ASK a rapper their influences and they’re more likely to list the likes of Biggie Smalls or Example than Shostakovich and Pachelbel.

But then again, most rappers probably don’t combine their passion and talent for urban rhymes with years dedicated to a classical piano training.

But for Canvey rap artist ENV, real name Reece Pullinger, it’s a natural combination, having started piano lessons aged six, and developing his rap talents after getting into urban music as a teenager.

Reece has just released his debut single, When the Night, on his own label at a swanky do at Madame Jojo’s in Soho. He’ll be performing the single along with others from his upcoming album as part of Canvey’s Christmas lights switch-on on Saturday.

For Reece, there was nothing unusual about combining his classical training with his love of urban sounds.

“With the classical stuff, it’s great to know the theory,” he says. “I learnt jazz because it’s just awesome, then as a rebellious teenager, when you’re trying out new things like smoking, everyone was into urban music and I got into that.”

But he admits his influences are a little unusual in the world of rap and hip-hop. “There are the obvious ones, like Mozart and Beethoven,” he says.

“And there are others like Pachelbel and Tchaikovsky. The things is, I think it’s the skills of being able to play that sort of music and write it that are crucial. I think the best pop songs are the simple ones and the way the music’s written needs to be catchy, but well constructed.

“I’ve taken what I’ve learnt from the classical side of music and I’ve been able to put that into what I do now.”

Reece, who’s now 26, has spent years honing his craft and building a following, and the hard work is finally starting to pay off as his profile builds in Europe and America, and record bosses’ ears start to prick up.

But he’s determined to not sign over creative control of his work if he does get picked up by a major.

“It’s taken a while to get to where things are now,” he admits. “At the single launch the place was full, you couldn’t move, it was totally amazing.

“The song’s out now and the video’s being played on Sky TV and all over the radio. A lot of big record labels were at the launch and I got some great feedback.

“I did everything myself, I have a couple of people I work with, but 95 per cent of the work is off my own back – all the production– and I think I’m in a really good position because I know the business.

“I can continue doing it myself, but I’d like to get the right team of people to work with, so we can move together as a team. I don’t want to be an artist who’s told what to do. I’ve got my own brand to protect.”

He’s already got quite a following in Germany, where he’s been out on tour to several times, and had a great trip to the States last year.

“I seem to have a bigger fan base abroad than in the UK,” he laughs. “The first time I went to Berlin I was really nervous about the language barrier, but the last time I went, I tried to speak German. “I’ve been there seven times. I should’ve picked up a bit. It wasn’t very good, but I think they let me off because they liked the music.”

His American tour saw him perform in San Francisco, LA and New York.

He says: “I performed with Solange Knowles, she was amazing, a really nice girl. I had such a laugh with her backstage.

“In Hollywood it was more with other rappers, which was a great buzz, and in New York I did a couple of big venues. I did one at a bigger club called Splash, that was pretty cool – I got to party with the winner of America’s Next Top Model. She said: ‘I heard you were performing, so I thought I’d come down’.

“I was like, ‘Hold on, why would you want to come and see my show’? She was buying me drinks, it was totally crazy.”

But Reece isn’t one to be swayed by top models – he vows there’s only one lady who’ll be on his arm the first time he walks a red carpet.

“My family are really proud of my success,” he says. “I haven’t walked down a red carpet yet, but when I do, I’ll do it with my mum on my arm. She’s so glamorous, she’d love it.”

He’ll play his first home-town gig in years this week when he switches on the town’s Christmas lights.

“It’s the first time I’ve performed on Canvey in seven years,” says Reece, who is based in London, although his family are still on the island. “It’s going to be great just because there are so many people I don’t see anymore, and it’s Christmas as well.”

ENV, alias Reece Pullinger, turns on the Canvey Christmas lights and performs live on Saturday with Christmas events happening in the town centre from noon His single, With the Night, is out now with charity donations from sales going to the Terrence Higgins Trust and Cancer Research.