16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Chart-topping musician admits BRIT Awards leaving London is 'right move'
EXCLUSIVE: Sigma star Cameron Edwards has opened up on his views following the news that the BRIT Awards are leaving London for the first time, admitting it's time to celebrate all UK music
Sigma's Cameron Edwards admits it's "right" that the BRIT Awards are finally leaving London. It was announced earlier this week that the glitzy music event will be leaving London for the first time.
For the first time, the annual event, which celebrates the best of British music, as well as international artists, will be moving to Manchester's Co-op Live for 2026 and 2027 after 45 ceremonies in London. Chart topper, Cameron Edwards, one half of drum and bass duo Sigma, believes this is the right move.
Despite being from the south of England, Cam and Joe Lenzie met in 2006 while studying at Leeds University, so have a strong connection to the north. "It's probably about right," Cam exclusively told the Mirror, following the release of their latest track, Jungle, featuring Stefflon Don and Yung Saber.
He added: "I mean, it's the BRITs, it should be Britain, right? Why not? There's a lot of talent outside of London so it should be celebrated." Speaking of Sigma's origins, he explained: "We were at university up there, that's how we met and sort of formed everything we did. There's a big divide in terms of the way people are with you in the north and the south.
"Generally, the further up north you get, the friendlier people are. I lived in Manchester for almost 10 years and absolutely loved it, Leeds is an amazing city. I've got very fond memories of both places, so why not take the BRITs elsewhere?" But while Sigma have previously worked with major labels, the duo have since gone independent for their latest record, Day One.
"We were part of the major label system for just over 10 years," he said, before adding: "Like any sort of longterm relationship, it had its ups and downs but it's nice to come out of it and have that kind of knowledge we probably didn't have when we started, having had ten years of experience with a major label and be able to make decisions on our own.
"It's more down to how quickly we can make decisions because there's just Joe and I. We don't have to ask anyone, so we're doing everything ourselves – it's been very liberating to be honest, and it's been a great start." However, he admits while it's stressful working independently, he believes that there had always been stress behind the scenes.
"Doing everything independently, you forget, it's literally everything you see that happens we've made a decision on," Cam said. He went on to explain that this includes social media posts, people they are working with and who they choose to record with. In more recent years, independent artists including RAYE, Sugababes and The Zutons have gone on to have astronomical success after steering away from major labels and making decisions themselves.
However, he acknowledges that major labels do have an important part to play when it comes to breaking new artists, and budgets are often a lot higher. "If something starts doing well, they can generally throw money behind it, almost like a bank," he said, admitting that Sigma don't have the opportunity to plough into a huge campaign.
Now, the duo have to "carefully" plan things. "I think there's definitely a shift at the moment," he said of musicians working independently, adding: "I think if you're an established name, you've got a bit of a fanbase already, maybe people are realising they don't maybe need the full structure of 30 people working for you.
"Obviously, the percentages are much better when you're independent as well," noting that record labels, management and publicists often take a percentage of any money generated by the artist. Creative freedom is also a bonus, with Cam and Joe being able to decide who they collaborate with.
Their track with Stefflon Don and Yung Saber came by chance. "Some of these tunes we'd had loops we'd started and some people we reached out to," he said, before reflecting on their track, R U SLEEPING with Dizzee Rascal. He revealed that he and Joe dropped the musician a direct message on social media, but Dizzee sadly didn't see it.
Their luck changed when they bumped into him at a festival in Bournemouth, with the rapper instantly agreeing to jump on the record. He, however, admits the Stefflon track was very different. "We worked with Yung Saber and he dropped the lyric in the track that says '16 shots like Stefflon Don' and we were like 'Imagine having her on it'.
"I think Joe had been speaking to one of her producers and studio guys, and I was like 'Let's just send him the tune and see if we can lock it in.' It was a Sunday, and she came back to us and said she loved the track. It was completely random, totally unscripted," before adding it was "organic and a mad story."
He admits the track is a "nod" to the drum and bass sound, which has had a resurgence in recent years. Cam says the genre was "very popular" when Sigma emerged ten years ago, but has now seen a new generation of artists coming through and putting vocals on drum and bass tracks.
One singer who you wouldn't have imagined on a drum and bass track is Paloma Faith, who joined the lads on their 2014 Number 1, Changing. "It was Ella Eyre who first did the vocal on that tune," Cam said, but unfortunately, Ella couldn't commit to being on the record, meaning Paloma took over.
But since their first release of Lassitude with DJ Fresh in 2010, Cam says there have been "a lot of positive moments," but the duo have also faced "hard moments." He said: "I think this journey of independence feels very close to home. We were very lucky to have a lot of success ten years ago.
"It was ten years ago when I was probably in a slightly different place as a man, and Joe was as well in terms of our egos. We probably didn't handle it as well as we probably are now. It's a very different time, the little wins we get now really mean the world to us because it's something that we've put all of our effort into, all of our backing, all of my money, everything."
He added: "I would say this journey of independence is probably a highlight for us." Cam says that when Sigma were topping the charts, he felt as though the duo had imposter syndrome after arriving at Radio 1 to collect their Official Number 1. "I didn't really think I should be there," he said, adding that he was "blocking it out" as it felt "strange."
"If we ever were to have that success again, mentally, we'd be in a different place to appreciate it more," Cam said.
Day One is scheduled for release in October this year via DAY ONES. Jungle feat Stefflon Don and Yung Saber is available now.
