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Meet Angel, the new R&B star who turned his fortunes around after jail Meet Angel, the new R&B star who turned his fortunes around after jail
(6 months later)
Sitting in a chrome-and-glass executive office in the headquarters of his record label Universal Island in London, Angel looks every inch the aspiring R&B star with obligatory box-fresh Nike trainers, blingy watch and a body covered in tattoos. But his favourite tattoo isn't some Sanskrit symbol or poem about his son, instead it's a number etched in the crook of his right arm. It reads: TF8830 – the number he received when he was sent to Feltham Young Offenders Institution for a crime he had not committed.Sitting in a chrome-and-glass executive office in the headquarters of his record label Universal Island in London, Angel looks every inch the aspiring R&B star with obligatory box-fresh Nike trainers, blingy watch and a body covered in tattoos. But his favourite tattoo isn't some Sanskrit symbol or poem about his son, instead it's a number etched in the crook of his right arm. It reads: TF8830 – the number he received when he was sent to Feltham Young Offenders Institution for a crime he had not committed.
The 25-year-old, real name Sirach Charles, stroked it almost absent-mindedly as he reflected on the eight months he spent on remand awaiting trial for offences including firearm possession and robbery. "The number will always remain in my heart," he said. "It's a reminder of what could have been, the chapter that was the most challenging of my life."The 25-year-old, real name Sirach Charles, stroked it almost absent-mindedly as he reflected on the eight months he spent on remand awaiting trial for offences including firearm possession and robbery. "The number will always remain in my heart," he said. "It's a reminder of what could have been, the chapter that was the most challenging of my life."
The singer, songwriter and record producer has, until now, done a good job of keeping his skeletons hidden. He has brushed off questions about his past, refusing to elaborate on his time in jail or even to talk about the charges against him. But on the eve of the launch of his debut album, About Time, on which he collaborated with Grammy award winner Frank Ocean and lyricist George the Poet, he decided he wanted to open up for the first time. His motivation, he said, was to inspire others and show there is hope even for those who find themselves on the wrong side of the law.The singer, songwriter and record producer has, until now, done a good job of keeping his skeletons hidden. He has brushed off questions about his past, refusing to elaborate on his time in jail or even to talk about the charges against him. But on the eve of the launch of his debut album, About Time, on which he collaborated with Grammy award winner Frank Ocean and lyricist George the Poet, he decided he wanted to open up for the first time. His motivation, he said, was to inspire others and show there is hope even for those who find themselves on the wrong side of the law.
He was, by his own admission, going down a bad path, hanging out with the crowd he "grew up with, not even a gang, it was just friends". Although he hadn't been in trouble with the police, he had had his problems. In year 8 he was expelled from his secondary school, Phoenix High in west London, for being disruptive in class, and was sent to a pupil referral unit.He was, by his own admission, going down a bad path, hanging out with the crowd he "grew up with, not even a gang, it was just friends". Although he hadn't been in trouble with the police, he had had his problems. In year 8 he was expelled from his secondary school, Phoenix High in west London, for being disruptive in class, and was sent to a pupil referral unit.
By his mid-teens he had begun to covet things – the expensive watches, designer clothes, the newest trainers – and had decided he would do "anything necessary to get them". When I asked what he meant, his almond-shaped eyes narrowed."There's only one or two things you can do [to make money]. You can do drug dealing, you can do theft – which I would never dream of doing – or robbery, which I would never do. I would never do anything to harm anyone, but I was making ends meet. Any means necessary within my comfort zone."By his mid-teens he had begun to covet things – the expensive watches, designer clothes, the newest trainers – and had decided he would do "anything necessary to get them". When I asked what he meant, his almond-shaped eyes narrowed."There's only one or two things you can do [to make money]. You can do drug dealing, you can do theft – which I would never dream of doing – or robbery, which I would never do. I would never do anything to harm anyone, but I was making ends meet. Any means necessary within my comfort zone."
The story is depressingly familiar, but in Angel's case the script was somewhat different. Far from being the product of a broken home or coming from a crime-ridden council estate, he grew up with his parents in a loving family in a four-bedroom terrace house not far from BBC Television Centre.The story is depressingly familiar, but in Angel's case the script was somewhat different. Far from being the product of a broken home or coming from a crime-ridden council estate, he grew up with his parents in a loving family in a four-bedroom terrace house not far from BBC Television Centre.
He was passionate about music from a young age, teaching himself to play piano, guitar and drums at home and composing tracks in the recording studio in the basement. His father, Tendai Charles, was a session musician who played with Bob Marley. When he thought his five children were old enough, he put them into a band which he called the Charles Family, co-managing them with the late reggae singer Smiley Culture. Their quest for fame was captured in the BBC documentary One Life, but despite the exposure success proved elusive. Angel continued writing songs and making music at home until "something crazy" happened. "We were out one night chilling, someone took my phone, said they were just going up the road." Then, the something crazy: a robbery involving a gun and an attempted kidnapping. Angel became embroiled after his phone and one of his bandanas was found close to the scene of the crime.He was passionate about music from a young age, teaching himself to play piano, guitar and drums at home and composing tracks in the recording studio in the basement. His father, Tendai Charles, was a session musician who played with Bob Marley. When he thought his five children were old enough, he put them into a band which he called the Charles Family, co-managing them with the late reggae singer Smiley Culture. Their quest for fame was captured in the BBC documentary One Life, but despite the exposure success proved elusive. Angel continued writing songs and making music at home until "something crazy" happened. "We were out one night chilling, someone took my phone, said they were just going up the road." Then, the something crazy: a robbery involving a gun and an attempted kidnapping. Angel became embroiled after his phone and one of his bandanas was found close to the scene of the crime.
