Stormzy performance rounds off BBC Radio 2’s Piano Room Month

Stormzy performed three songs for Radio 2’s Piano Room Month, accompanied by the BBC Concert Orchestra.

Rounding off the month-long feature on the Ken Bruce show, from the BBC’s Maida Vale studios, the British rapper, singer and songwriter performed his hit Crown, new track Give It To The Water, and his classic cover was Get Here by Oleta Adams.

During the conversation with Ken, he revealed that playing Glastonbury was the greatest moment of his life, describing it as a really ‘Thank God’ moment.

“I don’t take that lightly,” he said. “That’s like an actual ‘I have lived my dream’ moment and I’m still alive and I’ve still got my career ahead of me and I thank God for that.”

Ken asked, if he had a time machine, which artist he’d like to work with?

“Whitney Houston. Easy,” he quickly responded, but added: “To be fair, I say that – I’ve got this thing as well where I can admire artists and sometimes, I know it’s not your place to make music with them.

“In a dream world, it’s like ‘That artist, and that artist’ but it doesn’t always work like that. So maybe I don’t work with Whitney. Maybe we’d get in the studio and make the worst song ever. Maybe I just admire her. But the idea of being on a song with her and making a beautiful record is a dream come true.”

Answering the question whether he has any special rituals when writing, Stormzy revealed that he does it on his morning dog walk but doesn’t have any eccentric ways to write.  He also does some of it in the studio and told Ken that recently he has started kicking everyone out of the room so he can fiddle with ideas.

“I just take it in my stride. I’m also not a thorough writer. I’m not like I need to finish this song today,” he admitted. “I think you get there with maturity as an artist. You trust that ‘I will finish this song today’ because I’m a gifted writer, I’d like to believe.

“So I don’t sit there and wrack my brain. I just take my time, eat some food, chill out and it all comes. And I pray and I let God do it as well,” he added.

Stormzy’s performance will be available shortly, on BBC iPlayer along with the other artists taking part in Radio 2’s Piano Month.