WHETHER it be on stage as part of a big production or an intimate setting with just his guitar, singer/ songwriter Sunjay hates not being on stage.

The guitar player prides himself on performing more than 100 shows a year in the UK alone and is set to bring one of these shows to Basingstoke next month on February 10.

Drawing from a rich musical and cultural background, Sunjay has quickly become recognised as one of the rising stars in this country.

And even though his background is embedded in influences from folk and blues, he delivers a whole range of musical variety to his audiences.

“When I was growing up I was listening to a lot of 50s rock and roll, people like Buddy Holly and Elvis, but I didn’t want to be in a band like them,” Sunjay told The Gazette.

“It was always the finger picking element of the guitar that I like and that lends itself to folk and blues.”

He added: “For me, when I perform I don’t like to be pigeon holed, I want to cover a wide spectrum of genres and offer something for everyone.”

With his relentless work ethic there has been no stopping for Sunjay, having played the lead role of Buddy Holly in Simon Fielder’s travelling theatre show of Buddy Holly and The Cricketers, it wasn’t long before the singer was planning this tour, but even in his downtime, he was helping his dad with some construction work.

Sunjay said: “I just love being on the stage or in the studio, [but[ when you see these musicians who do these headline tours but only do about six or seven dates...

“I’d rather be busy all the time.”

For Sunjay, even though the focus is now on his solo project, having the opportunity to play Buddy Holly on stage was a bizarre scenario for him.

“When it got announced I thought I had died,” added the songwriter.

“It is strange that having to listen to Buddy growing up I knew all his songs really well, but I never thought I would be part of this big production playing Buddy.”

After the success of the Buddy Holly and The Cricketers production, Sunjay has used this as a springboard for his solo career, having recorded an album of Buddy covers.

He added: “I did come out of those shows hoping it would boost myself as a solo artist, but I wanted to do the Buddy album as it brought things full circle.”

Sunjay will be appearing at The Forge on February 10. For more information and tickets, go to anvilarts.org.uk/whats-on/sunjay.