Shooting to fame following his video duetting with Jessie J going viral, Tom Bleasby then went on to take part in The X Factor, but dropped out when he realised the show wasn't for him.
Tom Bleasby
Still chasing a career in music, he's since performed live with Jessie J on The Ellen Show, supporting Jason Derulo at Smulefest and much more. We caught up with Tom to see how he was doing and what we should expect in the future...
You shot to fame when your Smule video went viral, duetting with Jessie J - how did it feel at the time knowing so many people were really digging your performance?
My initial reaction was uncontrolled excitement. I'd never really had recognition for my singing prior to that video going viral, and it made me feel so good. I'm also my own worst critic, so I wasn't really digging the performance myself... But I was thrilled that others were.
All of a sudden famous people were recognising my singing; Ellen, Lil Wayne, Ashton Kutcher and Perez Hilton all posted the video. I couldn't believe it!
For those who don't know Smule, can you explain just a little bit about it?
Smule is an interactive and collaborative singing app. It allows you to duet with other singers all over the world on your favourite songs, making high quality recordings on your mobile.
The duet with Jessie was pre-recorded on her part, but she's now a big fan and the pair of you duetted on The Ellen Show - what was that experience like?
I was so nervous. I was flown out to Los Angeles under the impression I was just being interviewed and singing alone. I rehearsed alone, and was feeling comfortable. After my interview, suddenly she walks out and surprises me. My heart was beating faster and my mouth started to dry up. It was such a magical moment in my life. Looking back it is quite surreal. Jessie was extremely kind to me and took me to dinner, a true class act.
You also took part in The X Factor but decided to drop out despite being a success on the show - why did you make that decision?
Mainly stress with the show. It's very high pressure and full on at all times. My priorities definitely changed whilst on the show. I became more interested in making actual music than dealing with reality TV.
You've just been at Smulefest 2016 - what's that been like?
Incredible. Once again I was blessed with an amazing career opportunity to support Jason Derulo. I met him, and he was a very genuine guy.
What should we expect from you in the coming months this year?
Expect more performances around the world, the release of my debut single and my continued charity work.
Do you have any definitive aims or goals for your career?
I'd love to win a Grammy and duet with Celine Dion.
Why Celine?
I met her in Las Vegas in January. She's my idol and inspiration. Singing with her would be a dream come true. She's such an icon.