Luton is celebrating one of its own this week as hometown hero Myles Smith grabbed the Rising Star Award at Saturday night’s Brit Awards ceremony at London’s O2 Arena.
The 26-year-old singer now finds himself in some pretty impressive company – joining the likes of Adele, Sam Fender and Rag ‘N’ Bone Man in scooping up the prize that spots Britain’s next big thing in music.
Been anywhere near a radio lately? Then you’ve probably had his smash hit ‘Stargazing’ stuck in your head – a catchy number that’s racked up nearly 700 million Spotify streams, hung around the UK charts for a whopping 40 weeks. Smith was also nominated for Best New Artist, Best Pop Act, and Song of the Year – cementing his place as one of British music’s brightest new talents.
It’s quite the journey for our Luton lad who just last May was smashing the BBC Introducing stage at Big Weekend Luton 2024 at Stockwood Park, where the early birds among us got a preview of the star he was about to become.
But it’s not just the Rising Star award that got people talking on Saturday. Smith’s fired-up acceptance speech had the whole O2 Arena on its feet, as he used his moment in the spotlight to stand up for the future of British music.
In true Luton fashion – where we’ve never been shy about demanding better – Smith made the most of his moment as he called on the government and music industry to “protect the foundations” of British music.
Ever since stepping into the spotlight, Smith has been forthcoming and openly proud about his Luton roots. He’s previously made it clear on social media that “Luton is more than an airport,” and has consistently championed his hometown during interviews and appearances.
For us Lutonians watching from our sofas at home, Smith’s success is a real reminder of what people from our town can achieve when given the chance. As we watch his journey from BBC Introducing to Brit Award winner, it’s obvious this is just the beginning for Myles.
Watch Myles Smith accept the Rising Star award at this years Brit Awards.
About the Author
Laura Redmond
Laura is a passionate supporter of the Step Forward Luton campaign and a Place Activation and Marketing Coordinator. Armed with a journalism degree and unwavering love for her university town, she believes there's more to Luton that meets the eye. From charity work to market management, Laura's professional journey has explored every corner of Luton. When she's not busy being a marketing maven, she's lacing up her walking shoes to explore the town's green spaces or unearthing Luton's hidden foodie gems.
