By Community Correspondent Neil Shingadia Right now he should be writing his university lecture notes on ‘embryonic cells’, but instead, ex-medical student Kamaljit Singh Jhooti is sipping champagne with the biggest superstars on the planet. I know what you’re thinking, ‘Who is he? How’d he do that? Why haven’t I heard of him?’ Well, perhaps if I refer to his commonly used name, then you’ll find the answers you need. Jay Sean!

Yes, it’s the guy whose name seems to be on everyone’s lips at the moment! Born and raised in Hounslow, the urban music artist has broken his way through the barriers and jumped every hurdle to cement himself as a name in the music industry – recently officially becoming the UK’s most ever successful urban artist in the US.

This news comes as a great confidence boost to local Hounslow students who are about to take ‘battle’ in the forthcoming Blastbeat programme – a scheme offered to High Schools to teach entrepreneurial skills, support youth communities and promote young musicians – with an enticement prize of a recording contract with ‘Blastbeat Records’. The programme offers a unique opportunity to teenagers across the borough – allowing them to channel their energy into something positive – music.

One of this years hopeful is Warsame Hashi, 17, of Lampton School. He is a budding rapper who hopes to seek inspiration via witnessing Jay Sean’s recent success and accordingly hopes to seize the opportunity presented by Blastbeat; “To think that a guy from my neighbourhood has made it to the top of America is surreal. It goes to show that if you believe - then you can achieve. Seeing him on TV motivates me to reach my dream and succeed as an artist – wherein Blastbeat is an opportunity to showcase my talents and make an impact.”

However, the award-winning Blastbeat programme is more than a music concert. The Blastbeat organisation works with charities and has a great impact on the community. Students are able to tackle the growing dilemma of diminished resources and use music as a way to create change. Could Blastbeat be the key to a brighter future for some of the contestants? It may not be the Grammies, and it won’t draw comparisons to Glastonbury – but everybody has to start somewhere.

Jay Sean himself started his career in Hounslow hi-street, creating community gigs and once proudly boasting “I got myself on to page 78 of the Hounslow local paper”. If only he knew that his journey would then take him to America, working with the worlds finest producers and becoming a global chart-topping sensation. Could Hounslow produce yet another star at next weeks Bleatbeat event? Only time will tell…