The Hosts
Your hosts are established South Yorkshire based rappers Coco, Seppy alongside our professional vocal coach Sarah Jay Hawley and last year’s winner Rumbi Tauro. Alongside our music industry mentors they will help shape and guide our contestants through the competition process using their knowledge, skills and experience.
Coco
Sheffield MC and producer Coco has been steadily championing the grime scene, with his unapologetic delivery, colourful character and undeniable energy earning plaudits from the likes of Complex, DJ Mag, Red Bull, Noisey, i-D and spins from AnnieMac, DJ Target, Charlie Sloth and more.
His top-tier calibre of releases has seen the MC collaborate with standout names including AJ Tracey, Nadia Rose, Scrufizzer, Conducta, Protojé, Shola Ama and fellow Steel City labelmate and mentor TODDLA T and deliver fast and furious sets across festival stages including Merky Fest, Glastonbury, Outlook, Ibiza Rocks, Lost and Found, Wireless, Bestival, Notting Hill and Manchester Carnival, The Great Escape, Nass, Kendal Calling and Royal Albert Hall.
@thecocouk
Seppy
Seppy is an Artist, songwriter, producer from Sheffield. He started his music journey making grime music with Coco in the collective “M3” (Musical Mentality Music) but ventured into R&B where he has always had a passion for melodies, soulful chords, and writing songs about life and love. Seppy combines beats that grab your attention, catchy melodic hooks and memorable punchlines that create a vibe that’s unmistakeable.
Seppy is part of the duo Deuxes which consists of him and J.Deux. The pair signed their first record deal with Higher Reign/Sony Music Canada in the summer of 2020 and have been working tirelessly on a catalogue of exciting records that they plan to release in 2021.
@justseppy
Rumbi Tauro
Rumbi Tauro is an R&B|Soul artist. Born in Zimbabwe and raised in Doncaster, music has always been second nature for Rumbi.
The singer-songwriter entered the scene with her debut EP ‘The Process’ during Summer, 2020. The Process is a soulful project- at times contemporary with hints of old school vibes. Tauro describes herself as the vessel for the individuals that at times may not know how to articulate their emotions. Rumbi prides herself in leaving no emotional stone unturned in her tracks.
In October 2020, Rumbi was featured on Jaguar's October 2020 BBC Introducing Hotlist of the top black artists to watch out for. Furthermore, BBC Introducing Sheffield's Christian Carlisle, listed Rumbi as one of the top 25 artists of 2020. During summer 2021, the artist was graced with the opportunity to perform at Sheffield’s Tramlines Festival & Wakefield’s Long Division Festival.
Rumbi has continued to release more music which has caught the attention of BBC Radio 1Xtra, interviews with BBC Radio 5 & BBC Radio Sheffield.
@rumbitauro
Sarah Jay Hawley
Sarah Jays diverse musical career spans over thirty years. She has written/performed and recorded in many styles and for other artists and toured extensively. Her voice and songs have been heard by millions, notably on Massive Attacks’ Platinum selling album Mezzanine. Her collaboration - ‘Dissolved Girl’ - woke ‘Neo’ at the beginning of ‘The Matrix’- and was re mixed for the hit TV show ‘Westworld’.
Her new ‘gig theatre’ show ‘Zen, Drugs + Rock ‘n’ Roll’, recently sold out the Crucible Theatre Sheffield and will be touring next year.
Sarah has also been a vocal, performance skills and song writing coach for over twenty years and is a qualified yoga teacher.
Sarah Jay loves bringing the best out of creative people and is excited to bring all her passion, expertise and experience into this exciting project.