Shakka wants to win a MOBO to thank his mum for funding his piano lessons.
The 27-year-old singer, songwriter and producer – who featured on Wretch 32’s ‘Blackout’ hit – has been nominated in the Best R&B/Soul Act category at this year’s MOBO Awards.
Shakka – full name Shakka Philip – will forever be thankful to his mother for paying for him to learn the instrument and igniting his musical dreams and if he wins a gong he will dedicate it to her.
Speaking to BANG Showbiz at the announcement of the MOBO Awards nominations at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London on Wednesday (21.09.16), Shakka said: "If I did win I’d be able to come home and say ‘Mum, thank you for the investment in my craft and for paying for piano lessons.’ My mum just wants to make sure I’m covering rent but aside from that she wants to know that I’m happy and enjoying doing what I’m doing so when she sees stuff like that she knows it isn’t like I’m just trotting along or just doing things for the sake of doing it – she can see I have a passion for it and she can also see that I was worth it."
Shakka took piano lessons for several years and the tuition cost his mum a "small fortune".
He added: "The invoices are still in my folder. But she was more than happy to – she’d do it 10 times over."
Shakka also opened up on what music he listens to, and although he is a fan of lots of other urban artists his guilty pleasure American pop superstar Katy Perry.
He said: "I batter Katy Perry’s album – ‘Prism’ is sick. ‘Teenage Dream: The Complete Collection’ is also sick; ‘California Gurls’ and ‘International Smile’ I batter those songs, because I’m a fan. Her writing is very tongue in cheek and Dr. Luke as a producer and as a writer does the same thing. When I hear it I get cool bits from the production which influences my own stuff."
Kano and Laura Mvula lead the way in nominations at the 2016 MOBO Awards with each artist being listed in four categories each.
Shakka wants to win a MOBO for his mum
