects of life.

His debut project, ‘Out Of Mind’ was released in June 2023 and served as a perfect introduction to Sekou’s force of character. The EP indeed offered a peek at the artist’s vocal control, technique, and range as well as a glimpse at his upbringing, heavily influenced by the gospel music he would hear at church.

A rising force among the up and coming soul scene, Sekou is already followed by over 184 thousand people on TikTok, where he started posting piano-voice acoustic covers when he was only 16 years old. It’s no wonder he was the youngest person to ever earn a Rising Star nomination at the BRIT Awards this year.

One thing’s for sure, we cannot wait to see where 2024 takes the young artist. Following the release of his latest single ‘Crying’, Sekou will be embarking on a tour across Europe with Reneé Rapp starting February 13. 

You might want to be there for it, I know I will be!