Singer-songwriter Freya Ridings has described the highlight of her career so far – getting her platinum disc in the post.
The 25-year-old releases her eponymous debut album later this month, a collection of songs she says has been 10 years in the making, 10 years of "writing and love… overcoming heartbreak and loneliness".
But it was last summer that the musician shot to fame, thanks to a little help from reality TV.
The emotion of her third single, Lost Without You, was felt by millions as it provided the soundtrack to a break-up in an episode of Love Island 2018, eight months after its release, and subsequently shot into the top 10 of the UK charts.
It went on to be certified platinum, the status given to a single once it sells 600,000 copies.
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"I think the moment… as a shy teenage girl dreaming of future things I never thought I'd have a platinum disc sitting on my wall," Ridings told Sky News. "I do now.
"When the postman delivered that it was a real shocker of a moment."
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That's really how you get your platinum records?
"Yes, the postman just delivers it and you're like, 'thank you!' It's just on my mantelpiece in my bedroom, it's kind of massive. It's quite surreal."
Ridings spoke to Sky News at the South Bank Sky Arts Awards, which celebrate all the arts genres, from comedy and TV to dance and opera.
The musician was nominated for the breakthrough award, which was eventually won by actress Jessie Buckley, but said it was "genuinely humbling" to be in the running.
"I had no idea that I was going to be nominated for something like this, and I'm just so happy to be here, so excited," she said. "There's so much culture, I love it. I'm so in awe of everyone who's nominated."
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Ridings also spoke about the challenge of overcoming dyslexia as a songwriter.
"As a dyslexic person, being nominated for anything to do witRead More – Source
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