Dakota Prescott

Dokata Elizabeth Prescott is an English singer/songwriter. Born in Islington, England, Dakota resented her rich heritage and 'upper class' family, and repelled through creating her own punk music, posting this music online through YouTube videos and gaining significant notice as well as a cult following. It was until late 2014 when busking in London that Next Generation Records owner Coral Harris discovered her and invited her to a formal audition.

1993–2014: Early life and career beginnings
Dakota Prescott was born in Islington, England, on 02 August, 1993. She is the youngest daughter of Rupert Prescott and Amanda Prescott (née Smith). Dakota was raised as an only child in a upper-class family, a lifestyle she resented. Growing up, Dakota often got in trouble at school and was expelled from four different private schools due to her bad behaviour. On her YouTube videos, Dakota has revealed she would spend most of her free time in the rougher areas of London instead of her own glamorous home, as she enjoyed being around 'real people who live and feel real pain on a daily basis' as opposed to the 'fake and plastic' people in her neighbourhood.

In 2007, around the age of fourteen, Dakota discovered several buskers in Camden, whilst she skived school. Fascinated with their talent, Dakota returned home and instantly began creating her own original music, eventually finding her own sound through a somewhat 'indie pop punk sound'.

In 2012, Dakota created her own YouTube channel, and posted a new video at least once a week of her performing either an original song or a cover. Dakota's subscribers quickly began to rise and by January 2014 she had over 60,000 subscribers. It was at this point Dakota began busking in the streets of London and telling her subscribers where they could find her. It was by chance that Next Generation Records owner Coral Harris had noticed Dakota's videos online and attended one of these gigs. Harris was massively impressed by what she saw and invited Dakota for a formal performance at the Next Generation Headquarters.

2014-present: Debut Era
Having been invited to perform in front of Coral Harris and Kleo for the chance of getting signed at Next Generation Records, Dakota managed to impress the pair with a performance of her own original song "London Fuckerz". Regarding the performance, Dakota stated she was 'very nervous' as Next Generation Records was the only record label she wanted to sign with as she felt they allowed the most artistic freedom. Coral and Kleo signed Dakota to the label almost instantly after hearing her, and work began on her debut album the following month.

Influences
In 2015, Dakota revealed that her biggest influence in terms of music was pop singer Alesha, stating: "she never gave a fuck what anybody else thought, she was this cool bitch doing whatever she wanted and absolutely owning it in the process". She has since criticised modern day music for not being as innovative. Dakota further respects Shell Ruin, Jack Stevens and Neyssa and claims she 'should have been around in the era when they owned the charts'. Dakota's more modern day preferences are Midnight and Dahlia for offering 'dark, creative and never limiting music'.