TikTok star Elliot James Reay’s journey from shops to Graceland

A singer has described how he went from singing in shopping centres to now being known across TikTok.

Elliot James Reay says he is “itching to show everyone” his new songs after becoming a social media sensation with his music inspired by the Elvis Presley era.

The 23-year-old from Bury, Greater Manchester, has gained millions of followers and recently released his northern soul song Who Knew Dancing Was A Sin.

It follows gigs “all over the world – just getting my face in front of everyone which was fun”, he told BBC Radio Manchester.

They included a tour of South East Asia and a “humbling” visit to Presley’s home in Graceland after receiving an award in Memphis in the US.

“It was a really eye-opening thing because I had never seen Memphis and I had my vision of it,” he says.

“It was better than I imagined.”

Reay is briefly settling back home after a busy period performing to large audiences in Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines and Indonesia.

“I was doing shopping malls and showing up and thousands of people were rocking up.”

He’s developed a fanbase drawn to his retro-inspired music and says: “I enjoy that sound and era but I feel like that, especially in South East Asia, they do a lot of karaoke and the karaoke over there is all the 1960s up to the 90s.”

He says his “number one thing is touring” with gigs across England in July before more shows abroad.

“I’ve got so many other songs that I’m itching to show everyone and release and obviously for my songs that are out, I just want to sing over and over and over again.

“I want to meet every single person that’s supported me and just thank them and show some respect because they got me where I am.”

He is working with his team on putting out an album, having released his latest single Who Knew Dancing Was A Sin in May – inspired by his partner’s parents, who are Northern Soul fans.

“They wanted a track written for their nights out and they said can you write us a Northern Soul style track.

“We gave it a go and I think we wrote two songs and Who Knew Dancing Was A Sin was a favourite.

“The main storyline of it was my partner thinks that I’m cheating on her but actually I’m going dancing and she’s asking me who are these people, who’s Jackie – we’re referencing Jackie Wilson there who’s probably one of the greats of the scene if you like.

“I think it just had an all-round good message that you can go and have a good time out dancing and you don’t have to tell anyone.”

He says he tried to give the moves “a good crack” for the video but found it “a daunting thing because the dance is hard”.

But as his success soars, he finds he can switch off by playing snooker.

“It’s quite a relaxing game. I think I’ve always liked it even before I was doing music as a career like this.

“I just get into a zone while I’m playing.”