Kid British
Encyclopedia
Kid British, often stylised as KiD BRiTiSH, are a British band from Manchester
, United Kingdom
. The band is composed of Adio Marchant, James Mayer, Sean Mbaya, Simeon McLean, Dominick Allen, Mykey Wilson and Matt Herod.
(who worked as a producer under the name Kid British) worked with a band called Action Manky - made up of schoolmates Adio Marchant from Chorlton
and Simeon McLean and James Mayer from Withington
- all joined forces last year to form the band, initially known as Kid British & the Action Manky, but soon shortened to simply Kid British. The band signed to Mercury Records
in May 2008, signed a long-term publishing deal with EMI Music Publishing in June, and released their first single "Elizabeth" (7" vinyl only) on the 'Another Music Another Kitchen' label in the October of that same year. Their first Mercury release followed in the form of the Leave London EP
featuring the tracks "She Will Leave", "Lost in London" and "Elizabeth", which was promoted by ten "guerilla gigs" in one day at various London tube stations, which led to the band playing an impromptu version of one of the tracks from the EP in front of Mayor Boris Johnson
when they found themselves in the same train carriage. The four core members were joined in the band by musicians Tom Peek (bass guitar), Domonick Allen (rhythm guitar), and Mikey Wilson (drums).
The band received regular airplay from BBC Radio One's Chris Moyles
and also played support slots with The Enemy
and The Specials
.
Recording of their proposed first album continued during this period. An array of high profile producers were sporadically employed on this long protracted project including Stephen Street.
The band released the single "Our House Is Dadless", which samples the Madness
track "Our House
" on 7 July 2009, peaking at number 63 in the UK Singles Chart
in its first week of release. The band's It Was This Or Football First Half EP reached number 67 in the UK in its first week of release, dropping out of the top 75 entirely the following week. The mooted Second Half, originally advertised within the liner notes of the 'First Half' as being due for release in September 2009, remains unreleased, and the full twelve-track album that combined the two was not commercially released, although promotional copies were issued. In February 2010, the band announced that they were recording new tracks for the album and that it was now planned to be released in Summer 2010.
The band released the single "Winner" on 28 June, less than 12 hours after the England football team's 4-1 defeat to Germany in the World Cup which resulted in their elimination from the competition. It was their first release since being dropped by Mercury Records. It failed to reach the top 100 of the singles chart.
On the 17th September they have been confirmed to play at the Ramsbottom Festival.
as "think Blur
or The Specials
crossed with OutKast
and De La Soul
". Arwa Haider of Metro described their sound as "a very modern mishmash of styles – indie rock, r'n'b, rap, ska revival – and bring a cuddly blokeishness to their jaunty tunes".
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The band is composed of Adio Marchant, James Mayer, Sean Mbaya, Simeon McLean, Dominick Allen, Mykey Wilson and Matt Herod.
History
Kid British came into existence when Sean Mbaya from PrestwichPrestwich
Prestwich is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Bury, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies close to the River Irwell, north of Manchester city centre, north of Salford and south of Bury....
(who worked as a producer under the name Kid British) worked with a band called Action Manky - made up of schoolmates Adio Marchant from Chorlton
Chorlton-cum-Hardy
Chorlton-cum-Hardy is a suburban area of the city of Manchester, England. It is known locally as Chorlton. It is situated about four miles southwest of Manchester city centre. Pronunciation varies: and are both common....
and Simeon McLean and James Mayer from Withington
Withington
Withington is a suburban area of the City of Manchester, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies south of Manchester city centre, about south of Fallowfield, north-east of Didsbury, and east of Chorlton-cum-Hardy, near the centre-to-south edges of the Greater Manchester Urban Area; in the...
- all joined forces last year to form the band, initially known as Kid British & the Action Manky, but soon shortened to simply Kid British. The band signed to Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
in May 2008, signed a long-term publishing deal with EMI Music Publishing in June, and released their first single "Elizabeth" (7" vinyl only) on the 'Another Music Another Kitchen' label in the October of that same year. Their first Mercury release followed in the form of the Leave London EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
featuring the tracks "She Will Leave", "Lost in London" and "Elizabeth", which was promoted by ten "guerilla gigs" in one day at various London tube stations, which led to the band playing an impromptu version of one of the tracks from the EP in front of Mayor Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson is a British journalist and Conservative Party politician, who has been the elected Mayor of London since 2008...
when they found themselves in the same train carriage. The four core members were joined in the band by musicians Tom Peek (bass guitar), Domonick Allen (rhythm guitar), and Mikey Wilson (drums).
