Rising Belfast hip-hop artist praises JLS star’s support
Songwriter mentored for television acting role by ex-boyband member
A RISING Belfast hip-hop artist has told how JLS star Aston Merrygold helped mentor him for his acting debut.
Jordan Adetunji, a gifted songwriter who is taking the UK and Irish scene by storm, landed a role in CBBC’S Almost Never, which recently filmed in Belfast.
The former Ashfield Boys pupil (22) plays a music promoter and venue owner in the comedy-drama, which follows the ups and downs of a boy band called The Wonderland, while Aston portrays the band’s manager.
Jordan said that while filming in lockdown was not without its challenges, the stars soon got used to the regulations.
He and Aston quickly formed a firm friendship, bonding over their shared love of music.
“When I was a kid, JLS had just come out and I was a big fan,” Jordan said. “To get the chance to work with Aston and to learn from someone like him was a brilliant experience.
“I had never acted before, but I’m used to performing on stage and in music videos, so I was able to pick it up quite quickly.
“Aston was really helpful, giving me loads of tips and pointers. We got on really well together on set, cracking jokes and having fun. I think we could relate well to each other and he was a bit of a mentor for me. I also played him some of my music and he loved it. He’s been such a great support.”
One of the scenes the two shot together was a rap competition staged in a venue owned by Jordan’s character, but he could not reveal if he gets to show off his skills in the show.
“I can’t give away anything about the storyline, but I loved being part of the cast and it’s something I’d like to do more of in the future,” he said.
“I filmed my scenes last week. It was difficult to begin with, shooting with all the lockdown restrictions. We had to quarantine for 10 days beforehand, we had Covid tests almost every day and we wore visors and masks when we weren’t filming.
“But everyone adapted to the situation pretty quickly. After a while, we just got used to it.”
Jordan developed an interest in music while at school but originally only signed up for trumpet lessons to get out of class.
He grew to enjoy playing the instrument in the school band and recently took it up again with the intention of incorporating it into his music. Although hip-hop is his passion, he blends other genres, including Afrobeat, rock, soul and funk, into his work.
Woke Up, a recent single about male mental health, combines post-punk with rap.
“A lot of men my age have struggled with depression, particularly in lockdown,” he said. “It’s something I know about personally, so I wanted to be honest in my songwriting. “Lockdown was difficult at times, but I got to be creative too, so it was a blessing and a curse.”
Angel, Jordan’s new single, which is due to be released on March 26, is “hard-hitting” and touches on racism, something he believes is picked up in homes.
“The song is about finding your guardian angel but pushing them away, even though they’re trying to help you,” he said.
“It also brings in racism, which, to be honest, I’ve only had a slight experience of here. Mostly, people here show me love and support.
“The Black Lives Matter protest in Belfast was fantastic and shows how much things have progressed. I think racism is something that is picked up in the home and there’s still some work to be done to end it.”