Singing Morrison's cafe worker from Rainham hopes to break into music industry with help of TikTok
12:01, 23 March 2023
updated: 12:01, 23 March 2023
Megastars such as Justin Bieber and Ed Sheeran got their breaks after being discovered on social media and now a supermarket cafe worker is looking to TikTok in the hopes of doing the same.
Rhys Davies had only shown off his musical talents while at work in the Morrison's cafe in Sittingbourne to the delight of colleagues and customers – but is now hoping to engage a larger audience.
He said: "I remember a couple of weeks ago I was cleaning down the kitchen and this older couple overheard me singing and started clapping. I didn't realise I was being that loud."
As well as singing, Rhys also plays piano and the guitar and though he received lessons for instruments, he was never trained vocally.
The 20-year-old, of Solomon Road, Rainham, said: "I've only ever really sung at school shows and things.
"I was in Year 3 when I tried to get into this choir thing but I didn't get picked.
"After that I started singing all the time. Then by Year 6 I remember singing in assembly and a teacher looked over to me and asked 'Rhys is that you singing'?
"I was like yeah sorry was it bad? and he said 'no it was really good'.
"I've always loved music and so after that I started singing all the time.
"I just love sitting down at my piano whenever I get stressed or annoyed I sit down and focus on the music."
Rhys has now been roped in by colleagues at the supermarket to perform at the store to help raise money for children's charities Together for Short Lives and Demelza Hospice Care for Children.
In a post on Facebook, fellow Morrison's worker Sal Candy said: "Let me introduce you to the very talented Rhys Davies. He is a member of our cafe team with an incredible voice and we feel we need to share this.
"He has also agreed to sing for us to raise money for Together for Short Lives and Demelza. Keep doing what you are doing and thank you for entertaining us."
The post has received hundreds of likes with people leaving positive comments.
Emma Louise commented: "I heard him singing the other week when I was in the cafe. He’s very talented."
Jason Lark said: "This young man has provided a lovely background to my breakfast in Morrison's many times. Keep it up. BGT or X Factor next."
And it's not just at the store people may run into his musical talents.
Rhys said: "I remember once I was at Bluewater with my sister and dad and there was a piano there.
"I started playing and next thing I knew there was a crowd forming.
"I didn't realise as I was just getting into the song I was playing but as I got up my sister pointed it out to me.
"I've always loved music and so after that I started singing all the time.
"They all looked so happy and I'm glad I could bring some joy to their day.
'I just love sitting down at my piano whenever I get stressed or annoyed I sit down and focus on the music'
"Other than that I'm always singing around in the cafe."
He is now looking to make a name for himself in the music industry and has started posting covers to TikTok in hopes of gaining some recognition, with his cover of Harry Styles' Sign of the times hitting more than 7,000 views in two weeks.
Rhys is also hoping to enrol in a course at BIMM Institute, a music school in London, where he hopes to learn about song writing and music production.
He said: "I feel that would be helpful not only as I'll learn new skills about music and how to record but I'll also meet a bunch of people who will also want to do similar things to me and so networking will be useful.
"My mate Paul said X Factor is coming back next year and he was like 'just apply man, 2024 is yours, just apply for it'.
"If it's coming back I will apply for it but for now I'm just keeping up the consistency to get some form of recognition and continuing to write my own songs until they start to get good."
Rhys gets support from friends, family, even if they don't always show it.
He said: "My dad will always say he doesn't like it but every now and then I see him pausing the TV and having a listen.
"Sometimes I get the joke 'Who's running over the cats again?' but it's just how he is and he does make me laugh.
"He is happy I am trying to do something with it and it's making me happy."