A BBC-featured artist who wants to keep Thurrock youth off the streets has kicked off a new crowdfunded project for a recording studio.

Grays’ artist Smallzdeep pitched his new idea at a recent Thurrock Soup event, and won first place.

The artist, otherwise known as Connor Hammond, said he was “shocked” after organisations approached him after the event to talk about funding his plan.

The young artist has already recorded top iTunes-selling EPs as well as videos with global grime artists Jamal Edwards and DJ Cameo as well as being featured on BBC Radio 1, Kiss FM and Capital Xtra.

After competing with six other social entrepreneurs at the Beehive in Grays, Smallzdeep who is 23, won the £120 prize for his vision of a recording studio in Grays.

The winning pitch was for a studio which will be open two days a week free of charge to Thurrock youth in Grays town centre as well as run music and creative writing workshops.

Thurrock organisations, Unltd and Riverside Community Projects approached him after the event to talk about giving grants of £5,000 each.

The young musician, who was inspired to start producing for radio and writing lyrics after the death of his father when he was 12, said he was “shocked.”

He said: “It’s been very exciting. I always wanted to start my own business – I have been in music for a long time but I never thought about my own studio.

“To get people coming up to me and saying it’s a brilliant idea, it’s quite mind-blowing.

Having been involved in writing and sending off music to producers from age 11, Connor said he can get the project running music and creative writing workshops for youth, in order to give them an outlet to ‘express themselves.’

He said: “Over the years I have come in to contact with many brilliant, young talented artists who have no way of pursuing their dreams.

“By having this studio in the area it will occupy and keep the youth off of the streets, whilst learning about the ins and outs of sound engineering, recording, production, mixing, mastering and much more.

He added: “There is nothing better than a community coming together to help the youth chase their dreams whilst also having a business we can all be proud of.”

Councillor Deborah Stewart said: “A big congratulations to everybody but it was particularly heart-warming to hear that Connor walked away from tonight with £120.

“When you do the maths, this works out to be more money than should have been in the pot for how many people were in the room.”

Connor added: “To be honest I was shocked that there’s these nice people in the community who do nice stuff for people.”

The Grays-based artist won £120 at the September 9 event which was funded by a National Lottery grant and Thurrock Council.

Other projects pitched at the Thurrock Soup Event included community crop growing spaces on unused land, education for kids on obesity, an alternative school called a ‘Forest School’ to researching bees’ health benefits.

The prize money came from attendees putting £5 in a pot for a bowl of soup and roll donated by a local farmer.

Connor’s project can be found on Kickstarter and has already reached £800.

To help Smallzdeep reach his goal, visit:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/692114946/essex-recording-studio-and-rehearsal-rooms