ARTCHA has been wowing audiences and music critics ever since he won the BBC 1 Xtra Home-Grown Cuts competition back in 2003. The official listening event and launch of his latest mixtape at Proud, certainly exemplified his experience as a performer.

The North London native showcased ten tracks which make up his latest release, 'Now that's What I Call a Mix tape Vol 1'; the title clearly being a creative play on the Now.... compilations.

The mixtape itself is an ingenious interpretation of commercial pop and mainstream anthems, sampling singles by artists such as Pink, Lily Allen, Katy Perry, Gabrielle, Will Young, Take That and even the Script and giving them the Artcha treatment.

Highlights of the mix tape include 'Changes', 'A Broken Man' and 'Fear', which exhibit lyrics peppered with anecdotes and personal reflections. Strangely enough what really shouldn't work, in actuality is successfully pulled off by the UK hip hop emcee.

Available as a free download from www.3meworld.com, this is a definite welcomed addition to my ipod play list.