Meet Trinidad and Tobago-born UK Open Mic performer Uh-Keel:

Hi Uh-Keel, thanks for joining us! Let’s get into it:

Do you play solo only, or also in a group?

Solo

How old are you?

36

Where were you born?

Trinidad and Tobago.

Where did you grow up?

Trinidad and Tobago.

How did that place influence your music? (if at all!)

Calypso music was born in Trinidad and Tobago and we merged sounds from our East Indian influence into something called Soca. This is the foundation of my singing.

Where are you based now, and why?

London – I left my friends and family at home because it was not safe for me. Back home, being gay means hiding who you are by pretending to be someone you are not. If not, you will die.

What got you into making music in the first place?

Both sides of my family are musically inclined so it was inevitable. My first on stage solo performance was at 4 years old.

What instrument/s do you play?

Singing
Guitar
Guitar

Who would be in your top 10 musical influences, and why?

Amy Winehouse
Freddie Mercury
Whitney Houston
Billie Eillish
Clay

Do you write your own songs?

Yes

How many years have you been writing songs for?

0

What process, or processes, do you often find yourself using when you write songs?

I’ve barely finished the first two I have attempted.

How long have you been playing open mic nights?

0

Why did you get into playing them in the first place?

After I got to the UK and was gifted a guitar, it felt like the natural thing to do so that I could get more experience.

What advice would you give new performers who are just starting out playing their first open mics?

Take your time, and enjoy doing what you do.

What’s the most bizarre, or fun, open mic, or gig, you’ve ever played, and why?

I’ve only been to two Open Mic nights before, but I used to sing with a band back home called Amantes de Parranda. We would play at a special event every year in the Neighborhood of Paramin. The genre of music performed at the event was “Parang”, a type of music that fuses the traditional Venezuelan sound with the likes of our own Soca music. This event usually had a huge turnout and the energy would be buzzing. Performing at Paramin has been the most exciting thing about my performance career this far.

If it’s not already, are you hoping to make music your full-time career?

Yes

What do you currently find the hardest and biggest obstacles to moving your music career forward?

Access to information.

What’s the one truth about you that people often find surprising?

That I much rather be socially isolated.

What’s the most exciting project you’re working on at the moment?

Myself

Where is the main place should people go to find out more about you?

https://www.instagram.com/uhkeelinlondon?igsh=cGg4ajNoc2ZrZzV2

We’re done! Anything else you want to share before we go?

No thanks!