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Luton-born singer-songwriter Myles Smith has been crowned BBC Introducing’s Artist of the Year, following a year of unprecedented success. With a charting single, over one billion streams, and a performance at Glastonbury under his belt, the 26-year-old said that he has far exceeded his own expectations. Despite his success, Myles said that he’ll never take his opportunity to share his music with the world for granted. Speaking to BBC Newsbeat from Montreal, Myles said that this year has taught him that expectations are something we use for comfort, but they’re rarely what we imagine they’ll be.
Myles’ breakout hit, “Stargazing”, has achieved worldwide acclaim since it was released. The song has gone platinum, been played over a billion times, and even made it onto former US President Barack Obama’s summer playlist. Talking about the song’s origins, Myles said he created it in just 15 minutes. “I just wanted to write something that was simple, but something that we all experience and feel at some point in life. I feel like doing that resonated with so many more people”, he explained.
Myles also acknowledges TikTok’s key role in promoting music, especially for upcoming artists like himself. His viral acoustic rendition of The Neighbourhood’s Sweater Weather was posted during the coronavirus lockdowns in 2020. When asked about TikTok’s influence, Myles said that it actually offered him more artistic freedom. He said that artists have complete control over how they market themselves on social media and see the platform as an opportunity to achieve global reach.
Despite his success, Myles remains aware of the financial challenges faced by many artists while touring, particularly in North America. And, he feels that small venues and grassroots scenes have struggled after the COVID-19 pandemic. Myles thinks that moving forward, conversations about support for musicians and valuing the arts should be of top priority. Looking ahead, Myles is determined to continue making music he loves, and has even been confirmed as the support act for Ed Sheeran in 2025
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