New York, NY (Top40 Charts) On April 13th, UK based singer/songwriter ILONA releases "Heroes In Disguise", a song that she wrote after a chance meeting with actor
David Westhead. David, well known for his role as Neil Reid in the BBC's "W1A" series, is also the co-founder of 'Wembley To Soweto' with Kweku Mandela (Nelson Mandela's grandson) and international photographer, John Cole. The charity was created out of the belief that 'an ounce of action is worth a ton of theory' and born in the townships of Johannesburg against the backdrop of the 2010 FIFA World Cup where they set out to ignite a passion for photography in young people, regardless of their means and background.
ILONA says "When I heard about the amazing work that the charity does and it's transformational effect on people's lives, I was inspired to write a song that recognised that all of us have a 'Hero' inside if we are just given opportunity, belief and support."
On April 13th 2018, the charity will launch in Brighton and Hove by giving disadvantaged young people the tools, training and ongoing support to help them change their situation and, ultimately, their lives.
Steve Barrey, executive owner of etch by Steven Edwards, one of Sussex's most highly regarded restaurants, is an Ambassador for the charity. As a series of launch events, he has also set up a record label to be able to release the single so that profits from sales and streams could go to help 'Wembley To Soweto'.
"Heroes In Disguise" will be digitally distributed by Noisehive and available on all the major platforms including iTunes, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon and Google Play.
'Wembley To Soweto' has now evolved into an international programme of courses run both in the UK and abroad that provide professional photographic training and life-skills to historically disadvantaged young people in order for them to move their own lives forward and, ultimately, make a positive contribution to the society in which they live.
Since beginning her musical career, ILONA has already achieved an enormous amount. She's won awards for video as well as live performance, she's been a featured performer at SXSW (in Austin,Texas) and played shows in LA, New York, Nashville, Las
Vegas and across the US Eastern Seaboard as well as gigging through
Europe and touring around the UK numerous times.
Along with her own headline shows, ILONA has also supported Passenger, John Illsley (Dire Straits), Jamie Lawson, Newton Faulkner, The Dunwells, Jillian Jensen (US American Idol), Adam Ant, Paul Rodgers, Willy Mason,
Daniel Bedingfield, jammed with
Ed Sheeran and even performed at The House of Commons and the American
Embassy in London.
Upcoming live dates for ILONA include a special performance at the brand new
Black Deer Festival on June 22nd. Although still an independent artist her music is regularly featured on the Caffe Nero Playlist and has had significant support from radio stations all around the world.
