My nights out regularly take me to places where I meet faces with magical voices and intriguing instrumental skills. From beat-boxers to drum-beaters and sopranos to saxophone-playing songstresses - there is so much musical talent to be found, unsigned and unassuming, in London town.

So, I am introducing a new weekly addition to Big Smoke Soiree’s. It’s called ‘Brina’s Big Ups’. It will feature a talented musical individual or collective whom I have encountered in London on one of those lucky nights when the smoke clears and the light is bright. And who I think will be BIG.

The first of these bright lights is 22-year-old Deke Walker.

Deke Walker’s smooth, soulful vocals could lull you into a blissful sleep - if only they weren’t so good they made you want to stay awake to slide side to side and nod your head instead.
Fully deserving to be on the festival circuit this summer, Deke would bring a much-needed chill-out feeling to the frazzled and maybe some romance to the rained-on.

Deke has been doing the London performance circuit for only a short time but his efforts are already starting to see him be settled in at some of the capital’s most famous venues. The Jazz Café is one such venue that will soon be seduced by Deke’s delightful voice on Sunday 1st June.

If you are lucky enough to catch him there, or at any of the other dates below, you should save your Sunday prayers to ask that he performs ‘Her Name Was’ – a perfect chill-out track that takes the stress of the day far, far away. ‘Irresistible’ is another of Deke’s songs which is so catchy it has to be a hit of a summer sometime soon – preferably in a year when we get some good weather. This track promises to be a pre-party, drinks-in-the-sun smash. These tracks and many more can be heard on Deke Walker’s Official Myspace Page.

Deke Walker is an as yet unsigned artist, but those who have Soul-searched their way around the UK have justifiably taken his music very seriously indeed. His inclusion (as one of the most popular featured artists) on the Arist and Repertoire website has given him the opportunity to be one of the pioneers of unsigned UK Soul.

And it is an opportunity he takes very seriously. Speaking exclusively to Chic Today, Deke gave us an insight into his future plans:

‘I aspire to be a very successful UK R&B/Soul artist. I want people to know I am bringing back real music. So listen to my songs and let me know what you think. I love hearing back from people - it motivates me to do more and more good things.’

An artist with exceptional skill in the slow-tunes department, I can’t help thinking that if he had been born on the other side of the Atlantic, his friendly face would already be MTV-familiar.

It is this situation which has brought ‘Brina’s Big Ups’ to support and showcase UK talent. I aim to shine a spotlight on those who deserve to be heard in the place they call home. Our radio and TV programmes have been saturated with US artists for so many years, that we seem to have forgotten how good we can be at making music. Or we just aren’t putting enough faith in our power to demand that we hear more home-grown hits.

The US produces amazing artists – but our own amazements shouldn’t have to go stateside to get recognised. Would Estelle recently have got to Number 1 in the UK so easily without Kanye West? She surely deserved to, but I’m not sure the answer would be a ‘Hell, yeeeah’. Whilst we should be glad that these accomplished US artists and producers are taking an interest in our music, we should also be able to offer them more here to begin with. We might then be able to enjoy more of an equal partnership with the US industry.

UK Pop, Rock and Indie music have always enjoyed quite enthusiastic support – but the UK R&B, Soul and Hip-Hop scene – crudely grouped these days under the label ‘Urban’ along with Garage, Grime and Bassline – has been largely neglected. Deke has plenty to say about this:

‘I really don’t feel that the UK music industry supports R&B/Soul or Hip Hop artists and they do not get the credit they deserve. This is the reason why artists such as Floetry and Estelle have ventured to the US. Consequently UK talent within the UK goes unnoticed.

In the US they cater to all types of music whereas in the UK Pop and Indie music seems to be their only focus. I feel that the UK should follow in the same foot-steps as the US and once that happens they will realise how much talent they have wasted.’

Deke has his signature sultry voice, catchy gospel beats and instrumentals that take you to another place. He is also articulate and polite – with no sign of egotism tainting his soft speech. Let’s hope he pushes the door, that has so far been silently shut, wide open – for a new generation of music-makers.

Catch Deke Walker very soon on the following London dates:

May 1st
Notting Hill Blag Club
(Acoustic Set)

May 4th
Adlib @ Comedy Cafe
Shoreditch
(Live Band)

June 1st
Soul Lounge @ Jazz Cafe
Camden Town
(Live Band)

For more info on Deke Walker and to listen to his tracks, go to Myspace or Artist and Repertoire.

If you are an unsigned artist who would like to be featured on ‘Brina’s Big Ups’, please drop me an email at: sabrina@chictoday.com

Images courtesy of Deke Walker © Chloe Miller

Filed under: Big Smoke Soirees