Catholic student and Britain’s Got Talent sensation Malakai M Bayoh told the Universe of his delight at meeting and singing in front of movie stars Bradley Cooper and Cary Mulligan.
By Suresh Abboodass
The Archdiocese of Southwark must be very proud of its young teenage- crooner son Malakai who, through his talent for singing, has reached out all the way to Hollywood, brushing shoulders with Hollywood greats like Bradley Cooper and Carey Mulligan and also singing in front of King Charles.
Fourteen-year-old Malakai M Bayoh, who came fourth place in last year’s British Got Talent (BGT) competition, has just returned from singing in the world-famous Lincoln Centre in Manhattan, New York, last month in front of an august audience which included Hollywood stars Bradley Cooper and Carey Mulligan.
“I am very proud to have sung in the Lincoln Centre in America. It was my first time in New York, and it was a new experience, to sing before Bradley Cooper and Cary Mulligan and also happy to win their appreciation,” Malakai said with humble pride.
“They said that they were ‘very happy to have you here’”.
Speaking exclusively to the Universe Catholic Weekly, Malakai said that he was invited to sing in Lincoln Centre for a live performance of the soundtrack from the newly released film ‘Maestro’ which is about the life story of a musician in which Bradley Cooper and Carey Mulligan play the lead roles. Malakai has rendered two songs for the film. What are the songs?
“I sang ‘Chichester Psalms’ and ‘Mass’,” he said. How does he feel about being a Hollywood star?
“Very cool,” came the answer. “This was recorded in A.W. Studios early last year, even before the BGT contest.”
Young Malakai, who has been a consort in the St. George’s Cathedral choir for nearly seven years, has found fame and name after his stellar performance in the BGT competition last year, in which he came fourth place for his rendition of the song ‘Pie Jesu’- which means ‘loving Jesus’-and the song was a composition by the famous music composer Andrew Lloyd Webber.
How does he feel about his experience in BGT and his stardom?
“I was really shocked when I got fourth place. I didn’t expect to even get to the fourth place. It was all surreal. My friends and my family were all excited and proud about my performance. I felt a bit nervous, standing on the stage and singing before those judges. But I am not disappointed,” he said.
And how did he get to enter the BGT contest in the first place?
“It was my school music teacher Mr. Scott Price who encouraged me to take part in the BGT. He is my motivator. He always encourages me. It was through him I got invited to sing in the film ‘Maestro’ as well as to sing in Lincoln Centre,” he said.
Malakai is a fun-loving, happy- go- lucky young man. Living under the spotlight is a remarkable achievement indeed for a young person from a middleclass-colour background.
Malakai, whose parents hail from Sierra Leone, was born in England. He is very humble and playful, not at all conscious about his status as a star singer and media celebrity. During the interview, he was constantly playing with his mobile.
Did his participation in the Cathedral choir had a hand in his meteoric rise in the field of music?
“Yes, of course,” he said. “I’m a religious person, I sing in the choir and I say my prayers regularly. Being in the choir was very helpful.”
Having shot to fame through his performance in BGT, Malakai has had opportunities knocking at his doorstep. He along with his mum appeared on the ITV Morning show. “My mum is my rock,” he said. “She was with me even when I went to New York recently,” he says with pride. Malakai also sang before HM King Charles during the Remembrance Day performance at the Royal Albert Hall last year. What was it like performing before the King himself?
“It was really exciting to sing before the King and also in the majestic Royal Albert Hall. At first, I did not know he (the King) was there. But later when I realised the King was there, I felt very happy and excited. It was a memorable moment in my life,” he said.
“I must thank my music teacher and mentor Mr Scott Price for organising this role to sing in the Royal Albert Hall and I must also thank my managers Katheryn Nash and Steve Abbott for giving me all the support.”
Malakai, who is in Year 10 at Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School in London, is a boy soprano- a Treble – as far as his choir is concerned. Apart from singing, he is also learning the piano (Grade 3) and the saxophone. In his leisure time, he plays basketball and is also a good swimmer.
Malakai, whose favourite band is the Beatles, dreams of becoming a professional singer one day. “I want to perform and to create albums and to be a professional singer,” he said.
However, he has already made and released an album called ´Golden´, which features seven songs and was produced by the music company Decca. The most interesting aspect is that the music for the album was composed by different composers and one song was composed by the renowned composer Andrew Lloyd Webber.
“This is my first album and it came out last July. It has been received well,” he said. All this happened after his performance in BGT.
What is his advice to budding singers like him?
“Do it, just do it,” he replied. “Sing or simply compete.”
Malakai is also learning classical music to further develop his singing talent. “I have completed Grade 5 in classical music, and I want to reach till Grade 8,” he said. He recently gave a performance at a show organised by Specsavers in Birmingham. He also fondly remembers singing ´Somewhere´ from Westside Story at the ´Big Bash ‘in Wembley to herald the New Year.
Simple, humble and not at all arrogant, young Malakai has a bright future indeed.