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Teenage MC Crowned Open Mic UK Winner
A sixteen year-old MC from Coulsdon has been named as the winner of the national Open Mic UK competition at The O2 in London!
Shak was crowned champion in front of a capacity crowd in the Indigo2 on Saturday night taking home a recording and development contract. His own take on Mac Miller’s Best Day Ever won over the judges making him the winner of the 16 and Under category and the overall winner.
The sixteen year-old A-level student admits it still hasn’t sunk in; ‘I’m still shocked. I hoped I’d win but didn’t expect it. I woke up on Sunday and thought “what happened last night”, I still couldn’t believe it’!
Shak has now won a management contract with investment towards a single release and a comprehensive consultation package including social marketing, image and brand with Future Music.
The judging panel for the Grand Final included names such as Radio 1's Annie Nightingale, Pete Cunnah, Shola Ama, BGM’s Michael King, Chris Grayston from Future Music and E Plus from Choice FM. Also picked by them as winners were Sham from Brixton who won the 17-22 category, and Sheena McHugh from Coalville who took home the 23’s and over title.
Shak studies Politics and Philosophy and a BTEC in Music at Central Sussex Haywards Heath, but his life took a big twist when he was announced winner of the prestigious Open Mic UK at The O2. Other previous winners include Birdy who has enjoyed chart success at the age of just 15, and Hatty Keane who has gone on to support the likes of Ed Sheeran, Wretch 32 and Tinchy Stryder since her success a year ago.
The towering performer, who stands at 6’6”, says the Open Mic UK competition has transformed him as an act; ‘It’s been amazing. At each stage of the competition I didn’t expect to go through, but I’ve improved at each show. The experience has helped my confidence no end, now I want to be an artist, I want to work in music and perform, and it’s all I want to do.’
For more information on Shak follow him on Twitter @ShakWeef – or check out his music on his YouTube channel YaBoiShak.
More than 9,000 acts signed up to Open Mic UK this year and Shak has proved himself to be best of the lot. For your chance to play at The O2 and win next year’s competition, enter now at link.