Tokio Myers: my journey from session musician to BGT winner

The pianist and composer talks to Joe Nerssessian about his life of defying expectations

Tokio Myers relishes being labelled an underdog. It worked for him when he rocked up to the prestigious Royal College of Music, not an aspiring rapper as many expected, but as a pianist with a love for Chopin and Rachmaninoff.

And it happened again when he successfully brought his electrifying mash-ups to television screens across the country courtesy of Britain’s Got Talent, sweeping to victory in the process.

From delicate piano constructs to full-on electronic sculptures, he mixed Adele with Beethoven and Ed Sheeran with Debussy.

People lapped it up, and now they’re doing the same to his debut album, which fuses classical, cinematic, hip-hop, dance and 90s soul.

Stretched out on a wide booth in a central London restaurant, the 33-year-old smiles widely as he reflects on a magical 2017.

“The more you put me in a place I’m not supposed to be, it excites me more. I get a kick out of it because I know I can educate people,” he says.

“I really love the underdog, I don’t like doing the obvious thing. I don’t want to be put in a box.”

His motivation to audition for the ITV talent show came from a fear of stagnation. After years as a session musician for Mr Hudson And The Library, where he toured with everyone from Kanye West to Amy Winehouse, Tokio wanted to flaunt a sound he had worked hard to hone.

“I reached a point in my life and things were pretty static, I hate static,” he says. “I woke up one morning and decided I was going to do it, just because it was going to be super challenging.”

Born in London, Tokio was awarded a scholarship at the Royal College before going on to work with Mr Hudson. Kanye was a highlight, he says, recalling a backstage basketball match with the superstar.

“Within five minutes, we were off to play basketball.

0 Tokio Myers has a UK tour planned for April They bring a net with them on tour and I’m there blocking Kanye, taking jump shots in his face pulling faces at him ... It was very surreal.”

As a touring musician he also performed at Glastonbury in 2009 and it’s a platform he would like to return to.

“I want to take this to the top, this isn’t just for my bedroom,” he laughs, in bewilderment perhaps at his own rise from small crowds to the Royal Variety Show (BGT winners automatically play the event).

“I definitely would love to be a household name, that’s a dream,” he continues. “The same as Hans Zimmer is, you say his name and you’re like, ‘Ah amazing, epic composer’.

“That kind of vibe, that’s all I want, nothing much,” he smiles.

During his classical training he was surrounded by a lot of aspiring musicians from a rich, white background. It would be easy for Tokio to say he wants to change that. And in a sense he does, but not at the expense of targeting his former peers.

“My fight isn’t with race,” he says. “My mum’s white, my dad’s black. I’ve got nothing against race, or money or wealth or any of that kind of stuff. Them kids didn’t choose to be part of that, they were born in it. But at the same time it should be for everyone. There’s loads of kids who won’t do it because of the perception it’s not for them.”

“I hope those kids will see me and say it’s cool to play Chopin or Rachmaninoff.”

And he’s adamant that despite his own hesitations about the world of shows like BGT, he owes them, and Simon Cowell, a lot.

“Simon’s been massive. I spoke to him last night on the phone and he’s just been there through the whole process. He flew me out to LA and went to his house and we were just playing demos. I feel like a kid in a spaceship,” he says.

“The team they are on it. They are really good, they’re really excited. We recorded a 40-piece live orchestra in Abbey Road with full brass system ... everything is real, nothing is cheap.”

He goes to these lengths because it is his job to connect with people, he says.

“I’m just choosing to do it through music, and the piano and music are my voice.

“I am here to connect,” he reiterates. “It’s a crazy time we live in and music is important to all of us, when we’re down, when we’re happy, and when we need a little boost.

“What do we go to if it isn’t music?”

“The more you put meinaplacei’mnot supposed to be, it excites me more. I getakickoutofit because I know I can educate people”