Rising Sydney hip-hop/R'n'B artist Similar To Drake has left fans and industry members stunned following his acceptance of Breakthrough Act Of The Year at last night's overlooked annual Alternative Recording Artists (ARA) Awards, held at the Parramatta RSL.
Upon hitting the stage to accept the award, the 22-year-old upstart — who burst onto the scene in August with debut single Love Over ProTools Logic — caused audible surprise as he launched into a genuine, clearly planned, rehearsed and polished speech of thanks, taking time along the way to acknowledge the people who have helped him realise and sustain his dream of being paid to create music.
"I'd like to make special mention of my parents, who have encouraged me to explore my creative side since I was a young boy," STD said during his speech. "Not forgetting, of course, the valuable contributions of my manager, booking agency, live music venues, promoters, and my fans, who humble me every day with their decision to support my music when there are literally six million other people who they could choose to support instead."
Those in attendance on the evening could hardly believe the musician's shocking performance, which fell so far above standard expectations for such events as to be almost unprecedented.
"Did you see it? He was even wearing a top hat!" local booker Leonard "Little Reggie" Leonard told SPA Confidential at an awards after-party. "I'll tell ya — I've never seen anything like that in fifteen years of coming to this thing.
"It was almost like he actually recognised and understood that, even though he's a creative type, he's still part of a multi-faceted industry that holds a commitment for its artists that actually occasionally goes beyond doing rails in the bathroom at 10am and making sure everyone knows how bored you are all the time."
