A Vancouver artist whose busking led to a chance meeting with one of the world’s greatest musicians is encouraging aspiring artists to try their hand at busking.

Vancouver singer-songwriter Daniel Lew was walking down the street outside the Queen Elizabeth Theater last September when he had an interaction with pop megastar Ed Sheeran that “was incredibly surreal,” he said. he declared.

Sheeran was in town to perform two shows as part of his “+ – = ÷ x” world tour when Lew said he felt an unusual feeling, a “vision or intuition” that the two were going one way or another. other connect.

“I was like, ‘I don’t know how this guy is going to see me, but maybe if I walk around the room where he’s going to perform, we’ll bump into each other or something.’ It seems far-fetched, but that’s the idea that came to mind,” he said.

Two and a half hours before the show, when there was no one there except the “die-hard fans”, Lew picked up his guitar and started playing outside the theater.

“I was just trying to give it my all, and I was there for almost three hours to the point where the line was huge, there were crowds, and then everyone was in the room,” he said. he declared.

“I just kept doing my thing, I just wanted to put on the best show I could and promote myself as a musician.”

Before performing, Lew had decided that once the line had cleared and all the guests were inside, he would pack up and end the evening. Just as he was about to throw in the towel, a security guard started walking towards him.

“At first I thought he was going to kick me out, but it turned out he was trying to invite me to the show. He asked me if I had a ticket, and when I explained that no, I was just there to play music, he offered me one and asked if I would like to meet Ed himself,” Lew said.

According to the security guard, Sheeran, a former busker, had seen Lew’s performance on his way to the venue and explicitly requested that the two meet.

“I was so stunned. I was like, “What’s going on? » Lew said.

Twenty minutes before the show began, Lew was called backstage, where the up-and-coming musician and global popstar had a “meaningful interaction”, blowing the wind out of all things music.

Folk-pop artist Lew, who has since performed at several Vancouver festivals and iconic venues, said the experience “really helped build momentum into my musical journey.”

Lew was singing in the streets as part of TransLink’s Busker program, a journey he embarked on two and a half years earlier after seeing an ad for online auditions. He credits this and others like it – he is also part of the Granville Island program and has a permit from the City of Vancouver – with helping him grow as an artist and become known in an industry that is increasingly difficult to break into.

Concerts can be “sparse,” Lew said, and any additional opportunity to perform in front of audiences is often welcomed with open arms.

“I’ve grown a lot from so many hours singing and performing, and it’s provided a great testing ground for me to try new material,” he said.

As TransLink opens applications for another year, Lew recommends that all artists aspiring to a career in the music industry put their names forward.

“Being an artist and sharing music live, it’s just a great way to gain more experience and continue to work on your craft,” he said.

“You can make any environment your scene, it’s just a matter of perspective to see it that way.”

Musicians interested in TransLink’s Busker program, which has been running since 1986 and has hired 75 artists in its time, must apply and audition before the deadline window closes on November 6.

According to a TransLink spokesperson, a three-person panel will then select the buskers based on a list of criteria that question musical ability, stage presence, entertainment value and suitability of music to public transportation and the public environment.