Durham/Kings Lynn based Soham De was selected as a semi-finalist but failed to make the finals by iconic guitar brand Fender, who have been scouring the nation to find the UK’s best unsigned acoustic singer-songwriters.

• Soham De is a 20 year old singer-songwriter who has performed over 200 times in the two years he’s been pursuing music
• Soham, who wrote his first song at 10 years old, puts emphasis on connecting with the audience through his performances and wants to play music that will mean something to people
• Now studying at university, Soham still finds time to write and tour and has started making a name for himself amongst his contemporaries including recently being longlisted for Glastonbury Festival’s Emerging Talent Competition in 2017
• The Fender Undiscovered Artist of the Year Competition aims to discover the UK’s best acoustic singer-songwriter who will be voted for by judges and the public
• The winner will be crowned Undiscovered Artist of the Year 2017, and will be supporting Lucy Rose at the 02 Shepherd’s Bush Empire

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It’s always fantastic to interview someone from our county who is doing so well! You come from Kings Lynn but currently at Durham University? 

Haha thank you! Yeah, I’ve lived in King’s Lynn for 18 years but have been spending the last few in Durham 🙂

 

When did you first start playing live? How did it feel? 

I did my first gig when I was 15 but it was only really to get a feel for things, I occasionally played after but not at all seriously or with any purpose. I started pursuing music properly in September 2015, a month before I started Uni. The first time I performed I was nearly sick and incredibly nervous before, during and after.  

Your songs are beautiful and are full of real emotion – how old were you when you wrote your first song? 

Thank you! I was about 10 when I wrote my first song, I just remember really enjoying the idea of creating something and expressing it through singing and playing. Since then through, it’s been about developing that initial love to something that’s more ‘me’ and to something that’s done as best as it can be. 

How does it feel to be recognised when you are out and about? 

Ah I don’t really get recognised! Although there was this one time I was just switching trains in London and someone recognised me who was form Exeter – that was pretty cool to know people were listening around the UK and what not! 

What do your fans have to look forward to in the next year? 

I’ve been developing my songwriting a lot this past year and there’s some music I’m very proud of and can’t wait to release!

Thank you Soham, we wish you all the very best for the future

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Interview By Alex Wiseman
Interview Conducted By: Emilee Senchyna (www.markettiers.com)

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If you would like to find out who wins the Fender Undiscovered Artist of the Year, you can by watching the livestream below, which will go live tomorrow