The winner of the Channel 4 show spoke to the ECHO ahead of his show in Liverpool
Brad Kella said he is “struggling to fathom” the past few months after winning Channel 4’s The Piano. Brad, 23, was flooded with support after appearing on the show and speaking honestly about being raised in the care system.
Brad spoke to the ECHO inside the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall on Hope Street, where he will perform later this year. He admitted there is a mixture of emotions ahead of the big occasion.
Brad said: “I’m a little bit nervous because it’s my first show, but I think the fact that it’s my home city adds a bit of ease to the whole situation and a lot more comfort. I’m just excited to show people what new music I’ve been working on, telling people more about my story and trying to engage the audience as much as possible.”
READ MORE: Mum ‘feels lost’ after death of ‘amazing’ daughter aged 22READ MORE: The Piano’s Brad Kella took a ‘risk’ after his world turned upside down
The 23-year-old, who is originally from Bootle, is no stranger to adversity. He said he was “living a lifestyle which no kid really should”.
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Brad and his twin brother Aron were taken in by foster parents Eve and Frank Kilmartin after being in the care system. His first single, which was released last Friday, is named after them. The dad, who now lives in Fazakerley, added: “I feel like kids in care, they’ve been through circumstances out of their control.
“And if they can get a bit of extra attention, a bit of help, a bit of extra guidance, I think that’s what they need. Eve and Frank gave me that extra guidance and where I’ve ended up now, it’s unbelievable.
“I just want to show people that you should never judge a book by its cover. I can do it and pull it out the bag and achieve what I’ve achieved, there’s not really many reasons why other people can’t.
“I want to hopefully be an ambassador for kids in care. I’m in the line of working with amazing people who are going to help me get there.”
Brad faced another struggle at the age of 18 when he faced homelessness and had to stay in a hostel with girlfriend Abbie Lewis and their daughter Phoebe. He said: “Obviously it’s tough, but I’ve faced adversity my whole life. I’ve always tried to come out on top. I’ve never let nothing stop me.
“I’ve always manifested where I am right now. I truly believe that one day I was going to do this. I was going to create some amazing music. It was just a matter of when and where. Being homeless with my partner and my daughter, in a way, that was a blessing in disguise because I used to play public pianos.
“That’s when Channel 4 spotted me on a video on the public pianos. If I wasn’t in that situation, this would never have come round with the opportunity of going on the show.”
Brad made it to the finale of The Piano, where he was named the performance of night by judges Mika and Lang Lang. He couldn’t tell anyone outside of his close family and friends until the show aired. However, he claims it was worth the wait.
The attention from the Channel 4 show has also spread to foster parents Eve and Frank. Brad said: “When they’re walking around the shops and stuff, they’re getting stopped by a lot of people. It’s all words of kindness towards them.
“I think they’ve inspired a lot of people to foster them as well. I’ve had some amazing messages – people have applied to become foster parents because of Eve and Frank.”
After recently signing a recording contract with Liverpool-based label Modern Sky, Brad said he still has to pinch himself as his hometown show approaches. He said: “I can’t fathom it, I really can’t.”
Brad’s show at the Philharmonic will take place on Friday, 29 November and tickets can be purchased now. You can find out more here.
