First Performer for the UMAs 2018 at The Great Escape Announced as Mullally

09 February 2018 - Press release

Mullally, winner of ‘Best Male Solo Act’ at the first ever Unsigned Music Awards in 2016 will return to open the second instalment of the biggest award ceremony in new music at the 4,500-capacity Brighton Centre (Brighton’s largest venue) which officially kicks off The Great Escape on Wednesday 16 May 2018.

Whilst some artists choose to stay independent, research suggests that a higher percentage (85% in fact) are on the hunt for major label backing. Aiming to provide an invaluable link between emerging artists and the industry, the UMA’s exist to champion the cause of all their winners and nominees. A shining example of that route, is Mullally.

Simon O’Kelly, CEO of UMA Music Group says:

“On October 27, 2016, Mullally took to the stage as a brand new, unsigned artist at the first ever UMAs held at the Troxy Theatre in London, to collect his Award for Best Male. A few months later he signed a major deal with Atlantic Records and more recently, a publishing deal with Kobalt Music Publishing. It feels right to invite Mullally back to champion all that can be achieved following a win at the UMAs - his journey over the last year highlights the exciting potential, and we’re proud to have been a part of his journey.”

On being asked to perform, Mullally said:

“I’m so stoked, I don’t think I’ll sleep the night before, or even the week...”

Mullally’s first 3 releases (Overdose, Troubled Love and Wonderful) have amassed over 6 million streams on Spotify alone and have been championed by tastemakers such as Radio 1 (Huw Stephens), BBC 1Xtra (DJ Target), MTV, Hilly Dilly, The 405, SBTV and more.

Mullally has seen his stock rise on the live circuit thanks to sold out headline shows in both L.A. & London, festival performances & support slots for some of the UK's most revered artists including Jess Glynne, Clean Bandit and Akala.

On a musical front he has been hard at work in the studio with some of the most talented producers in the UK including Gordon Mills (Newton Faulkner and Ed Sheeran), Toby Scott (Pet Shop Boys, Gordon City, Girls Aloud, Little Mix), SOS Music (Ariana Grande, Tinie Tempah, Emeli Sande), Dan McDougall (The Wanted, Will Young) and many more.

Now signed to Atlantic Records UK, Mullally is working on his debut album and can be seen throughout the summer playing many of the UK's biggest festivals including The Great Escape, Latitude & Reading & Leeds Festival.

Upon accepting his award in 2016, he said:

“Holy s**t! Oh wow! Oh my god! This is amazing! This is an amazing platform. I released my first song in January, we’re now in October and I’ve just won an Unsigned Music Award and I can’t really wrap my head around it.”

And in a later interview with Box Plus Network, he said:

“The most nervous I’ve ever been is when they called my name. I hadn’t thought of anything to say in front of however many thousand people there were. I’ve never even won an award before, and in my first year… to do that… I still haven’t really clocked that.”