Police stormed his parents' home at 1am and by the following morning he was told by a judge that he was being remanded to Feltham. The gravity of what had happened only sunk in when he walked through the prison's huge metal entrance doors. "I remember them saying this is your prison number," he recalled. "I'm thinking: 'Prison number? I don't need that, why are you giving me that, I haven't done anything wrong.' I couldn't believe what was happening."Police stormed his parents' home at 1am and by the following morning he was told by a judge that he was being remanded to Feltham. The gravity of what had happened only sunk in when he walked through the prison's huge metal entrance doors. "I remember them saying this is your prison number," he recalled. "I'm thinking: 'Prison number? I don't need that, why are you giving me that, I haven't done anything wrong.' I couldn't believe what was happening."
He stopped himself from becoming depressed in the eight months he spent awaiting trial by throwing himself into his music. He wrote several albums worth of songs in his cell, including the Pixie Lott and Jason Derulo track I'm Coming Home and several others that made it on to About Time. Prison was a wake-up call. He talked of "the will of God" and fate and reckoned that prison was the making of him. "Everything is written," he said. "Going away allowed me to think about what I was doing with my life. It made me realise you can get drawn in by association."He stopped himself from becoming depressed in the eight months he spent awaiting trial by throwing himself into his music. He wrote several albums worth of songs in his cell, including the Pixie Lott and Jason Derulo track I'm Coming Home and several others that made it on to About Time. Prison was a wake-up call. He talked of "the will of God" and fate and reckoned that prison was the making of him. "Everything is written," he said. "Going away allowed me to think about what I was doing with my life. It made me realise you can get drawn in by association."
After being found not guilty of all charges at his trial in January 2008 – he said it was a clear case of mistaken identity – he moved away from the area and into a house in Teddington, west London, spending his days at the mixing desk of a recording studio he installed in a spare room. His work soon came to the attention of music publishers and artist managers. He signed a publishing deal with Universal Music and got an early taste of success when Green Light, a track he wrote for Roll Deep, secured No 1 spot in the singles charts. (He has also written for Rihanna and Tinie Tempah.) A five-album record deal followed, and his track Wonderful was one of the biggest hits of 2012. "You'd be surprised if you heard some of the tunes," Angel said, sounding like a proud father.After being found not guilty of all charges at his trial in January 2008 – he said it was a clear case of mistaken identity – he moved away from the area and into a house in Teddington, west London, spending his days at the mixing desk of a recording studio he installed in a spare room. His work soon came to the attention of music publishers and artist managers. He signed a publishing deal with Universal Music and got an early taste of success when Green Light, a track he wrote for Roll Deep, secured No 1 spot in the singles charts. (He has also written for Rihanna and Tinie Tempah.) A five-album record deal followed, and his track Wonderful was one of the biggest hits of 2012. "You'd be surprised if you heard some of the tunes," Angel said, sounding like a proud father.
Back on planet earth, Angel is focusing on the release of About Time, and is passionate about being a mentor to young men, especially ex-offenders who may feel there is no hope. He is involved in the charity Key4Life, which was set up to reduce reoffending and to support rehabilitation and was launched by Bob Geldof last year.Back on planet earth, Angel is focusing on the release of About Time, and is passionate about being a mentor to young men, especially ex-offenders who may feel there is no hope. He is involved in the charity Key4Life, which was set up to reduce reoffending and to support rehabilitation and was launched by Bob Geldof last year.
The group works with inmates at Ashfield Young Offenders Institution in Bristol and Angel has already been there twice this year to run music workshops. He said he is determined that something good should come out of his time in Feltham. "I tell them, all these guys you think you want to be like, write to me or call me in five years' time and tell me where they are, and if you still want to be like that. I've done it. So can they."The group works with inmates at Ashfield Young Offenders Institution in Bristol and Angel has already been there twice this year to run music workshops. He said he is determined that something good should come out of his time in Feltham. "I tell them, all these guys you think you want to be like, write to me or call me in five years' time and tell me where they are, and if you still want to be like that. I've done it. So can they."
Angel's album About Time is available to pre-order now and will come out on 15 April. A single, The World, is out on 7 April.Angel's album About Time is available to pre-order now and will come out on 15 April. A single, The World, is out on 7 April.
ANGEL'S ASCENTANGEL'S ASCENT
Born Sirach Charles, October 1987.Born Sirach Charles, October 1987.
Grew up Shepherd's Bush, London.Grew up Shepherd's Bush, London.
Career Co-wrote Green Light, a No 1 hit for Roll Deep, in 2010. Has also written music for JLS, Cheryl Cole and Pixie Lott. His debut single, Go In, Go Hard, reached No 41 in the charts last year. His debut album, About Time, is out in April.Career Co-wrote Green Light, a No 1 hit for Roll Deep, in 2010. Has also written music for JLS, Cheryl Cole and Pixie Lott. His debut single, Go In, Go Hard, reached No 41 in the charts last year. His debut album, About Time, is out in April.
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