ONE of the most watched clips on YouTube last week was the music video of a little-known singer from Hampstead.
Musical genius is a surprise internet hit
ONE of the most watched clips on YouTube last week was the music video of a little-known singer from Hampstead.
Shayan Italia, who lives in Finchley Road, posted the video for his single Reflection on the website and watched in awe as it rocketed to the top spot.
The singer, who was born in India, did not come from a musical background. He only discovered his freakish musical talent at the age of 19 after his mother died. In accordance with her dying wishes his father bought him a keyboard.
He said: "If I hear a piece of music by Bach or Tchaikovsky I can pick it up instantly and play it straight back perfectly the following day.
"I find it hard to understand traditional musical theory - I look at the piano like it's a black and white code. It's like in the film The Matrix where Neo sees the world in code. I still don't know how I do it."
At first he was reluctant to sing but he realised no-one else could capture the soul of his songs. After he received a standing ovation at a club in Notting Hill Road he was approached by an investor who offered him £100,000.
Mr Italia is the first Zoroastrian since Freddie Mercury to have launched a single or album in the UK, and he is now hoping to follow in his footsteps by becoming a regular chart-topper.
"My motto is that if someone tells you a thing can't be done, it's just their way of saying they can't do it," he said. To see Mr Italia's video log on to www.youtube.com.
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