Biography

My passion for music started when I was about four years old. I was instantly captivated by musical theatre, especially the music of "Les Misérables" and "The Phantom of the Opera", listening to them over and over again, memorising every note and lyric. This early obsession sparked my lifelong love for musical theatre, which led me to study it at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, achieving a Bachelor of the Arts in Musical Theatre.

As seen from the image above, I was also an avid fan of James Bond from a young age and would parade around my street adorned in a variety of tuxedos and three-piece suits, keeping my Cul-De-Sac safe from any mischief as only 007 knew how. The pictured outfit was lovingly (and painstakingly) created by my parents when one year, I asked for a "Commander Bond suit" for Christmas. 

While musical theatre remained my main aspiration, I also developed a love for classic crooners like that of The Rat Pack and Tony Bennett, all the way down to Michael Bublé. Their timeless style, vocal control, and connection with audiences deeply influenced my own approach to performing. 

Though I didn’t start playing piano until I was 13, my love for music really bloomed when I began learning the music of Billy Joel. His blend of rock, pop, jazz, and blues opened my eyes to the versatility of the piano and changed how I viewed music. This passion for playing would later fuel my performances as I honed my skills and found my voice on stage.

After graduating, I was lucky enough to quickly land my first professional jobs before even finishing my degree. The first of my early roles was in "Some Lovers", a musical by the legendary Burt Bacharach and Tony Award-winning Steven Sater at The Other Palace, in London Victoria. Weeks later, I was off to join the European tour of Richard O'Brien's "The Rocky Horror Show", a production that would become a defining part of my career. Playing multiple characters in the show over the years taught me to fully embrace the wild, unpredictable energy of live performance.

In 2020, I decided to dive into creating my own Elton John tribute act. With the success of the "Rocketman" movie, I saw a real opportunity to bring the glamour and wild energy of 1970s Elton to life. I spent months perfecting my tribute, studying his music, his performance style, and the unforgettable fashion that defined his career. Since then, I’ve been performing on cruise ships, bringing Elton’s music to life for audiences around the world.

More recently, I created my own cabaret show, "My Life in Melodies". This project is deeply personal to me – it’s not just a concert of songs, but a way to share my story. I’ve spent countless hours crafting the setlist, ensuring every song flows seamlessly, and that the audience feels connected to the music and my journey. It’s a living, breathing project that grows with every performance, and I can’t wait to share it with more audiences.

If you’ve followed my journey, or if you’re just discovering my work, I hope you’ll join me as I continue to perform, explore new music, and tell my story, one melody at a time.

AK x