When Seb Lowe started uploading videos of him singing to TikTok during the pandemic, it wasn’t long before he catapulted to viral success – connecting with tens of thousands through his witty, social commentary-style lyrics. ‘It all happened really fast,’ he says. Despite their more serious undertone, many of his songs have a distinctly cheeky feel to them, poking fun at authorities and scrutinising every day British life. ‘Some people write from a personal place and find therapy in that, but I prefer to write externally about what I see,’ he explains. Now, Seb has racked up more than eight million likes on the platform, has released a mini album and a handful of EPs, and recently embarked on a headline tour. Born and raised in Oldham, a town in Greater Manchester, he gives Time Out a tour of the best things to do.
Eat
‘I used to go to Molino Lounge all the time in college and get the Mexican pork tapas and halloumi fries. It’s pretty inexpensive, but still feels nice: it has quite an oldy-worldy, Victorian feel, but is colourful with paintings everywhere.’
Drink
‘Abaco in Uppermill is a small Italian coffee shop which has now expanded. It throws all sorts of events: like Christmas cocktail night, Spanish wine night. It’s a really nice vibe, I go literally all the time.’
Do
‘I used to be part of Oldham Theatre Workshop, who do lots of things with young people and have a professional team as well. I remember dressing up in a penguin mascot costume with a top hat one Christmas, it didn’t fit me because I’m quite tall and my legs poked out the bottom. They put on great stuff all the time: street theatre or shows at the Queen Elizabeth Hall or Oldham Library.’
See
‘There’s loads of countryside bits: lots of reservoirs and dog walking places. I’d recommend climbing pots and pans hill, named so because of the shape of the rocks at the start. Or, walk to Heights Church, which is dead Gothic, like something out of Wuthering Heights.’
Seb Lowe’s new single 'Billionaire Extraordinaire' is out now.