A former University of Salford student has featured on a new music album sponsored by Ed Sheeran, rapping about his upbringing.
Musician and rapper, Benjamin Stacey, otherwise known as EVO, started his music career in East Belfast.
And has now featured on a new music album that was sponsored by Ed Sheeran, with the release of his own song “Without a Home”
A rap song that details his journey from his childhood to where he is now, to show his love and being in the ‘middle ground’ in Belfast.
Self-describing his upbringing as “untraditional” he turned to music after being inspired by Ed Sheeran, almost a decade ago.
He was inspired by his grandparents, and his love for the musician he travelled to Belfast airport to meet the global superstar.
Benjamin said: “I was a massive Ed Sheeran fan, and he came to Belfast, and I remember leaving school early to go meet him at the airport.
“I went to the airport, and was there for two hours, and I remember everyone getting very nervous. And he was able to give us five or ten minutes, I was able to sing in front of him and told he was a massive inspiration
“He was very humble, and told me to keep up my dreams and told me that everyone has got a chance to make it big, and that really inspired me and made me believe it was something I can too one day.”
And ten years later, Ed Sheeran returned to Belfast and visited Hotbox Studios – the studio that X is signed too.
“He came to the studios in Belfast, and met some friends, musicians and rappers. Unfortunately, I was able to be there that day but it was amazing.
“And from that Ed Sheeran said that Belfast was a big part of his musical journey and history, and started the Ed Sheeran foundation. And he picked that studio to be part of it.”
The goal of the foundation is to inspire and encourage areas with a strong music scene to have its voices heard, and this was the same for Belfast.
Benjamin continued: “Belfast is a very underrated music scene, so to have someone like Ed Sheeran come in and say he has been impacted by this.
“So, following that the owner of the studio, who is an amazing man wanted to make an album about all the hidden stories about Belfast and Northern Ireland that people don’t get to hear.”
And this was a big thing for Benjamin, as when he came over to England, to study Journalism at the University of Salford, he remember people hearing his accent and assuming he was Irish.
“People just assumed I was Irish, but people don’t understand the history and the struggles that exist in Northern Ireland, and that is what we wanted to create with this.”
But with the release of the album, it has inspired Benjamin to keep writing, and performing to become the best artist he can be, with one dream also in mind.
“The dream would be for him to listen to this, and one day perform it in front of him (Ed Sheeran) too. He has motivated me so much.”
The song comes apart of an album made up of 20 artists, called S.C.A.R.S – Stories Carved Among Real Stories
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