Zendaya ad gives Wellingborough musician 'big moment'

A musician whose song was picked for a glossy cosmetics advert starring the actor Zendaya has described it as "the biggest moment I've had".

The commercial, featuring the track Elijah, was shot in the Louvre, Paris.

Kieron McIntosh, from Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, who performs as House of EL, said having his music chosen for the Lancôme ad was a "blessing".

He said he had "a lot more music to come" and was due to release two albums this year.

McIntosh said Elijah had been written some time ago and did not do very well to begin with.

It then "took off in other ways", and he was contacted by an advertising agency, which said the song was liked by "someone important".

McIntosh was not told much about the project and had to sign agreements not to reveal what he knew.

The scale of the production only became clear when he received a video showing Zendaya in the Louvre with his song as the soundtrack.

He did not get the opportunity to go to the Louvre for filming and was not invited to the "massive party" that took place afterwards.

Nevertheless, he said the advert was his "big moment" and he hoped it would raise his profile.

His musical journey started with trumpet lessons with the Northamptonshire Music Service and he went on to study at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, spending a year in Paris.

He swapped from trumpet to keyboard and found his way on to the session musician circuit, playing with artists including Sam Smith, Plan B and Paloma Faith.

He said: "Laura Mvula was the only artist that wanted trumpet - it's not very cool, apparently".

He discovered he wanted to concentrate on writing music and struck out on his own.

He said life as a musician was tough "especially through lockdown, just not being able to do what you love, and a lot of the venues have been shut down since so getting this advert was a blessing".

He added: "There's going to be more singles. I just put one out with Jay Prince earlier in the year, and probably a tour at the end of the year.

"I've got a lot more music to come."

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