Aaron Sibley is part of the U.K.’s vibrant LGBTQ+ live music scene. As a trained singer, guitarist and pianist, Aaron writes and performs vocals that range from warm vocals to hard hitting ballads. He loves pop, Alt-pop and R&B pop.
Aaron has enjoyed a lot of success recently. He’s been a finalist in Pride’s Got Talent, and performed in The Eurovision Song Contest in Moldova. His songs, written for other artists, also qualified in 2020 and 2022. This year he won the International Emerging Artist Song Contest in San Marino and as a result he performed in their National Final for Eurovision. He came third. Aaron released his 6 song debut EP in 2019 titled ‘Holiday Love’ and continues to release new music regularly.
Ahead of Aaron Sibley’s live appearance at The Village in Soho on 30 July 2022, QX caught up with the award winning artist to find out more.
Eurovision. Tell us about that.
I have always been obsessed with Eurovision. It’s the worlds biggest stage and around 200 million tune in ever year… it just doesn’t get better than that! I started writing songs for the contest several years back. I approach an artist from a European country, with a song I’ve written, and we submit it to their country’s national selection. The first year I did this I ended up performing as a duet with a singer from Moldova and we succeeded to the National Finals of their internal selection placing 6th.
Last year I submitted my song to an international open call for artists to come and participate in the national selection for San Marino Eurovision. In February this year, I travelled there and actually won the initial stage; ‘Una Voce Per San Marino’. This meant I could participate in their National Final contest for Eurovision where I placed 3rd.
My dream is to be on the Eurovision stage, I would love to represent the UK. I hope that the opportunity arises for this to happen!
2. Who influenced you musically?
I have always grown up being inspired by artists that writing heartfelt music. Adele was always a big part of my childhood as her music resonated with me. She is still a big inspiration, but I’m also attracted to artists that have a very interesting and unique sound. Billie Eilish has become a big inspiration as a lot of her music production has a very unconventional sound.
3. Tell us about the upcoming gig at Village?
On the 30th of July I’m having a live music show at the Village where I’ll be performing an original set. It’ll be a night with music ranging from hard hitting ballads to R&B pop tracks at one of Londons most well known Gay Venues. I’ll also have a special guest performance from the incredible Tom Heath. He’s an up-and-coming pop storyteller, singing songs about dating, anxiety dating-induced-anxiety and figuring out who we are.
The show starts at 8pm and is sure to be a memorable night! Tickets available here
4. Last live music gig you saw?
The last show I saw was of an artist called Eloise. She’s a Singer-songwriter from London and she is currently on the rise. I was first introduced to her by another artist I adore called Bruno Major. Her vocals are everything and this is the third time I’ve seen her live. I can’t wait until the next!
5. Do you have a lucky stage ritual/clothes etc. You know, like Heidi Klum carries around her baby teeth as a good luck talisman (yucky weird!)
I have heard of some …interesting… rituals, but I don’t have any specific to me. There is only one rule that I stick to every single time I perform and it was born from a performance of mine that I remember for all the wrong reasons…
Once I was performing at a fashion show as a guest performer, and I had just eaten before I sang. Because of this, my voice was not as prepared as it should have been. I ended up choking mid performance! Now, I do not eat or drink anything other than water a few hours before I sing with fears of another mid performance choking-fit!
Aaron Sibley and Tom Heath will be performing at The Village Bar Soho. Show starts 8pm on 30 July. 81 Wardour Street, London, W1D 6QD