Tinie Tempah has opened as much as NME about being dedicated to supporting the UK’s grassroots venues, and plans to drop what might be his first new album in practically 10 years.
The London singer, rapper and producer caught up with us on the crimson carpet for the 2026 Ivor Novellos, the place he’s a member of the Ivors board and works to “proceed to uplift and promote and defend songwriters” throughout the nation.
He was awarded his personal trophy again in 2011 after profitable within the Greatest Modern Music class for his hit debut single, ‘Go Out’, which he recorded alongside Labrinth.
Talking about how the business has modified since then, the rapper – actual identify Patrick Okogwu – defined how he and numerous others owe their success to the grassroots venues throughout the nation.
As a longtime supporter of the Music Venue Belief and their efforts to assist defend grassroots gig areas, Tempah has joined their invoice for In every single place At As soon as – a pageant happening at lots of of significant venues throughout the UK subsequent month.
“After I take into consideration my time developing, I take into consideration the ten,000 hours that I put into going across the UK and performing in all of the small venues from 100 capability to 500 capability,” Tinie mentioned. “I consider all of the instances I bought cheered, all of the instances I bought booed, all of the instances there was nobody there, or when there was one or two folks within the crowd.
“I believe it was actually my ceremony of passage, as a result of it helped me to construct a core fan base, most of whom have caught with me to at the present time,” he added. “Clearly we now have social media and you may forged your web out into the broader world, however there’s something so necessary about being in entrance of individuals in actual life.
“Take into consideration all of the scenes that the UK has been in a position to carry to the forefront over time – they sometimes begin underground they usually sometimes begin in locations and areas like that. So if we lose these areas, I fear for the following era of artists.”
He continued: “On prime of that, reside music is the place a whole lot of musicians make the lion’s share of their earnings, so if we don’t have these venues to carry out in, we’re screwed. Contemplating how a lot UK music has impacted world wide, it’s virtually our responsibility because the British inhabitants to protect a few of these venues and areas. A few of them needs to be establishments.”
Regardless of years of arduous gigging, he has not launched any new music since 2020, when he dropped the one ‘Prime Winners. His final album was 2017’s ‘Youth’.
Talking to NME on the Ivors, the ‘Written In The Stars’ singer revealed that he has lastly accomplished work on new music with a renewed and sharpened focus.
“I took a protracted hiatus and I simply went to determine my life. However I’m positively again now,” he shared. “There’s a whole lot of new music coming your means. I’m going to drop the mission in September, so I’m tremendous excited for folks to listen to that and take it in.”
“Lots of it’s impressed by what I used to be simply speaking about: nightlife tradition,” he continued, including that will probably be an album that takes listeners “on a journey by means of the night time from the beginning – while you even have the thought of desirous to exit – all the way in which to the messy 4am that everyone knows and we’ve all skilled.”
“I’m tremendous excited for folks to listen to it. I’ve labored tremendous arduous on it. I’m tremendous happy with it as nicely.”
Extra particulars in regards to the new launch are anticipated to be shared quickly, with Tinie Tempah taking part in at intimate venues throughout Newcastle, Norwich and Southampton as a part of the In every single place At As soon as pageant subsequent month.
Others on the invoice embody Becky Hill and The Lathums, and the pageant is being spearheaded by Music Venue Belief, The Nationwide Lottery, Save Our Scene, and Affiliation of Impartial Promoters. Audiences can be given the chance to assist assist numerous music charities too, with donations distributed to Conflict Little one, Nordoff and Robbins, Assist Musicians UK and Teenage Most cancers Belief. Discover remaining tickets and extra info right here.
The information of the pageant’s launch arrived at a significant time for the UK’s reside music sector, as reviews present that 30 grassroots venues had been misplaced ceaselessly between July 2024 and July 2025 – and final 12 months alone noticed greater than half of these remaining making no revenue, with over 6,000 jobs misplaced.
There’s at present an ongoing push for a ticket levy to be launched, which might see smaller venues and rising expertise throughout the nation obtain a contribution from enviornment and stadium gigs to make sure their survival. The strain is now on for the reside music business to make sure that 50 per cent of those reveals are voluntarily paying in by June 2026, or else the federal government will step in to make it obligatory by legislation.
