Musicians perform their hits giving a boost to training scheme and inspiring 16-24-year-olds

BY TARA O’CONNOR
toby@slpmedia.co.uk

Some of London’s biggest names in chart music performed their greatest hits to give a boost to a training scheme for young people.

Ray BLK, from Catford, was one of the big acts in a one-off concert at the Printworks in Rotherhithe to inspire 16-24-year-olds to shape their future, including job hunting during a pandemic.

The live streamed concert, hosted by Peckham’s Yinka Bokinni, featured Ghetts, Young T and Bugsey and IAMBBD, who also shared their career stories, motivational tips and networking advice.

Apprentice Nation, which has brought together some of the most acclaimed artists on the UK music scene, aims to cut through the noise and inspire the participants.

The show launches a series of interactive webinars over the next six weeks, featuring music artists, leaders and young people, talking about how best to build a career.

Each artist also gave viewers the inside track on their personal career highs and lows to help inspire people to pursue their passions, and not to let setbacks and struggles at school hold them back.

Young T & Bugsey, with three BRIT nominations, performed Don’t Rush, which has had 760 million views on TikTok.

Bugsey said: “When growing up and at secondary school I didn’t know much about apprenticeships. Not until I went to college, and even then I had to search for it.

“The information wasn’t just slapped bang in front of me. It’s good to have things like Apprentice Nation – they’re someone you can actually go to and seek help and advice. It’s not just music, but even if you do want to go into music, there are so many things in music you can do that some people are not even privy to.”

BBC Sound of The Year 2017 winner and Catford native Ray BLK performed her smash hit singles Love Sick and My Hood, a collaboration with Stormzy, about her home area.

She said: “I never let my surroundings and my circumstances hold me back. I think it’s very easy to doubt and feel like it’s impossible to reach your goals when everyone around you isn’t doing that or you don’t even see yourself represented. But I always try and never let my surroundings dictate my future.”

Manchester singer and songwriter IAMDDB, whose urban jazz hit Shade had 40 millions views on TikTok, performed Wa’hum and Pause.

She said: “Be grateful for everything that didn’t go to plan, because it’s gonna grow you, your character, your depth of plan and don’t be afraid when people decline you or your music or your artistry.

“It’s just another chance for you to figure out the right way to do things. People at the top have failed numerous times. Failing is just another way of understanding how not to do it so you get closer to mastering your craft.”

Grime pioneer Ghetts, from Plaistow, performed new tunes Hop Out and Fire & Brimstone. He said: “My advice would be to believe in your individuality – there’s a powerful source in that alone.

“It can feel very strange when you’re young and you don’t fit in to the status quo of ‘what’s cool’. That can feel very frightening – but that’s also a powerful place to be and you just don’t know it yet. It’s people like that that normally change the world. They create a whole new way of dressing or talking, or way to spit and sing, you know what I’m saying?”

The interactive content over the next six weeks features more than 20 on demand videos and webinars, all featuring the artists from the live show.

Participants on Apprentice Nation’s skills hub earn while they learn, gaining credits which can be exchanged for rewards provided by supporting partner BT England Football Shirts, Beats headphones – and even an online hangout with one of the artists from the show.

Apprentice Nation targets people from historically under-represented backgrounds who are often hard to reach, to have the strongest social impact. It aims to inspire 16 to 24-year-olds at a critical time in their lives as they leave school and enter the job market to help shape their future and gain valuable skills.

To access the skills Hub for new Apprentice Nation content go to https://apprenticenation.co.uk/skills-hub/

For more information on Apprentice Nation’s programme and how you can unlock rewards including access to mentors from Apprentice Nation as well as supporting partner BT, visit apprenticenation.co.uk/join

The concert is at https://apprenticenation.co.uk/liveshow/