FOLLOWING his showstopping performance at the Isle of Wight festival this summer, singer songwriter Labrinth will be bringing his show to the O2 Academy Bournemouth next Thursday.

Labrinth, real name Timothy McKenzie, is a London-born producer and singer, having worked on albums by Tinie Tempah, Wretch 32 and Ms Dynamite.

As an artist, he released his debut album Electronic Earth in March with the single Express Yourself rocketing to number two when it was released in April.

Speaking to the Daily Echo, Labrinth is primed and ready for his upcoming Bournemouth appearance and has some surprises are in store.

“Me and the band are always quite well rehearsed, but there is stuff to go through. I’m planning all sorts of guest artists and treats for the fans. This tour is about evolution, we’re going to take the shows to the next level; better lighting, stage sets, the kitchen sink. You can’t do that sort of thing too early, but now the fans know the songs, the time’s right,” says Labrinth.

Perhaps better known for his production of other artists, Labrinth is keen for people to see him as an artist in his own right.

“Well, I suppose some people know me as a producer and haven't heard me sing, and others might have seen me singing a song with an acoustic guitar, so there’s a bit to take in. I’m a weird guy. I think as my own music grows, it'll get more and more exciting. I've got tricks up my sleeve.

“It was hard at first, mainly because I was busy producing. I had to push people out of the studio and tell them to go home because I had to finish my album. That was difficult, but I've learned how to deal with it.”

With his talents on stage and in the studio, the future looks bright for Labrinth.

“I think my fans always want to hear more music, and I want them to understand me better. If you want to speak to your fans, you have to make more music, not let them see you falling out of bars, so it's back to work. Like Plan B, I came into music to be an artist, not a celebrity, so it's more important to me to get the music right than it is to go out and be photographed.”