His name has been mentioned to possibly become the first black James Bond. But London grime artist Kano is much more interested in developing his music. He has also moved into acting making several appearances in films and on television but takes the James Bond suggestion with a pinch of salt.
“I thought Idris Elba was a certainty to become the first black James Bond,” smiled the man born Kane Robinson. “There was an article recently listing the top ten candidates if the film people did decide to cast a black actor as James Bond. Idris was the hot favourite but I somehow found myself on the list. I’ve taken some stick from my mates about that.”
If not James Bond, Kano certainly could have been a professional footballer. As a youngster, he was a highly promising player interesting top clubs such as Chelsea and West Ham. But the pull of music proved too strong.
“I sometimes wonder if I could have made it in the Premier League. I think you have to be really dedicated to become a special player. Football has to be the main focus of your life and that wasn’t the case for me. I loved music and just wanted a music career more than a football career.”
He first found musical fame as a member of the east London grime crew N.A.S.T.Y. The initials represented Natural Artistic Sounds Touching You.
“We became well known on the underground scene. We also presented a weekly show on the Deja Vu pirate radio station. Our guests varied from up and coming artists to established grime stars such as Wiley and Dizzee Rascal.
“Wiley was an older guy, kind of a godfather of grime. But Dizzee was only a year older than me. Seeing his achievements gave me the confidence to pursue a solo career.”
In 2002, aged 17, Kano created Boys Love Girls as his first solo track. Remastered by Dizzee Rascal, the song proved popular on the underground circuit. But this hardly compared to the enormous success of his 2004 official debut single, P’s and Q’s.
“I grew as an artist during those two years. I’d progressed from an underground performer to signing a deal with 679 Recordings and making the songs which would be on my first album, ‘Home Sweet Home.’
“P’s and Q’s was only available as a 12-inch vinyl disc but it was a massive underground hit. My next release, I suppose my first proper single, was Typical Me. This track reached number 22 on the UK chart. My album then became the highest new entry at number 36. I thought I was a star.”
Perhaps not a star in the eyes of all music fans but certainly amongst those who loved grime. Nite, Nite, another single from “Home Sweet Home,” also did well peaking at number 25.
Kano’s next album, 2007’s “London Town,” did even better reaching number 14. Such was his standing within the music industry that artists like Kate Nash, Damon Albarn and Craig David all made guest appearances on the album. Craig also co-wrote This Is The Girl, which became Kano’s first top 20 hit and his biggest-selling single to date.
“I expected to push on from there to become a major name in British music. But it didn’t happen. I had a dispute with the record label over my musical direction. This saw me leave 679 and join Bigger Picture Music. My albums with them, ‘140 Grime Street’ and ‘Method to the Maadness,’ both did okay but not as well as I’d hoped.
“Even so, I still felt like I was continually making progress as an artist. I thought there was no comparison with the artist I was when I made my first album. I’d learned from everything I’d done and become a better performer, writer and producer.”
Now releasing his work on Warner Music’s Parlophone label, Kano took a five and a half year break between albums. He kept busy working on tracks with other artists and also issued a couple of mixtapes. But the last of these was in 2012. His absence certainly seems to have made the heart grow fonder. Kano’s newly released fifth studio album, “Made in the Manor,” debuted at number eight on the U.K. chart.
The album was preceded by a nine-minute documentary chronicling his story from childhood in the family home at 69, Manor Road. It can be seen at www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIXx4nHauyU#t=315
“I wanted the documentary to be a companion piece to my new album. Many of the songs are about my personal journey and family. As I say in the documentary, I know it might sound clichéd but I do believe if you don’t know where you’ve been you don’t know where you’re going. With this album, I’ve definitely revisited where I’ve been.”

in
brief

Harry Styles

One Direction may be on hiatus but Harry Styles is not resting on his millions. The teen appeal heart-throb has landed what has been described as a substantial part opposite Tom Hardy and Oscar winner Mark Rylance in the forthcoming World War II movie, Dunkirk.
The role was not handed to Harry. He had to audition and impressed director Christopher Nolan with the range of his acting skills.
Although Dunkirk will be Harry’s first film, he had been offered a part last year in the romantic drama, Tulip Fever. Filming clashed with One Direction’s concert tour so he was unable to accept.
His determination to combine acting with music will necessitate a change in Harry’s appearance. The exact nature of his role has yet to be revealed but not even male civilians at the time of the British military operation at Dunkirk in 1940 wore their hair like Harry’s long flowing locks.

Vangoffey

Supergrass were among the biggest bands of the 1990s Britpop era. They recorded a string of hit singles taken from five UK top ten albums but split up in 2010 after their sixth album, “Diamond Hoo Ha,” had peaked at number 19.
By this time, drummer Danny Goffey was already playing with his side band, Vangoffey. Now concentrating all of his musical endeavours on the band, their debut album, “Take Your Jacket Off and Get Into It,” was released last year.
The videos for previous singles, Race of Life, You, You, You and Trials of a Modern Man, can all be found at www.youtube.com/channel/UCOi0XN48s6ySEWlu_FDvuHg/videos
These have now been joined by the promo for Vangoffey’s newly released fourth single, Sucker.

Ellie Goulding

Ellie Goulding fans had better make the most of her current world tour and “Dilirium” album. The 29-year-old singer/songwriter plans to take a lengthy break from the music scene after her concert schedule ends in October.
It seems Ellie’s state of mind is a result of splitting from her long-term boyfriend, McFly bassist Dougie Poynter.
“I’m not in a relationship anymore,” she confirmed. “It’s been tough for me to deal with the break-up. I’m not writing new songs so I’m not sure when I might release my next album. I’ll do some of my charity stuff, take some time off and maybe next year. I need to live a little. I’ll see how things go.”
“Delirium” can be heard in full at www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1OtT3z5Nik&list=PLfwBRBd4th2WhhQrf5ts-wKo8GaCkbPGQ

Kamaiyah

Missy Elliott and TLC are two of the role models quoted by 21-year-old Oakland rapper Kamaiyah. She describes herself as a child of the 90s in terms of her musical influences.
A rapper since childhood, she was inspired by Lil Bow Wow whose smash hit debut album, “Beware of Dog,” was released when he was 13. If Bow Wow could find success at such a young age, Kamaiyah believed she could do likewise.
It’s taken Kamaiyah a few more years to make her mark. But she has just released her debut mixtape, “A Good Night In The Ghetto.” All 16 tracks can be heard at (no www.) soundcloud.com/kamaiyah
Remixes and some other songs are also posted here. Almost every track can be downloaded for free.