Kilwinning: Spencer Shek on busking in Dundee city centre

The Kilwinning man is currently studying law at the University of Dundee, where he is in his fourth year.

But alongside his studies, Spencer is wowing the crowds in his adopted home city by busking around the Overgate Shopping Centre. 

"Although I study law, music is my true passion and my dream career," the 24-year-old admitted.

The dream is one which took root at an early age for Spencer - and he admits it has been a challenging journey to get where he is now.

He explained: "My passion for music started when my parents got a piano for me and piano lessons at the age of six or seven.

"In primary four, a cousin of mine lent a High School Musical DVD to me, and after giving that a watch, I fell in love with singing.

"The primary school choir back then also heavily influenced my love for singing, despite being one of the only boys in the primary school choir.

"That didn’t bother me in the slightest though."

Sadly the same couldn't be said for a handful of Spencer's peers - particularly when he moved into secondary education at St Matthew's Academy in Saltcoats.

Spencer continued: "There have been really dark moments from bullying within high school where I’ve wanted to stop.

"People would already make fun of me in general for being a different race and having different likings or passions, being more passionate towards music than football or whatever other 'manly' interest there is out there.

"I’d get tweets directed at me that I wouldn’t find out about until years later because back then, I wasn’t on Twitter much."

One incident in particular stands out from those difficult years at secondary school.

"The main incident, of two boys in the year above mocking my first year Christmas talent show singing performance, and getting a lot of likes and comments on said video, shattered me into pieces," he admitted.

"My parents would console me, but I had the big decision to make at the end of the day - whether to quit singing or to keep pursuing my passion and ignoring the hate and bullying I was receiving.

"It wasn’t easy but I’m glad I kept on pursuing my singing and music.

"I just kept getting better and it’s landed me so many amazing opportunities, especially in the past few years.

"I’ve performed wedding gigs, care home gigs, bar/pub gigs, and many more. I could face a past bully of mine right now and be able to show them just how wrong they were about me."

Busking may not be every aspiring musician's cup of tea, but Spencer says he loves it - and that he's particularly enjoying the reactions he's had from music lovers in the city that gave the world the likes of Michael Marra, the Average White Band, Kyle Falconer and his bandmates from The View and many more.

He explained: "The idea came around when I was growing tired of travelling to Glasgow every weekend for open mics.

"Don’t get me wrong. They are great for starting up, when you’re wanting to perform to strangers, but it became weekly at the same venue and the same crowd.

"I’d be spending money whilst not earning any, just to attend these open mics, waiting for a good while just to perform two or three songs.

"A friend of mine, Emma Sarginson, introduced me to busking as she had been busking herself and I very quickly grew in love with it after tagging along with her.

"I eventually got my own amp and then started busking in Glasgow by myself."

Around the same time he joined a theatre group and landed the leading role in a musical, giving him more of the confidence anyone needs if they aspire to perform in public. 

Spencer commented: "I didn’t start busking in Dundee the instant I moved here as I thought it would be pretty quiet.

"To my surprise, I was wrong. It can be as busy as Glasgow at times, and I find myself making more in Dundee, as Glasgow tends to be saturated with a lot of buskers since the city is bigger.

"I’ll always still love Glasgow, but I very much enjoy busking in Dundee.

"It’s allowed me to continue doing what I love in my free time. Being able to perform to the public and make some money to help me financially is great, as living is not cheap these days."

And Spencer has impressed crowds in Dundee so much that he even featured in the local paper just before Christmas.

"It was amazing to get this kind of recognition," he commented. 

"Being featured in the newspaper with two entire pages just about me has been so surreal. 

"The comments and love I’ve received online has been super lovely.

"There’s been so many compliments from strangers encouraging me to continue pursuing my passion as they believe I’ll make it big some day."

That growing recognition has also given Spencer a chance to reflect on the musical steps he's taken so far - and on all those who made it possible.

He added: "I would like to thank my parents for being so unconditionally supportive of my music, and the entire journey, as it has definitely had its ups and downs.

"I’d also like to thank my music teachers Mr Stewart, Mrs Maguire, Mrs Bruce - and any other teachers within my high school experience - for being the best teachers ever and believing in me every step.

"They helped me develop my love for music even more. It was always an amazing feeling, growing close to the music department, and having them recognise my musical abilities and allowing me to showcase them in any school events.

"I’d also like to thank my head teacher, Mr Colligan, for always giving me wise and supportive words when complimenting my music, and giving me motivation to keep it up."

And as he prepares for the future, Spencer says he will continue to chase his dreams.

"My aim is to graduate from university and get my diploma whilst still doing music on the side," he said.

"But once I get my diploma, I plan to take a year out or so to just pursue my music and see where it takes me.

"Hopefully, I get some originals released very soon to streaming platforms and my music takes off at some point - that’s the big dream."

Anyone looking to check out Spencer's music can do so via his social media accounts - under his name Spencer Shek on Facebook, @spencershek on TikTok and @spencer_shek on Instagram.

Spencer is also available for any type of event bookings, such as weddings, birthdays and pub/bar gigs.

@spencershek Blow this up for me and tag @Lewis Capaldi for me pls? 🤪 a fav song to busk ~ bruises by the one and only Lewis Capaldi🫶🏽 #fyp #singing #busking #music #love #streetmusic #vocals #lewiscapaldi #cover #bruises #viral #dundee #scotland #scottish #buskingscotland ♬ original sound - Spencer Shek