TikTok singer to go on national tour

3 hours ago

Andrea PluckNorthamptonshire

News image — Singer Mae Stephens went viral on TikTok while working in a Kettering supermarket

Yas Cowan Mae Stephens has long dark hair, pink glasses, and sits in a recording studio, leaning forward with one arm resting on a table and the other propping up her face. She is wearing a light-coloured sweatshirt covered in handwritten-style illustrations and text, with several visible tattoos along her arms. Behind her is a wooden acoustic panel wall with evenly-spaced circular sound‑dampening holes, giving the space a warm, studio-like atmosphere. — Singer Mae Stephens went viral on TikTok while working in a Kettering supermarket

A singer who rose to fame on TikTok while working in a supermarket is to set off on her first UK tour with support from a charity that helps music venues.

Mae Stephens, from Kettering in Northamptonshire, had a hit with If We Ever Broke Up and will now tour towns and cities across the country thanks to backing from the Music Venue Trust (MVT).

The charity supports grassroots music venues and announced the run of shows as part of the Liveline Fund, created to help artists, promoters and small venues.

Stephens said she was "beyond excited" to work with the charity and sing for fans in smaller venues.

Getty Images Mae Stephens has multi-coloured eye shadow and is wearing large green flower earrings. She has a pink plait in her long brown hair and is holding a microphone. The background is black. — Stephens said touring created a personal connection with her fans

"Every time somebody brings up the tour to me, I turn into this excitable little five-year-old," she said.

"Before I got into the industry, I was playing in pubs, open mics, anything I could get my foot in the door.

"I think that an incredible thing with these venues is it creates this very open, very real, very personal experience.

"It just creates this real deep personal connection and that's something I absolutely crave with my fans."

The Liveline Fund is supported by the Grassroots Levy, a system where major touring acts can make contributions from their arena and stadium ticket sales.

MVT said the initiative was designed to plug the financial gaps that can make touring difficult for new performers.

Money from the fund is used to cover hire costs, touring expenses and to ensure artists are paid fairly.

Mae Stephens is wearing an orange Nike beanie hat and a pink hoodie. She is speaking into a studio microphone and has BBC Music Introducing and BBC Radio Northampton branding behind her. — Mae Stephens regularly appeared on BBC Music Introducing in Northampton

Rebecca Walker, from the MVT, said smaller venues played a crucial role in developing new talent.

"You do have to play in front of people live - it's the way that you have longevity in the career," she said.

"Without these grassroots music venues, new artists can't discover how to interact with their audiences, they can't hone their craft and they can't be developed to a point where they can headline the biggest festivals and the biggest venues in our country."

Stephens' 11-date headline tour will take place between 18 March and 1 April and includes venues in Cardiff, Edinburgh and London.

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