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In-depth interviews, first person opinion articles and investigative features I have written throughout my career. 

Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews •

Next Wave #1183: Chance Peña | Next Wave | Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews

Chance Peña’s appearance on The Voice US at the mere age of 15 has catapulted him to success at the pop-folk world. CLASH writer Amrit Virdi caught up with the singer-songwriter before he switches the Texas country for UK stages in his upcoming tour.
“When I reached 15, there was a crossroads where I had to decide whether this was something I wanted to do, and The Voice opened my eyes to fact that this is a real career and I needed to work hard – or work my ass off, for lack of a better term.”—...
CYP Now •

Children’s charities on issues the next government must prioritise

Improved special educational needs support, expansion of social prescribing to boost youth mental health and investment in health visiting services are key policy asks sought by children’s charities, finds Amrit Virdi.

CYP Now looks at key calls from across the sector for the next government.

The three main political parties have pledged to increase mental health support for young people in schools, and charities are calling for the next government to go further. It should “tackle the root cau
Music Teacher •

Second home: World Heart Beat Embassy Gardens

The charity World Heart Beat now has a second education space in London. MT's Amrit Virdi dropped by to see its facilities and meet the staff preparing young students from a range of backgrounds

The gardens of the US Embassy, surrounded by the new builds of Nine Elms and the regenerated Battersea Power Station, aren't where you'd expect to find a music academy driven by ‘a non-exclusive, non-elitist philosophy’. World Heart Beat is a registered charity, with 45 teachers and 400 students at the
CYP Now •

Interview: Ashley John-Baptiste, BBC journalist and presenter

Amrit Virdi speaks to BBC journalist about his new book on his care experience.

As a BBC broadcast journalist, Ashley John-Baptiste has become a household name, working as a presenter on The One Show and hosting documentaries including Being Black at Cambridge.

Baptiste has also been vocal about his time growing up in care, creating a documentary in 2022 titled Split Up in Care - Life Without Siblings, where he discovered he had half-siblings – despite being told by social workers growing up t
Music Teacher •

Vying for vocational: the future of diplomas

MT's Amrit Virdi catches up with course leaders and students about vocational music qualifications and their future, amid the rise of T Levels and funding scares

Gone are the days of assessing music solely through exams. The landscape of music education has adapted and grown since the introduction of the A Level course some decades ago – namely with vocational courses, first introduced in 1994. Further education (FE) diplomas have opened doors to the music industry as well as higher education,
CYP Now •

General Election 2024: What the children and young people's sector wants to see from the next government

Charities supporting children and young people have released manifestos detailing what they want from the next government in the run up to the general election after more than a decade of cuts to public services.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced 4 July as the date for the next general election.

The current Conservative government has introduced a range of policies for young people, including expanding the funded childcare offer and guidance on banning mobile phones in schools, which ha
Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews •

Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard And Soft | Reviews

Following up two GRAMMY-acclaimed albums at the age of 22 is a tough feat, but it’s one Billie Eilish has managed with gusto on her third collection, ‘HIT ME HARD AND SOFT‘. Announced a little over a month ago with no pre-released singles, fans didn’t know what to expect from the singer’s new era. On her debut ‘WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP WHERE DO WE GO?’, dark and clamorous, synth-toned production defined most of the tracks, but this record abounds in a more organic-sounding repertoire, with guitar
Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews •

Next Wave #1169: Dylan Gossett | Next Wave

Dylan Gossett has played a part in using social media to re-introduce the world to folk and country music… and gotten Noah Kahan’s seal of approval in doing so. CLASH writer Amrit Virdi spoke to the Texas-born singer-songwriter across timezones on Zoom about finding your feet in the industry and bring country music to life on stage.

“I was definitely brought up around music – my parents loved it. Listening to the Eagles, Jimmy Buffett and Alan Jackson laid a foundation for me and my brother Bla
CYP Now •

Partnership campaigns for better lives for young care-experienced Londoners

Care-experienced young people have worked with the council to create the Pan London Care Leavers Compact, a better offer for young care leavers.

Provider: Partnership for Young London, Children in Care Council and London Councils

Summary: Care-experienced young people have worked with the council to create the Pan London Care Leavers Compact, a better offer for young care leavers.

Charity Partnership for Young London has led a city-wide project to create the Pan London Care Leavers Compact, s
CYP Now •

Early SEND support needs going unmet

A shortage of special needs support in the early years is increasing pressure on childcare providers and schools, new reports reveal.

Latest analysis by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) reveals the benefits of Sure Start children’s centres to children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Researchers concluded that children’s centres – a central plank of New Labour’s childcare policy – were found to have increased the amount of SEND support available for pre-school age
The Rodeo Magazine •

English Teacher captivates listeners with theatrical debut

Leeds-based four piece English Teacher make a theatrical and unique mark on the British-indie scene with their strong debut, This Could Be Texas, which emphasises the band’s lyrical talent alongside their stellar experimental sound.

The highly anticipated album follows the band’s 2022 debut EP Polyawkward – and pre-released singles from the LP, such as ‘The World’s Biggest Paving Slab’, have already amassed over one million (well-deserved) listens.

What has always made English Teacher unique a
CYP Now •

Merseyside young people develop career skills through literary self-expression

Marginalised young people are empowered to express themselves by writing books about their lived experiences.

Comics Youth CIC, an organisation helping young people to publish comics, launched the Marginal Publishing House in Merseyside to give young people who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity a chance to share their stories.

The youth-led organisation publishes solely marginalised authors under the age of 25. Originally funded by the National Lottery and set up as a coaching and mentor
The Rodeo Magazine •

Blossom Caldarone on her London influences and Fair Play

Blossom Caldarone is set to bring her fun and expressive music to Manchester for Fair Play Festival 2024 on 6 April. I spoke to Blossom ahead of the festival to find out more about her musical journey… and her love for Manchester.

[AV]: Where did your love for music begin?

[BC]: Probably with the Annie soundtrack as a very small child – I loved the theatrics and storytelling. And then playing in orchestras, as I loved being part of something. Music always makes you feel like a part of somethin
CYP Now •

Tackling decline in London pupil numbers

A fall in children attending London schools is putting pressure on budgets and experts warn it could impact wider community support.

Latest analysis of school capacity data by London Councils has highlighted a drop in demand for secondary school places in London, which children’s services leaders fear could have a devastating impact on wider support services.

Analysis by the umbrella body for the capital’s 32 boroughs, projects there will be a 4.4 per cent decline in reception pupils and 4.3 p
The Rodeo Magazine •

Lauran Hibberd creatively tackles grief and heartbreak

Lauran Hibberd showed the world her emphatic pop-punk sound on her debut album, Garageband Superstar. Her stellar sophomore release, girlfriend material, continues to do just that while adding an extra layer of maturity to her sound.

In the time between her album releases, Hibberd unfortunately lost her father, and as a result this album is a carefully crafted cathartic release for her heartbreak. Opening track ‘I suck at grieving’ deals with the topic head-on while sticking to her light-hearte
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