Over the last couple of years, the UK has provided us with a steady stream of talented artists that have taken over the American airwaves- Labrinth, born Timothy McKenzie, is no different.
Although relatively new to the masses, Labrinth was raised, along with his nine siblings, in a musical family rooted in the sounds of American gospel music. Labrinth explained how Gospel music impacted him in an interview with BluesandSoul.com, he explained:
A lot of people don’t realize is that gospel in itself incorporates so many different STYLES. Like blues, jazz and a lot of those genres all started from gospel originally. So when you see and hear first-hand the way gospel actually is, it kind of inspires you subconsciously to go TOWARDS those different directions. You know, I don’t SEE categories, I don’t SEE styles – l see them all gelled TOGETHER. And it was gospel that definitely helped me to DO that… Plus seeing my brother and loads of other musicians worshipping God while playing instruments when I was younger I think also helped me understand ENERGY, and how to really AFFECT people musically. Because of course in a church what you’re seeing is musicians actually affecting people alongside worshipping – which to me is music at the very height of its POWER… So yeah, as a producer I feel I did learn a lot from the church in terms of how to affect people through my songs.
His family’s musical background became the foundation of his musical prowess. At just 13, he began producing beats in his brother’s studio and soon after began creating music for others. In fact, his producing and songwriting served as the launching pad for his career.
He originally signed on with Simon Cowell‘s Syco Music as a producer but ended being signed as a solo act, one of the few acts of Cowell’s not based from a talent search TV show.
Check out some of his music below, including his first number one single Beneath Your Beautiful from his debut album Electronic Earth which was released back in 2012. His second album Take Me to the Truth is set to be released in October 2015, it features two hit songs Jealous and Let It Be.
Do you think Labrinth has a future in music?
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#Forward20: Labrinth, Another Big Talent from Across the Pond was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
