Sekou: The Leicestershire Singer Who Became the BRITs' Youngest Nominee

Sekou is Sekou Sylla, a British-Ivorian singer-songwriter from Leicestershire whose deep baritone and old-soul delivery have made him one of the UK's most closely watched young R&B voices. "Does She Know" is the lead single from his June 2026 mixtape In A World We Don't Belong Pt. 2, a song about realising someone was never who you thought they were.

Where he's from

Born in 2004 in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, Sekou grew up singing gospel in church, where the musical director helped spark his interest in music. He has cited Whitney Houston, Amy Winehouse, Mariah Carey and Celine Dion among his influences, and the result is a sound that mixes contemporary soul with adult-contemporary balladry, gospel and touches of 80s funk.

How he broke through

He signed to Good Soldier Records at 16 after posting himself singing online, then spent two years developing before going public. His first single, "Better Man," debuted at Glastonbury 2022, where Arlo Parks handpicked him for the BBC Music Introducing stage. The 2023 EP Out of Mind followed on Island, and the momentum came fast: a Top 10 spot on BBC Radio 1's Sound of 2024 shortlist and a Rising Star nomination at the 2024 BRITs, making him the youngest BRIT nominee to date.

The London picture

London has been central to the rise. He has played Capital's Summertime Ball at Wembley Stadium, sold out a headline show at Outernet and appeared on Later… with Jools Holland. He played All Points East in August 2026 and headlines London's KOKO on December 14. His reach is widening too, with a featured spot on Justin Bieber's "Too Long" and an opening slot on Sam Smith's San Francisco residency.

What "Does She Know" is about

"Does She Know" opens In A World We Don't Belong Pt. 2, released June 26, 2026, alongside an official video. The song turns on betrayal and the slow discovery of a partner's true nature after being too swept up to see it. Sekou has framed it as a vulnerable record that reflects how much he grew over the past year. We broke down why the honesty on "Does She Know" hits so hard.

Songs to start with

Begin with "Better Man" and "Forgiving Myself" from his early run, then move to "Catching Bodies" and "Never Gunna Give You Up" from Pt. 1. On Pt. 2, pair "Does She Know" with "Dangerous Lover" and his cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Songbird."

What's next

Sekou is nominated for Best Newcomer at the 2026 MOBO Awards, and the KOKO date closes out a year that took him from US headline shows to festivals in Japan and France. A debut album has not been announced.

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