Record Store Day and Sound Performance asked us at So Young to join the judging panel for this years #RSDUnsigned Competition with the winner having their music pressed to vinyl by Sound Performance. The votes are in and we are proud to announce that the winning artist of the #RSDUnsigned competition 2020 is Sister Cookie!
The competition is now in its third year and gives artists a chance to have their music pressed to vinyl and distributed around the UK’s record shops. We were joined in the panel by Frank and Dean (Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes), Ashli Todd (Owner of Spillers Records) and Chris Marksberry (Managing Director of Sound Performance) all of whom joined us in voting for Sister Cookie.
The competition was fierce and we’d like to pass on our congratulations to the rest of the finalists. You can see the results below.
1st – Sister Cookie
2nd – The Flitz
3rd – Green Gardens
4th – Robin Adams
5th – Mystic Peach
Record Store Day caught up with Sister Cookie following the decision to get her reaction to the good news and find out a little more on what’s to come.
How does it feel to know you’re going to have 500 copies of your music pressed to vinyl?
To be honest with you, I was shocked when I found out I was on the shortlist. When I got a phone call from Sound Performance saying my entry was picked to be the winner, I was genuinely quite overwhelmed. In a good way!
Tell us a bit more about you as an artist? Where are you from? How long have you been making music?
I was born in Lagos, Nigeria and I live in London now. I’ve been involved in music, on and off, for about 15 years. I am a singer-songwriter and a self-taught pianist. My music comes from lots of places and my soul belongs to jazz, the blues and rock ‘n roll.
Are there other artists/ bands that have inspired you to get to where you are today?
So many. Among my inspirations are Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Sam Cooke, Hank Williams, Little Richard, Mahalia Jackson, La Vern Baker, Howlin’ Wolf, Nina Simone, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Willie Mae Thornton, Etta James, Aretha Franklin, Vivaldi, Bobby Darin, Fats Waller, Max Roach, I could go on…
Are there any record shops that have been particularly supportive to you as an artist? Any favourite record shops in the UK?
I have procured a fair bit of my collection from Audio Gold and Flashback over the years. And a special mention to Zen Records on Broad Lane in Tottenham, where I wandered in one sunny day, and left two hours later, with an armful of records and some of the most memorable conversation of my life.
What’s the dream? What do you want to do next?
I’ve been writing a lot of new material lately, and I’ve just started rehearsing with my band. I’m looking forward to recording some new music in the near future and playing the new songs live. I’m looking forward to playing live again in general – I’ve missed that more than anything.
The brand new issue of So Young is out now. Read Issue Twenty-Seven below or grab a copy in print here.