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A Jersey-born performer has 'tapped' into one of his great former passions for a new single inspired by a famous tap dancer aiming to promote empathy for others – and revive interest in the unique dancing style.
Jonny Labey, who is best known for his role as Paul Coker in the popular TV soap EastEnders, has swapped acting for filmmaking and singing.
As well as recently announcing his directorial debut with a short film titled 'We All Scream', the busy 31-year-old artist has also released two new tracks, called 'Keeps Me Up' and 'People Watching'.
The actor, dancer, filmmaker and singer dropped his first single in August, saying: "My first attempt at getting music out there was a jam called 'Keeps Me Up' with my friend Taylor, who I met last year and is the most genius, hip hop rap beat maker."
Pictured: The former Grouville and Victoria College has released two tracks and has been promoting tap dancing on social media.
'People Watching', meanwhile, has a slightly different feel.
It takes inspiration from a 1960s song called 'Mr Bojangles' by country musician Jerry Jeff Walker – which was itself inspired by the 20th-century African American tap dancer Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson who was famous for his energetic and innovative style of dance.
Jonny, a Bird College graduate with a dance and musical theatre background, told Express that he had recently rediscovered his love of tap dancing and had been hoping to spark interest in the discipline among his social media followers too.
"The song is based on 'Mr Bojangles', which is a song that I used to do with the Jersey Big Band Sometimes I'd bring my tap shoes down and entertain everyone at the Merton..or try to at least.
"Tap was one of the first things I ever did. And it was it was something that I did from the age of five to five to nine. There's tap actually in the track."
Pictured: Jonny playing Jerry Travers in Top Hat the musical.
Elaborating on his love of tap, he added: "I'm so glad that tap is something that I have in my life. And even if it's dancing in a puddle or you know if I need the toilet, it always serves its purpose.
"Tap is one of those funny ones. Everyone loves it, but no one really, no one necessarily knows how to do it. And it's one of those things that just kind of sparks everyone's interest, but it's such a speciality thing that if I hadn't have learned it when I was five. I don't think i would have had that patience to do it now"
As part of his efforts to promote a tap dance revival, he launched a tap dancing social competition last month to win a pair of Sam Smith tap shoes and a lesson from himself.
But the latest track isn't all about tap – there's a deeper message too.
Pictured: Roger's and Hammerstein's 80th Gala evening at The Royal Theatre Drury Lane.
Allied to the theme of mental health explored in his short film, 'People Watching' emphasises the importance of not judging people based on appearances, and how rewarding it can be to empathise with others facing challenges.
He explained: "The message of the 'People Watching' is to not judge a book by its cover and how everyone has a story. And sometimes the more broken they are the more work the more the more the more rewarding it is to listen and understand someone."
The track itself was produced by Peter J Adamson, who Jonny met at the Savoy Hotel while he was working there last year.
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"In January, we went to Peter's family home near Brighton. We worked for the week we came up with a structure and a plan and we made five tracks in that week or so," Jonny recalled.
"And they're all they're all so different. They're all very different vibes. But it's got his producer flair in there like with every single one."
Giving a teaser of what's yet to come, he added: "We've got one coming out soon-ish called 'Smile Again', which is a track with another one of my friends.
"We'll be releasing another one called 'Voodoo' which is a bit more of a kind of brass, funk-style piece".
Pictured top: People watching poster photo taken by Oliver Doran and graphics by Dom Le Brun.
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