Scots postie behind TikTok sea shanty trend set to enter top 10 in UK charts dailyrecord.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from dailyrecord.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Of all the viral trends to launch 2021, sea shanties seemed the most far-fetched. But here they are, in viral TikTok videos, on BBC Radio, and now, thanks to the Bristol-based group The Longest Johns, in the Official Charts. “It’s been a crazy ride,” says their singer Jonathan “JD” Darley, of all the sudden attention. Their song “Wellerman”, an acapella cover of a New Zealand whaling song from the 19th century, has just placed at No 37 in the UK.
22 January 2021
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On December 23, a video of the 26-year-old Scottish postman-and-singer s cover of The Longest Johns Wellerman went viral and saw #ShantyTok trend on TikTok.
The likes of Gary Barlow, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Ronan Keating have since joined Nathan for a duet of the song, and now his debut single has been officially released on Polydor Records (Universal).
Nathan - who has been dubbed the ‘King of Sea Shanty’ - announced on TikTok: See how I was a postman on Friday? I have just signed to the biggest record label in the world. I have just signed a deal with Polydor Records. I’ve done it. It’s done and I’m releasing a single.”
Rolling Stone Menu Sea Shanties Blew Up On TikTok. Now They’re Getting Record Deals
Nathan Evans, who kickstarted the shanty trend on TikTok with his version of “Wellerman,” has signed a deal with Universal Music Group’s Polydor Records
By George W. Hales/Fox Photos/Getty Images
Sea shanties are mainstream now.
Just a few weeks after TikTok creator Nathan Evans helped kickstart the impeccably random sea shanty trend with his viral rendition of New Zealand standard “Wellerman” in which many other TikTokers layered their own vocals one after another over his initial performance Evans is officially releasing his version of track (along with a campy dance remix) through Universal’s Polydor Records.