The band received regular airplay from BBC Radio One's Chris Moyles
Chris Moyles
Christopher David Moyles is an English radio and television presenter and author, who currently presents The Chris Moyles Show on BBC Radio 1 and Chris Moyles' Quiz Night on Channel 4....
and also played support slots with The Enemy
The Enemy (UK band)
The Enemy are an English rock band formed in Coventry in 2006, signed to Warner Music Group . In June 2007, The Enemy played twice at Glastonbury Festival, first in the 'Guardian Lounge' on Saturday and then the much larger 'Other Stage' on Sunday. They also headlined on the Saturday night of T in...
and The Specials
The Specials
The Specials are an English 2 Tone ska revival band formed in 1977 in Coventry, England. Their music combines a "danceable ska and rocksteady beat with punk's energy and attitude", and had a "more focused and informed political and social stance" than other ska groups...
.
Recording of their proposed first album continued during this period. An array of high profile producers were sporadically employed on this long protracted project including Stephen Street.
The band released the single "Our House Is Dadless", which samples the Madness
Madness (band)
In 1979, the band recorded the Lee Thompson composition "The Prince". The song, like the band's name, paid homage to their idol, Prince Buster. The song was released through 2 Tone Records, the label of The Specials founder Jerry Dammers. The song was a surprise hit, peaking in the UK music charts...
track "Our House
Our House (Madness song)
"Our House" is a single by English ska/pop band Madness, from their UK album The Rise & Fall and their US compilation Madness.-About:...
" on 7 July 2009, peaking at number 63 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in its first week of release. The band's It Was This Or Football First Half EP reached number 67 in the UK in its first week of release, dropping out of the top 75 entirely the following week. The mooted Second Half, originally advertised within the liner notes of the 'First Half' as being due for release in September 2009, remains unreleased, and the full twelve-track album that combined the two was not commercially released, although promotional copies were issued. In February 2010, the band announced that they were recording new tracks for the album and that it was now planned to be released in Summer 2010.
The band released the single "Winner" on 28 June, less than 12 hours after the England football team's 4-1 defeat to Germany in the World Cup which resulted in their elimination from the competition. It was their first release since being dropped by Mercury Records. It failed to reach the top 100 of the singles chart.
On the 17th September they have been confirmed to play at the Ramsbottom Festival.
Musical style
The band combine indie rock, ska and hip hop, and were described by the Daily MailDaily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
as "think Blur
Blur (band)
Blur is an English alternative rock band. Formed in London in 1989 as Seymour, the group consists of singer Damon Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon, bassist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree. Blur's debut album Leisure incorporated the sounds of Madchester and shoegazing...
or The Specials
The Specials
The Specials are an English 2 Tone ska revival band formed in 1977 in Coventry, England. Their music combines a "danceable ska and rocksteady beat with punk's energy and attitude", and had a "more focused and informed political and social stance" than other ska groups...
crossed with OutKast
OutKast
Outkast is an American hip hop duo based in East Point, Georgia, consisting of Atlanta native André "André 3000" Benjamin and Savannah, Georgia-born Antwan "Big Boi" Patton. They were originally known as Two Shades Deep but later changed the group's name to OutKast...
and De La Soul
De La Soul
De La Soul is an American hip hop trio formed in 1987 on Long Island, New York. The band is best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip hop subgenres...
". Arwa Haider of Metro described their sound as "a very modern mishmash of styles – indie rock, r'n'b, rap, ska revival – and bring a cuddly blokeishness to their jaunty tunes".
Singles
- "ElizabethElizabeth (Kid British song)Elizabeth is the limited edition debut single by British Ska and Indie band Kid British.The single was first released on October 27, 2008 on 7" vinyl.The song was later made available on the b-side to their second single Leave London ....
" (2008), MercuryMercury RecordsMercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal... - "Sunny DaysSunny DaysSunny Days is the third single by British Ska and Indie band Kid British.The song was free on iTunes for a short period of time when first releasedThe single was released on April 20, 2009 on CD and Digital Download....
" (2009), Mercury - "Our House Is DadlessOur House Is DadlessOur House Is Dadless is the fourth single by British Ska and Indie band Kid British.The track samples Our House by British ska band Madness.The single was released on July 4, 2009 on Digital Download.The single entered the UK Singles Chart at #63....
" (2009), Mercury - #63 UK - "WinnerWinner (Kid British song)Winner is the fifth single by British Ska and Indie band Kid British.The track will be released on June 28, 2010. The track is being released to coincide with the 2010 World Cup and will feature on their debut album To Get Nowhere, Follow the Crowd....
" (2010), Modern English
EPs
- Leave LondonLeave London (EP)Leave London is the second single by British Ska and Indie band Kid British.The single was released on January 1, 2009 on Digital Download and 10" vinyl....
(2009), Mercury - iTunes Live: London Festival '09 (2009)
- It Was This Or Football - First HalfIt Was This Or FootballIt Was This or Football was the intended debut album by British ska and indie band Kid British. The album was originally scheduled to be released via Mercury Records in two halves, like a football match - this idea was inspired by the title of the album - and the first half was released as an EP...
(2009) - #67 UK - Northern Stories (2011)