Best Day Ever for teen Coulsdon singer (From Surrey Comet)

Coulsdon hip hop artist wins music competition

9:30am Tuesday 31st January 2012 in Music By Nick Hitchens

A teenager who began writing songs aged eight has been crowned champion of a national singing competition.

Shak Forbes, 16, from Coulsdon, is celebrating after judges including Radio 1 DJ Annie Nightingale, singer Shola Ama and journalists from publications such as Flavour and Future Music elected him Open Mic UK champion.

Performing Mac Miller’s Best Day Ever with a back-up choir at London O2 arena on January 21, Shak, who studies at Central Sussex College, defeated 90 rivals to take the prize and a chance to take up a recording contract.

He said: “Normally I’m very self critical and I was unhappy after every round, even though I made it through. After the final I felt pleased for the first time but I never thought I’d actually win. It is amazing.”

Shak, who is studying philosophy and politics, as well as a B-Tech in music, had virtually no performing experience when he signed up to compete in August last year.

He said: “I was looking to start doing pubs and my mum saw the advert for Open Mic UK and said why not give it a go.”

The rapper has been taken aback by his success but is keeping his feet on the ground.

He said: “I want to finish college first but I would like to be a hip hop artist. It’s only been a week so I don’t want to rush into anything - it doesn’t seem real.”