Maverick Sabre

Born Michael Stafford in Hackney, East London, Maverick Sabre grew up in New Ross, County Wexford, Ireland having moved there with his family at the age of four. Four years later he heard Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me” and realized that making music was what he wanted to do with his life. He wrote his first song the very same year, at the age of eight, and by his early teens was an integral part of Ireland’s small but thriving hip-hop scene. It got to the point where he was tapped for support slots with international names like The Game, and crucially Plan B, by the time he reached sixteen. Plan B was so taken with Stafford’s voice that he suggested that he move to London in order to pursue a proper career in music, and by the age of 17, Stafford was based back in his town of birth, with the music world at his feet.

At first he collaborated with as many underground rappers as were willing to work with him, spreading his name throughout the scene until November 2010, when he released his debut solo mixtape “The Travelling Man”. Mere months after the mixtape’s release he signed to Impala Records for the release of his debut single “Sometimes” in 2011. This gave him enough exposure to come to the attention of dubstep duo Chase And Status, who had him feature on their hit album “No More Idols”. He spent the rest of the year appearing with anyone who would have him, collaborating with Professor Green, appearing on Chris Moyles’ radio show and touring with The Script. So by the time he released his first single on a major label in July 2011, he’d made enough of a name for himself for it to hurtle into the charts at number 16.

2012 saw the release of his debut album “Lonely Are The Brave”, it debuted at number two on the album charts and he’s been one of the most exciting new talents in U.K R&B ever since then. With a new album dropping imminently, Maverick Sabre comes highly recommended.