A singer-songwriter once voted by her sixth form as the most likely to headline the Latitude Festival is one step closer to her dream as she prepares to take the stage at this year’s event.
Alice-Lily, 22, from Rackheath, near Norwich, is learning to juggle her music career while being a fourth-year medicine student, spending any spare time performing or collaborating with other artists.
Tens of thousands of music fans , near Southwold, Suffolk, for the festival, headlined by Sting, Snow Patrol and Fatboy Slim, from 24 to 27 July.
Alice-Lily said: “It’s our local festival so to be able to say that I’m playing it is such an amazing privilege and honour.”
She said she was in disbelief when BBC Radio Suffolk’s Angelle Joseph surprised her with the news that she had been chosen to play the Faber Alt. & BBC Introducing Stage on Saturday.
“In my sixth form year book we had this little section talking about ‘who’s most likely to’,” she said.
“The thing I was put forward for was ‘most likely to headline Latitude’, so I’m saying I’m one step closer. It really means a lot.
“I grew up in a very musical household. Both my parents sing and for as long as I can remember I have been immersed in music.”
Linda Nnene, Alice-Lily’s mum, says her daughter has music in her soul [Qays Najm/BBC]
However, her earliest musical memory is from the age of two.
“I like to say my singing journey started back in nursery. I was the shining star in the nativity story and I sang all the verses of Silent Night… it sort of started back then and it’s been a progression.”
She says her music draws on her Christian faith and influences including Jorja Smith and James Morrison.
Her proud mum, Linda Nnene, said her daughter had the support of the whole family.
“Be it the successes, the challenges, the joys or anything with regard to music, we are always beside her, behind her and spurring her on,” she said.
“Music is in her soul and in her heart and she came to us and we weren’t surprised when she said she wanted to do it going forward.”
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