No.1 chart sensation Labrinth swept into Scotland’s capital city today and declared he wants to be king of Edinburgh Castle.
The urban music star was in Scotland to attend a glitzy jewellery store opening on Edinburgh’s prestigious George Street.
The 23-year-old, who is currently no.1 in the charts with his new track Beneath Your Beautiful with Aberdeen singer Emeli Sande, revealed his love of Scotland, including its national soft drink.
He said: “I have been to Scotland three times and I did a tour last year, its completely true what people say about Scottish crowds. Scotland was the crowd. The first time I came to Scotland my album hadn’t come out yet, but the crowd was the best, I had a lot of fun.
“This is actually the first time I’ve come to Edinburgh and I’m looking forward to the party tonight. I’ll maybe try and go to visit the castle – I can act like a king!
“I’m definitely looking forward to playing tonight. I’m going to perform my single. We are No.1 at the moment.
Labrinth appeared alongside Scot singing sensation Emile Sande on Saturday’s X factor. He said he finally felt “worthy” of performing on the hit show.
He said: “I loved being on X Factor. I didn’t want to play X Factor until I felt I was worthy, I wanted to earn the right to go in. I wanted it to be “Wow it’s Labyrinth!” and not that I was just there because of Simon Cowell.
“I really loved being on the show though and Simon sent me a bottle of wine afterwards to say well done.
Labyrinth revealed he had a fondness for Scotland’s other national drink.
He joked: “The funny thing is I loved Irn Bru when I was younger. It was one of my favourite drinks when I was growing up. Scotland is the best; I will definitely come up to Scotland again, in fact its actually becoming my favourite place.”
Labrinth will be in town tomorrow to play the O2 Academy in Glasgow tomorrow night (wed).
Excited autograph hunters gathered outside on the street, hoping to catch a glimpse of the urban music sensation.
One thrilled fan, Tuesday Stevenson, 23, from Edinburgh was delighted to get a picture with the musician as he posed beside a red Ferrari.
She said: “It is really exciting to see him. He looks like a proper pop star. You can tell he’s someone special. I couldn’t believe when I spotted him on my way to work. It had made my day!”
Labrinth was Simon Cowell’s first non-talent show signing in six years.
He was initially meant to work solely as a producer but ended up being signed to the Syco label as rapper himself.
He rose to fame by producing and featuring on rapper Tinie Tempah’s debut single Pass Out that shot to the top of the charts in March 2010.
His only studio album, Electronic Earth, was released in April earlier this year and debuted at debuted at number two on the UK Albums Chart – selling 32,281 copies in its first week.
Labrinth was in town to help open Rox jewellery store at the former Assembly rooms venue on George Street.
Director Kyron Keogh, said: “We are really excited about the opening. We have been looking for a shop venue to open up in Edinburgh for years.
“We are delighted to have Labrinth on board and are very excited to hear him perform tonight.”
Also at the store opening was BBC weathergirl Cat Cubie.
