Choirboy Stephen is aiming for the charts
Talented 13-year-old releases debut album
A choirboy wants to swap church for the charts with the release of his debut album.
Stephen Chalk, 13, cut seventrack record Peace Be With You after his talent was spotted at Paisley Abbey.
Film producers snapped him up to provide vocals to the soundtrack of upcoming Scottish fantasy The Gaelic King.
The teenager impressed so much, he was offered a chance to make his own collection of songs.
Stephen said: “When I was offered the opportunity to work on my own album I jumped at it.
“They songs are some favourites of mine and it was great to choose which would make it out. I love singing them live and I’m hoping to arrange some more performances in Paisley.”
Manager Matthew Todd produced the movie, which will be released this summer, and is mentoring the teenager as he prepares for the album launch.
He said: “We were looking for a singer for the film when we found Stephen.
“I’m a musician and had sung in the Abbey, so I knew him from when he was just six. I went along to a choral performance and he was even better than I remembered.
“Rehearsals are full- on there, singing three nights-a-week and almost all day on Sundays.
“We’ve managed to fit in an hour here and there, trying to book sessions to record every fortnight or so. We’ve already had a surge of pre-orders and the feedback has been brilliant.”
Peace Be With You features lightclassical tracks, with pop standards, like You Raise Me Up.
The third- year Castlehead High pupil has started shooting music videos for the songs and is preparing for live dates.
Matthew added: “Stephen streams regular performances to fans all over the world online.
“It’s been great practice and we hope we’ll be able to take these to venues across the country.
“Stephen is one of a very limited number of boys in Scotland who are competent in this striking style of music, and he is very aware that it makes him stand out.
“He has to risk being made to feel ‘uncool’ or even ridiculed by his peers, but he loves singing far too much to give it up.
“He’s a real talent and the sky is the limit for how far he can go.”