Singer finds his voice on talent show

When Elliot James Reay first stepped onto the stage of Singer 2026, one of China's most popular music competition shows, he found himself experiencing something he had not felt for quite some time: nerves.

The young British singer had already built a substantial online following with his distinctive retro sound. But Singer 2026 was different. It was live, competitive and placed him alongside accomplished singers, with audiences voting on their performances.

"I'd never been in a competition before, especially a talent competition," the 23-year-old singer-songwriter said in Beijing on Aug 14.

Yet the unfamiliar pressure brought an unexpected feeling.

"It made me feel like I just started my career again," he says. "It gave me a bit more hunger and a bit more fire."