Eve-Yasmine Saoud-Easton
Eve-Yasmine Saoud-Easton

There are only a few days left to support a local rising star in the MOBO UnSung 2014 awards.

Eve-Yasmine Saoud-Easton has been shortlisted for the final stages of the awards, which aim to unearth and celebrate music of black ethnic origins, and the former Hatch End High School pupil needs you to vote for her before Sunday to ensure she goes all the way.

The 20-year-old, of Harrow Weald, said: "When I was at school I was bullied and did not have much confidence, so to be where I am right now in the final twenty alongside all these artists is just amazing.

"It all started when I joined the gospel choir in Year 8, that was the thing that triggered the self-belief. I used to do a lot of stuff like dancing at Harrow Arts Centre too, so I really owe everything I've got to Harrow."

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With former MOBO winners including The Black Eyed Peas, Rihanna and Beyoncé, the prospect of reaching the finals could launch Eve-Yasmine into a new world of opportunities.

She said: "When you think about the legends associated with MOBO, it makes me so excited. I'm really just a girl writing songs in a notepad in my bedroom."

Eve-Yasmine has now dropped any part-time jobs she had and has gone full-time in making her dream a reality.

She added: "I saved up enough to pay off this and that, to know that financially I could do it even if it would be hard, and then I just promised myself I was going to try and make it happen full-time.

"When you are working a job while also trying to perform, you are just too tired to put the effort in 100 per cent, and my parents are really supportive. We don't have any contacts or lots of money, but the confidence they give me to perform is amazing.

"My mum Darena fills me with confidence every day and wants me to just do what I can, and there have been countless late nights when my dad Dean has picked me up from a gig late at night.

"They have been so supportive, so I just want to make them proud."

Eve-Yasmine is currently shortlisted along with 20 other artists. The 10 with the most votes after Sunday will then progress to the final stage of MOBO UnSung and also secure a place on a programme which provides support to budding artists.

You can vote for Eve-Yasmine by visiting www.mobo.com/user/register before voting closes on Sunday, August 3 and 9pm.