Just a few weeks after sensationally scooping the Mercury Music Prize, Speech Debelle is saying goodbye to her childhood home to escape its traffic and the parking problems in South London.
The fact that the Crystal Palace born hip hop artist has decided to move out of her mum’s home in Streatham Vale comes as no surprise.
But the fact the former Norwood School pupil looks set to move north of the river will be a big shock to many.
On Tuesday she told the Streatham Guardian that she was leaving her south London roots because she had had enough of traffic congestion and wanted to broaden her horizons.
She said: “Its a real nightmare to drive round here, and don’t even talk to me about parking. At least in North London I can get above 20mph.”
But she said her decision was testament to her promise “to keep her feet on the ground” despite her new-found success.
She said: “Nothing has really changed. I will still always be about the music. I think the album deserved to win.”
The singer was born in Crystal Palace but a troubled childhood saw her leave home in her teens.
Her experiences living in hostels across south London formed the basis for many of the lyrics on her debut album.
But she said she has “good memories” of her childhood south of the river – including visiting the Megabowl and Streatham Ice Rink when she was younger – then a pupil at St Luke’s Primary School in West Norwood.
Now she is set to spend her last days in the area for some time.
