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Hi, I'm Frankie Vu, and welcome to NCS Spotlight.
A national tour of the UK shining a light on young people who are putting their names on the map...
...doing what they love and are making a real difference.
Before starting this tour I didn't know much about NCS or about the people that get to take part.
So this is a great chance for me to find out how it's changed your lives...
...even if it's just a little bit.
So far we've chilled with surfers in the south...
...and how we're on route to meet one of Nottingham's finest young musicians.
We'll also be chatting to local NCS grad...
...and hearing from a midlands based rapper.
And as I'm sure you're aware, I'm not the only one on this tour.
The lovely Patricia is here.
I'm going to be visiting Tanika who is an amazing volunteer here in her local community.
You'll be able to see my video on the NCS YouTube channel. NCS Yes.
Fantastic. Watch that video!
So I've had a look around, seen some of the sights and now I'm joined by an inspirational girl with mad skills.
It's Isata. How you doing?
I'm doing well thank you.
Right, so let's start at the very beginning. How did it begin for you?
Ahh my parents just suggested that I have piano lessons as I already played the recorder.
So at the age of six I got started with a local teacher in Nottingham and it escalated from there.
What are you thinking about when you're playing?
I just focus on the music because I don't want to, you know worry about all the audience watching me, and the stage lighting and everything...
...so I just loose myself in my pieces.
Do you ever get scared or intimidated by a big audience?
Just before I go on I do get quite nervous. But once I've you know started playing and got into it it's normally fine.
Do you have any career highlights so far?
I've been in a few competitions; I've won Nottingham Young Musician of the year.
And you've played at some amazing places and huge venues.
How did that feel?
Well when I was playing at places like the Wigmore Hall in London, or Nottingham Albert Hall.
It was quite a thrill to be in such a big hall and have so many people wanting to listen to me play.
What was it like to play on ITV's Born to shine?
It was amazing, it was lovely to be on the TV for the first time...
...and it was a really great experience to meet all those people.
Do you find that music is a good escape from your everyday life?
I do actually. If I'm angry or stressed or something, it's great to just bury myself in the piano for a few hours.
I mean I do it a lot so I'm used to it, but it's also a great escape.
So what's your ultimate life story then? If you could do absolutely anything what would it be?
I would love to be a top professional pianist.
You know travelling the world and playing in all the big venues like Carnegie Hall or Royal Albert Hall in London.
And playing in the top orchestras like London symphony orchestra.
You know all of that I would love to do throughout my life.
It looks like you are going the right way about it!
Hopefully!
Classical music isn't seen as something that's as particularly trendy among young people.
What would you say to people who want to follow their dreams that aren't seen as cool.
My friends are supportive of it. And I think classical music is actually becoming a bit more acceptable now.
I think more young people are going to concerts so I would just say go for it.
Always follow your dreams.
Wow! Some truly inspirational stuff from Isata there and now...
...we are one of the highest and possibly windiest points in Nottingham...
...to speak to someone else who knows about hard work paying off.
Its Chelsea, how are you doing Chelsea?
I'm doing ok thank you.
Right the first question I want to ask you is...
What's it like being on NCS? How did you feel like to begin with?
I was scared, well actually I was really really scared...
...because obviously its new surroundings and its new people, new friends.
I had to get used to the fact that I'm going to have to meet new people whether I like it or not...
...and in the end I thought yeah this is great actually.
I've seen a lot of videos of the NCS experience, but is it really like that or is it quite different?
The videos might show what you do, but they don't show how you feel when you come away from it.
Its pretty life changing, like when you do it your like oh no...
...oh its just going to be a summer program you don't think you'll get much from it.
And then you leave you're like who knew that like 10 days could change your life so much.
So what's your plan going forward have you got anything in the pipe line?
I am setting up my own social action project. Which is called Project Paul.
We are going to set up a soup kitchen for the homeless.
And the whole right, the whole reason it's called Project Paul is because recently...
...like, I lost a family member that meant a lot to a lot of people.
So he was homeless for several years, so we decided that we would dedicate it to him...
...and try and make him proud of us, and then hopefully as soon as the soup kitchen, like starts to raise a bit of money, as we are trying to...
I'll try and get some sponsors. Then I'll use that to help people with mental illnesses...
...as he suffered from schizophrenia as well.
Wow, that is so inspiring!
Chelsea thank you so much for joining us, and for sharing your story.
So Isata is proudly reping the classical music scene...
...but my next guests shows the variety of musical talent on display in the Midlands.
It's Mr Jay Swarve.
Baboombaboom baby move it to the beat! Baboombaboom baby move it to the beat!
How are you doing Jay?
I'm good thank you. How are you?
I am good as well. So let me just ask you, how did it all start?
To be honest I've been writing for ages, like since I was younger...
...because I always heard my older cousins doing tunes and that, and I thought
Let me do it, but I just put some tunes out on sound cloud.
- And yeah got some love and then never looked back. - Nice
So do you remember your "Yes" moment.
Was there a time when you weren't sure about it and you just thought...
...Yes! I'm going to go for it I'm going to push the rapping?
My first song. I just thought, when I started getting love, I just thought yeah...
...let me just do this and see how it goes you know what I mean.
So, Yeah really from the first song, you know what I mean.
What's the big plan then? What's the dream for you?
I want to start my own label and help other artists to be honest...
...like the younger people around me man, but yeah, definitely.
Well Jay thank you so much for joining us. I can't wait to hear your stuff.
That's about all we got time for here in Nottingham.
In the next episode, we'll be heading to a place, that's famous for towers rides and sticks of Rock.
I wonder where that could be?!
Join us next time on NCS spotlight and don't forget to subscribe to the NCS YouTube channel NCSYes.
Love you! Bye!
"I was like turn it up, because I need music never turn it off.
I earnt my buzz, artists hate, but I learnt to not. Take notice when nobody's heard of them.
Aint trying to catch a case but get burned off. But its hard these days trying to search a job.
Financial plans got to earn the grub. Escape told me, not I'm learning her.
So I'm out on a raise on an early one. In the studio trying to make hits.
Cos I feel like the whole world owes me one. Because I've been making bangers for years.
Shout out to all my family and peers, you'll all get a slice of my cake when I'm rich.
The whole time I'm in the studio now because its non-stop now I just want to make it!
Ohohoh yeah.
Shout to the team, shout to Frankie, shout to Patricia.
NCS Spotlight, we're here.
Ohhoho yeah.
Yo, lets do this."