Singer from Luton wins Rising Star award at the Brits
Myles Smith says having recognition so early on in his career feels "incredible."
Brits Rising Star award winner Myles Smith has said having recognition so early on in his career feels "incredible".
He follows in the footsteps of the likes of Florence And The Machine and Adele in receiving the Rising Star award at the Brits.
The 26-year-old singer was also nominated at the Brit Awards for best new artist, best pop act and song of the year for hit single 'Stargazing'.
He was announced last year as the Brits Rising Star winner and follows in the footsteps of Florence And The Machine, The Last Dinner Party and Adele in receiving the accolade, which is given to the artist the music academy believes will have the biggest impact in the coming year.
Speaking ahead of Saturday's (1st March) ceremony, he told the PA news agency: "It feels incredible, for me, such a new artist, being able to have the recognition so early on, it's been really reassuring.
"But also just a nice feeling to know you're going in the right direction. So for me, it's like a big tick to go OK, we're moving the right way."
He added: "I definitely think it's such a difficult time for artists, especially ones discovering themselves, because everything's so fast-paced, and the expectation put on artists to know who they are, what they want to sound like and where they want to go, is incredibly difficult.
"And so just slowing things down, putting in the right infrastructure, and helping support growth and development behind the scenes is what I think needs to happen more for sure."
He then urged the Government, companies that own venues, and music executives to "stick with artists" and help save grassroots venues in his acceptance speech.
The singer from Luton, who already has two top-10 singles in the UK chart, said: "I was raised by a single mum on free school meals in a state school that only had instruments because of government-backed schemes.
"I grew up in a town that, according to loads of clickbait articles, is the worst town in Luton.
"But yet I'm somehow here, a four-time Brit nominee, a graduate from a Russell Group university...
"But tonight, whilst I have the attention of the nation and this award, which gives me kind of like this really cool speaking power, I want to ask three questions.
"My first is to the Government: if British music is one of the most powerful cultural exports we have, why have you treated it like an afterthought for so many years?
"How many more venues need to close? How many more music programmes need to be cut before we realise that we can't just celebrate success, you have to protect the foundations that make it?
"My second is to the biggest venues in the country and around the world: If artists selling out your arenas and your stadiums started in grassroots venues, what are you doing to keep them alive?
"And my third, to the industry, to the execs in the room, and to the people behind the scenes: Are we building careers or are we just chasing moments?
"Because moments fade and careers take time, so please stick with artists past their first viral hit, please stick with artists past their first tour, because it really matters to us and moments, they fade, but careers last forever."