Lewis Blissett. You may have heard the name but a search on Spotify or Apple Music won’t get you very far. He’s a teenager with 1.3 million followers at his fingertips – what’s the fuss about?
In 2019, with young social media stars turning to music in a heartbeat, the title of “the next big thing” is thrown about all too readily. However, with Lewis Blissett, the millions of music fans and stars who have flocked to his social media over the last eight months speak volumes.
It really is over the last half a year that Lewis Blissett has become the name on everyone’s lips. Last September, at 14-years-old, he uploaded a YouTube cover of Ariana Grande’s ‘no tears left to cry’. Soaring vocals with a power far beyond his years – the internet was quick to latch on. Press started sharing the video, YouTuber and vocal coach Tristin Paredes shared some tips, sending over thousands of viewers in the meantime and labelled the youngster “the perfect student”. The views just kept rolling in – Lewis Blissett’s rapid rise had started. Today, that cover sits at 6.3 million views.
With the audience starting to grow on social media, Blissett wasted no time in riding the wave. Uploading covers of ZAYN’s ‘Pillowtalk’, Sia’s ‘Chandelier’ and The Weeknd’s ‘Call Out My Name’ on Instagram, he was cumulating a whopping nine million views. A number of those from stars such as Ariana Grande and Sia, who both shared the singer’s voice on to their online audiences.
By no means was this the rise of any other child prodigy. In months Lewis Blissett had built up an empire of both music fans and celebrities in their millions, all from his home in Swindon. By the time he uploaded his version of Billie Eilish’s ‘idontwannabeyouanymore’ (which Eilish herself would later feel compelled to share too) in late October, the near 10 million views that has pulled in made the great extent of people tuning in crystal clear. From then until now, takes on ‘Love on the Brain’, ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ and ‘Imagine’ saw the audience grow and grow – all without professional help or production.
To get the full story, however, you’ve got to head back to 2017. Following a viral cover of Demi Lovato’s ‘Stone Cold’, the teenager headed onto The Voice Kids. An audition with ‘Cry Me Out’ had Danny Jones, Will.I.Am and Pixie Lott all turning. Making it all the way to the semi-final, those were the first baby steps of Blissett’s journey.
Now, the youngster’s potential is probably bigger than anyone who has ever stepped foot on The Voice stage in any format. To have so many followers online, without releasing a drop of his own music, is just a starting block. Now, following journies to L.A. and finding his own management, it seems fans won’t have to wait long for Blisset to really turn up the heat. In fact, last week he mysteriously encouraged fans to start sharing emojis alongside what seems like a track title, ‘Sick Thoughts’… all signs pointing to something exciting coming very soon.
Are you following Lewis Blissett on Instagram? Let us know @CelebMix on Twitter.