A SINGER from Bradford is hoping to become the city’s next music sensation after signing a record deal with a Grammy Award-winning artist.
Elishia Edwards, 21, flew to Los Angeles to sign for the label Rich Hipster.
The record label was founded by Chrisette Michele who won a Grammy for Best Urban/Alternative Performance in 2009 for her song ‘Be OK’, and was nominated for the Best R&B Album Grammy in 2014.
Elishia went to Thornton Grammar School, before going on to study at SLP College in Leeds, where she gained an Advanced Level 6 Diploma in musical theatre.
She is also a model and dancer, and has appeared at London Fashion Week and in Vogue, Elle and Grazia magazines.
It was at a fashion show that she first met Ms Michele when she was 14.
Ms Michele said: “I instantly fell in love with her and promised Elishia that one day I would have my very own record label and sign her.
“Once Elishia completed college she took her first trip to LA, where she sampled dance classes and Hollywood culture.
“On that trip I booked a studio session at the famous WestLake Studios where I coached Elishia through her first recording session. Her future is bright.”
Elishia is in the artist development programme at Rich Hipster, and has released her debut single, ‘Bradford Baddie’, which is available on all major streaming sites.
The song tells the story of her upbringing in Bradford, something Elishia said caught the eye of Ms Michele.
She said: “They loved that I was from Bradford.
“I want to represent where I’m from; people give Bradford a bad view but I want to show there is talent here.
“I’ve done modelling and back-up dancing, but to get a record deal is the icing on the cake.”
Elishia will be flying back out to LA later this year to work on her album, under the watchful eye of Ms Michele.
She is hoping to follow in the footsteps of other successful Bradford-born artists, including former One Direction member and now solo artist Zayn Malik, from East Bowling, former Girls Aloud member Kimberley Walsh, from Allerton, and Gareth Gates, from West Bowling.
She also has a link to Kiki Dee, from Little Horton, who was the first white British artist to be signed by Motown Records, with whom Chrisette Michele was previously a signed artist.