Thamesmead's Finest

We caught up with The T Factor winner, GMA - God's Most Anointed (Byron) who will be appearing alongside Simon Webbe, Chico and Brenda from The X Factor on the main stage at this year's Trust Thamesmead Summer Festival.

Congratulations on winning the The T Factor competition…

Thank you. It's funny, my wife showed me the leaflet and I wasn't going to enter - to be honest I thought it would be a kiddies contest. I always say never judge a book by its cover but that's exactly what I did. My wife and manager persisted though and talked me round.

Thank goodness for that! Was it nerve racking?

I perform week in, week out throughout the U.K. - you could ask me to perform tomorrow and I'd be fine. I've opened for Kelly Rowland from Destiny's Child, in front of Richard Blackwood, during Britain's biggest comedy tour, You've Got Jokes and in front of 10,000 at an Anti Racial gig and I didn't get nervous once, but for some reason I was really nervous as I sat waiting my turn at The T Factor, perhaps it was because I was watching the competition?

What did it feel like when you found out you had won?

I was breathless, I couldn't move, I couldn't talk, I couldn't do anything. I couldn't comprehend what was going on.

How did you get into music?

I've been performing for ten years - it was a hobby to begin with. I'd say I've been performing well for about three of those. I've come a long way since I performed as Geri in the Spice Girls-don't ask! It was terrible.

What are you most looking forward to on July 15?

Representing my community and spreading positive messages. I grew up in Thamesmead - I know it's not necessarily the easiest of places to grow up. I got into trouble with the police but I didn't want to go down that road, so I turned to music and look where I am now! I attended last year's Trust Thamesmead Summer Festival, never in a million years did I think I would be performing on the main stage this year, alongside Simon Webbe, Chico and Brenda.

Will there be any surprises?

I'll be performing a 20 minute set, it wont' be like a normal rappers set - I won't be standing there, bobbing my head - think Justin Timberlake, I'll be doing a few moves and I'm going to have dancers…I'm not going to say anymore than that.

What's next for GMA?

Forget record deals, for now anyway, my producer, Rob Lee and me want to promote positive music to the youth. We want to go round local schools and look after the future.

Trust Thamesmead Summer Festival
Saturday 15 July, Birchmere Park, Thamesmead