Project X brings together a group of young artists and challenges them to create a cross-platform project to showcase in August 2017. To find out more about our participants, we put Abz Abby under the spotlight to learn more about his tastes and inspirations…
Which living actor/director/artist do you most admire?
Abz: The actor I most admire has to be Idris Elba, the struggles he had growing up are similar to mine. Elba came from Hackney, which was once deprived. He wanted to make a change in his life and had support from family, similar to me. The Prince’s Trust changed his life when he was 16 and gave him a grant to go to the National Youth Music Theatre and he hasn’t looked back since. The amount of charity work he does and how he also helps to give BME artists a platform mean he’s just a sick guy in general.
Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?
Abz: My first guest would be the Obamas just because they’re the coolest family in the world. Jamal Edwards from SB.TV, I’m a massive fan of his and it would be good to have him at my party. Stevie Wonder because we’d need some entertainment at the party. I love his music and I’ve seen him live before and he shut it down, everyone loved him and his songs are great. Everybody knows a Stevie song.
What would your super power be?
Abz: Teleportation. I always double book myself when I have meetings or when I’m going out, so if I could be in two places at the same time that would be good.
If you were stranded on a desert island, what one book/piece of music would you take?
Abz: I’d take Jamal Edwards’ book Self Belief: The Vision with me. It would help whilst I was stranded to believe in myself – hopefully one day someone would find me on the island.
What are you most proud of?
Abz: Working for The Prince’s Trust. I was once a young person with the Trust and they helped me change my life. Three years later I was offered a job with them as a Jobs Ambassador to help inspire unemployed young people onto positive outcomes. This was life changing for me – seeing different young people every week and helping them with their CVs, benefit advice and looking for a job.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
Abz: To always be yourself and enjoy life. Believe in yourself and don’t be afraid to try new things; always be ambitious and you can achieve anything in life.
If you had 24 hours and no travel restrictions, where would you go and what would you do?
Abz: First I would go to Tokyo for some clothes shopping, their fashion is really good and I just love the culture. Next stop has to be Dubai for some sun and food – the food is amazing there.
Project X runs at HOME for three weeks with participants returning to showcase their final work in August 2017. To find out more, read our Project X week one diary.
HOME Digital in association with Virgin Media Business
