Strictly HRVY
YOUTUBE SENSATION STRUGGLES TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY
HE SCORES perfect tens and boasts billions of streams, but pop star HRVY is still low on confidence. The 21-year-old YouTube sensation may have broken the Strictly Come Dancing record with a perfect score in week six, but he fears he still has a way to go to be taken seriously.
‘I find it really hard to believe in myself sometimes,’ admitted the Personal singer, conjuring up some blue steel for Fault magazine.
‘Even with the millions of followers and billions of streams that I have, I still struggle to have self-confidence.’
Despite being mobbed at shopping malls by teens, HRVY – born Harvey
Leigh Cantwell in Kent – says the screams count for nothing among his peers. ‘I think the hardest career hurdle so far has been the transition into a serious artist,’ he explained. ‘Coming from the internet I was never taken as seriously.
‘I’ve always sang, I grew up singing and I posted covers all the way through my teens.
‘Getting the public to see me not just as a young teen cover singer was the tricky part.’ For now HRVY is content with cleaning up in the BBC ballroom with his professional dance partner Janette Manrara.
The duo became the fastest in Strictly history to score for a flawless routine. They were awarded three tens from each judge, landing 30 points.
‘It’s pretty crazy to think I broke a record,’ he admitted.
‘Dancing’s become a huge part of my life, especially now I’ve been on Strictly.
‘I do feel like there’s more pressure than there was before... now I’ve broken a record, I feel like people may have more of an expectation.’
You can read the full interview at fault-magazine.com.