Letter from Asia | Future Talent

Asia, Vocalist & Songwriter, 17:.

"I can’t express with words how much I appreciate everything you have done for me and the effects and opportunity that Future Talent has presented to me over the last three years. Especially recently – my life has changed and will never be the same.

My music obsession started one Christmas, when my dad gave me a keyboard. At first, I taught myself through online videos. Then I was lucky to get a scholarship at The Rhythm Studio, and now I am on a BRIT music course. I play the piano and guitar, I sing, and I am a songwriter too.

Writing a song is something I love to do. But over the last year things have been really different. Before, I would practise with my friends and collaborate, but doing it over the internet is a lot harder. For example, we don’t all have equipment at home, which we took for granted. But thanks to Future Talent, I was able to get a digital keyboard and can hone my craft. This is a lovely way that Future Talent has helped me through this pandemic.

I also get incredible opportunities like workshops at the Royal Academy of Music and meet amazing musicians. I’d never met jazz or classical musicians, and I learnt a lot from them. Recently, we did a mentoring session online and that was really beneficial. I was in a rut, doing the same thing every day, with the same routine, and after hearing my mentor’s journey through the industry, it was inspirational.

I haven’t come across anyone else who does what Future Talent does. Future Talent doesn’t just help musicians; they are a community and family. You get face-to-face interaction with other experienced musicians, workshops and performance opportunities. They want me and help me to grow, as a musician and a person. It’s nice to know, especially in this pandemic, that they are always there, not just to give money and set up events, but also to say ‘we want to know how you are and what is happening in your life’.

Future Talent changes lives. You can see the children it helps and the good it is doing, with mental and physical wellbeing from music. These are the musicians of the future. If Future Talent disappeared tomorrow, that would be very negative. Without them I couldn’t afford my lovely teacher George or do my Grade 6 or 8 in Musical Theatre, and I wouldn’t be working on my Grade 8 singing now. You don’t think about these things now, but in the future, it would be a huge hinderance. I would be pigeonholed, in a little cage, with only my words, and my words can only get me so far.

Future Talent is more important now than ever. Music lifts people’s souls and spirits up, especially when life is changing. The world would be a very different and much sadder place without music. Music never dies, it never gets old, it will always be there, and it’s a great way for people to express themselves creatively and in a productive way.

Thank you, you guys have actually changed my life. There is no going around it, Future Talent has changed my life for the better."

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