Being at the forefront of British arts and culture, the borough’s creative scene is historic, rich and incredibly diverse. Ealing is the home of not only British film (Ealing Studios) and the birthplace of Loud (the iconic Marshall amp in Hanwell), but it is also home to the London Mela and the British Bhangra scene. And there is also, of course, the Ealing Club, named ‘the cradle of British Rock Music.’

In this new series, the council wants to preserve that history and look to the future, introducing you to established and emerging talent in the borough, and hoping to inspire local young people to consider a career in the creative industries.

You will get to hear from residents who are accomplished actors, visual and dance artists, music tutors, film artists, some with passion for photography, poetry, events and print.

In the first part of our new series, meet Tazz, singer, songwriter and actor. Watch the full video of Tazz and his journey as a musician.

Tazz has been involved in performing arts for more than 10 years and has been making music for six. He grew up surrounded by creative people, which made him unable to imagine life without music.

How it started

Tazz says: “I was introduced to the music studio at the local Bollo Brook Youth Centre. There I could make my own music, my own lyrics and start telling my own story.”

The magic of making music

Tazz loves every aspect of the music making process – from writing lyrics to instrumentals, including creating his own instrumentals.

He adds: “Working with other like-minded individuals and creatives is a beautiful thing, because you don’t know what you are going to produce. It all starts from literally nothing, from just an idea that can transcend into anything.”

What is working in music like?

“Sometimes when you are young you may not necessarily be taken seriously by everyone around you,” Tazz explains.

When asked what advice he would give to anyone thinking of a career in the music industry he said: “You need to put yourself in environments that will positively impact your growth in the direction that you want to go. Don’t be afraid to go and mix with people who are in that field.”

Councillor Polly Knewstub, cabinet member for thriving communities, said “The borough’s art and culture is thriving. We recently launched a new cultural manifesto and action plan for the borough which aims to boost local arts, culture and creative industries and support young creatives like Tazz.

“It’s wonderful seeing our residents and our arts and culture groups creating and collaborating and inspiring others to consider arts as a career choice. The cultural manifesto is advocating for breaking down barriers, empowering and inspiring all our residents in all of our seven towns. We believe that arts and creativity are for everyone.”

And there are some final words of wisdom from Tazz: “If you believe in yourself, you can achieve anything. It starts with self-belief.”

Join  Ealing arts and culture network to keep up with the latest creative sector news, events and networking.

Keep up with Tazz and his work, including local performances on Instagram.