Music producer Empey is on track

Empey is one of only 15 urban music artists to be given £10,000 from the BBC Performing Arts Fund towards the development of his music.

The 22-year-old is passionate about giving back to his community by leading production workshops for troubled teens trying to get back into education.

Empey works with another Derby-based producer Baby J to give teenagers an outlet through music.

He intends to use the grant to update his recording equipment.

Born and raised in Derby, Empey (real name Martin Parker) says he was inspired by American rapper Ja Rule and wanted to emulate him.

At college, he studied sound engineering and music technology and says it all spiralled from there as he eventually turned the mic on himself: "I always wanted to be a producer more than a rapper but none of the rappers around Burton or Derby wanted to come on my beats, so I thought I'd go on my own beats.

"I brought out an album - I managed to get it in a few HMV stores and since then I've been working with local artists."

As yet, Empey's music career doesn't make him a living and he has to take on other jobs to make ends meet. But he's hopeful that, in the future, it will become a full-time paid job.

And he is insistent that he will maintain his ties with Derby and Burton and the local artists he has worked with, wherever his career takes him.