A Basingstoke hip-hop artist is planning to put the town on the map after a recent run of success in music and talent competitions.
Andre Schuster from Buckskin, who sings under the name MCX, is hoping to win over judges at the live stages of Open Mic UK.
The 25-year-old singer will be performing on Sunday October 17 at the Princes Hall, Aldershot.
He reached the regional finals after impressing the judges in the 18 – 25 age category. He was then promoted to the live stages where he will perform in front of judges and a crowd.
Success at the event would put him through to the national finals, where he would perform before a crowd at the 02 Arena in London.
Andre told the Observer: “I listen to other artists who are at the top and I can't see why I can't be there too.
“Music has always been a hobby of mine and I want to take it to the highest stage I can.”
Andre is no stranger to performing live, regularly singing in bars and clubs in and around Basingstoke.
He has also taken his talent to a number of different shows, falling short of reaching the finals of Live and Unsigned on May 30 at Portsmouth's Guild Hall.
His music, which he says is closest to Kano or Kanye West, aims to appeal to a wide range of audience.
He said: “My music has lyrics that any walk of life can relate to, I touch on subjects that every one deals with at some point, from debt, taxes to relationships.
“They are intelligent lyrics and I try to sing them clearly so people can hear them and understand what I have to say.”
Andre performs by himself on stage using a backing track put together with other musicians.
He said he hopes his music will lead to him performing full time.
He said: “I don't get nervous before getting on stage. There is the odd butterfly just before you get on, but I love it when you get on and there is a buzz in the crowd.”
Andre will also be playing at King of the Mic in Bracknell on December 9.
For more information on Andre and his music visit www.my space.com/xtcxman.
