Since English boy band The Wanted went on a break, its youngest member, Nathan Sykes, seems to be the only one pursuing a solo music career while the other members either ventured into other entertainment fields or are taking an indefinite break from the industry for real.
Sykes, who recently visited Malaysia for a special showcase told TheHive.Asia that he is definitely following the path he always wanted since before he joined The Wanted.
“My solo career is part of the ideal plan, so what I'm doing now is definitely part of the plan,” said the 24-year-old crooner.
Sykes said that joining The Wanted wasn’t really part of the plan, but at that point of time, even though he was given a choice to either pursue a solo career or being in band, the singer decided to choose the latter because he felt that it was “the right thing to do.”
“Something inside me just told me that that was the right thing to do, and I'm very glad that I do because I think everything happens for a reason. So, where I am now is where I want to be, and it's all part of a very long term dream,” said the “Over and Over Again” singer.
Sykes who is often referred to as “the baby” from The Wanted, also said that right now he enjoys being a solo artiste more than being in a boy band.
“I’m just very much being myself and just having fun. I really do enjoy being a solo artiste a lot more, and that’s no disrespect to the band because I had a really great time and I feel so lucky to have had that opportunity. But I think now as a solo artiste, I’m surprising myself every single day and really started to craft what I wanted to do for the rest of my life,” Sykes commented.
“Being in The Wanted for four years had been the most amazing learning experience, and I wouldn’t change it for anything because the things that I learnt are priceless, and I can put all that into my solo career,” he continued.
“Both are equally enjoyable, but personally I enjoy being a solo artiste a lot more.”
Sykes has recently released his debut album “Unfinished Business”, which features two guest appearances. One of the American singer Ariana Grande and the other, American rapper G-Eazy.
The album was named “Unfinished Business” because after The Wanted disbanded, Sykes believed that he still has unfinished business as a musical artiste and performer, thus he decided to name the album as such.
The 12-track album peaked at number two on the Billboard’s US Top Heatseekers Albums chart.