Born in Gloucester, England, on April 18, 1993, Nathan Sykes grew up with his younger sister and his mother, a music teacher. He was only 6 when he started singing and performing, going on to win notable competitions, including Britney Spears' Karaoke Kriminals in 2003. Sykes later won a spot in the U.K. boy band the Wanted, which has gone on to score two No. 1 singles,
Early Life
Born in the Abbeydale section of Gloucester, England, on April 18, 1993, Nathan James Sykes learned to play piano at a very young age from his mother, a music teacher. He took to the music and began singing and performing at age 6; starting at age 11, he attended London's prestigious Sylvia Young Theatre School. Sykes won various youth competitions, including Britney Spears's Karaoke Kriminals (where he met Spears live on television) and the Cheltenham Competitive Festival of Dramatic Art, both in 2003. In 2004, he competed to represent the United Kingdom in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, placing third overall.
Career
In 2009, after a highly competitive, nationwide audition process, a 16-year-old Nathan Sykes was chosen to be a member of a new five-member boy band, the Wanted. Sykes was the youngest member of the new group, whose other members were Max George, Tom Parker, Jay McGuiness and Siva Kaneswaran. His musical training and love of R&B and soul music styles came in handy, lending credibility to the group. (Sykes has named harmonizing R&B/pop group Boyz II Men as his favorite group.)
The Wanted's self-titled debut album, released in October 2010, included their first single, "All Time Low," which hit No. 1 on the U.K. singles chart. The album went on to launch three U.K. Top 20 singles and rose to No. 4 in the United Kingdom. In November 2011, the group's second album, Battleground, spawned another No. 1 hit, "Glad You Came," which became their biggest hit to date, holding the top spot in the United Kingdom for two weeks, and in Ireland for five weeks.
As the band makes a bid to increase their visibility and popularity in the United States, celebrity cable channel E! Entertainment launched a reality show around them in summer 2013, The Wanted Life.
Personal Life
Sykes has been romantically linked to British singer Dionne Bromfield, two years his junior and the goddaughter of the late British singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse. Although they have not formally announced they are a couple, the tabloid press has chronicled them closely. As the youngest member of the group, Sykes holds a special place in the hearts of the band's large, young female following. Whenever there is talk in the press of a possible girlfriend, it gives rise to heated fan discussions on Twitter, often resulting in a loss of followers.
Among Sykes's favorite foods are spaghetti Bolognese and Chinese food. He is said to be the neatest and most organized among his bandmates.
Early Life
Born in the Abbeydale section of Gloucester, England, on April 18, 1993, Nathan James Sykes learned to play piano at a very young age from his mother, a music teacher. He took to the music and began singing and performing at age 6; starting at age 11, he attended London's prestigious Sylvia Young Theatre School. Sykes won various youth competitions, including Britney Spears's Karaoke Kriminals (where he met Spears live on television) and the Cheltenham Competitive Festival of Dramatic Art, both in 2003. In 2004, he competed to represent the United Kingdom in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, placing third overall.
Career
In 2009, after a highly competitive, nationwide audition process, a 16-year-old Nathan Sykes was chosen to be a member of a new five-member boy band, the Wanted. Sykes was the youngest member of the new group, whose other members were Max George, Tom Parker, Jay McGuiness and Siva Kaneswaran. His musical training and love of R&B and soul music styles came in handy, lending credibility to the group. (Sykes has named harmonizing R&B/pop group Boyz II Men as his favorite group.)
The Wanted's self-titled debut album, released in October 2010, included their first single, "All Time Low," which hit No. 1 on the U.K. singles chart. The album went on to launch three U.K. Top 20 singles and rose to No. 4 in the United Kingdom. In November 2011, the group's second album, Battleground, spawned another No. 1 hit, "Glad You Came," which became their biggest hit to date, holding the top spot in the United Kingdom for two weeks, and in Ireland for five weeks.
As the band makes a bid to increase their visibility and popularity in the United States, celebrity cable channel E! Entertainment launched a reality show around them in summer 2013, The Wanted Life.
Personal Life
Sykes has been romantically linked to British singer Dionne Bromfield, two years his junior and the goddaughter of the late British singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse. Although they have not formally announced they are a couple, the tabloid press has chronicled them closely. As the youngest member of the group, Sykes holds a special place in the hearts of the band's large, young female following. Whenever there is talk in the press of a possible girlfriend, it gives rise to heated fan discussions on Twitter, often resulting in a loss of followers.
Among Sykes's favorite foods are spaghetti Bolognese and Chinese food. He is said to be the neatest and most organized among his bandmates.
