Kevin Mark Trail
Encyclopedia
Kevin Mark Trail is a British
R&B
, soul
, reggae
and hip hop
singer-songwriter
. He has released one album
, Just Living, which spawned three singles
, "Perspective", "D Thames" and "Last Night". He rose to fame, however, by appearing on two tracks on The Streets
debut album Original Pirate Material
, including the hit single
, "Let's Push Things Forward
", which made the Top 40 in the UK Singles Chart
.
, Bob Marley
, Gregory Isaacs
and Toots & the Maytals
as some of his reggae influences, and Millie Jackson
, Marvin Gaye
, Stevie Wonder
and Donny Hathaway
as his soul influences. His influences in modern music include Cassandra Wilson
, Outkast
, Jill Scott
, N*E*R*D, The Roots
, A Tribe Called Quest
and Sting.
At 15, Trail obtained an Atari and began developing sketches in his bedroom in Wembley
. Later, he attended a weekend arts college in Camden
, where he gained experience in composition, performance and musicianship, all of which shaped his debut album Just Living
. He was mentored by two tutors, Rachel Bennet and Julie Dexter, who taught him to keep his sense of British identity.
Trail first shot to fame after passing a diploma in music production and business, when he collaborated with The Streets
. He provided vocals on The Streets' hit single "Let's Push Things Forward
", and also on "Same Old Thing" from his Original Pirate Material
album. The "Let's Push Things Forward" single peaked at #30 in the UK Singles Chart
. The single was his first taste of chart success and remains his biggest hit to date. Trail commented at the time, "Mike Skinner is a talented guy - I rate him, man. I hadn't heard anything like it before, and that's what attracted me to the project." Skinner also invited Trail to tour as part of The Streets' live experience.
and released his first solo single, "Perspective". His second single, "D Thames" was released in February 2005 and fared better. Trail collaborated with UK rapper Estelle
on the single's remix, which was featured as the single's B-side
.
On 7 March 2005, he released his debut album, Just Living
. He commented at the time that the album was about "all the stuff I experienced, just an album about life. I just write about what I experience, what's going on round me." For example, in "D Thames", he talks about a moment of clarity, in "Perspective", he talks about everyday anxieties and "Bread" discusses the pleasure and politics of when food was served on his family's dinner table. Trail wrote, demoed and produced the tracks in his bedroom first and then arranged them and performed them with a band in the studio. Kevin commented that "It's about trying to better yourself as a person, trying to achieve and give back. You're always facing new things and rising to the challenge, so it's a constant battle. You've got to keep moving forward and stay positive."
As well as touring with The Streets, Trail performed at venues including the Jazz Café in London. He collaborated with Nitin Sawhney
on the track "Eastern Eyes", taken from his album Human, after he watched one of Trail's live performances. The collaboration received positive reviews, with Time Out magazine comparing his vocal performance to Donny Hathaway
, one of his major influences. Shortly after the release of Just Living, Trail toured with Beverley Knight
on her "Affirmation" tour, to which he received favourable reviews. On the tour Trail previewed a brand new song, "Last Night", which would be released shortly after on a re-release of Just Living. The album was re-released on 4 July 2005, with another new track "Ticket Line". "Last Night" was the lead single, however, the single was subsequently cancelled and Trail announced on his official messageboard that he had been dropped by his record label.
page including "Friend Of Mine", "My Gun", "Poison", "Super Confident" and "Trouble"; as well as remixes of Just Living album tracks "Ego City" and "Vibe". Trail is still touring with The Streets and has recorded the acoustic EP
, "Sketches".
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
, soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
, reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
and hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
. He has released one album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, Just Living, which spawned three singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, "Perspective", "D Thames" and "Last Night". He rose to fame, however, by appearing on two tracks on The Streets
The Streets
The Streets were a British rap/garage project from Birmingham, United Kingdom, led by vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Mike Skinner and has included a myriad of other contributors most notably drummer Johnny Drum Machine, vocalist Kevin Mark Trail and the Italian-American beatmaker Leroy.The...
debut album Original Pirate Material
Original Pirate Material
Original Pirate Material is the debut album by the English rapper and producer Mike Skinner, under the name The Streets.The album is a unique take on UK garage and lyrics dealing with everyday circumstances and occurrences...
, including the hit single
Hit single
A hit single is a recorded song or instrumental released as a single that has become very popular. Although it is sometimes used to describe any widely-played or big-selling song, the term "hit" is usually reserved for a single that has appeared in an official music chart through repeated radio...
, "Let's Push Things Forward
Let's Push Things Forward
"Let's Push Things Forward" is a song released in April 2002 by UK rapper The Streets. It was the second single taken from his debut album Original Pirate Material, it peaked at #30 on the UK chart...
", which made the Top 40 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 ...
.
Early years
Trail was born and raised in North West London. Trail's music is a mix of soul, reggae, hip hop, R&B and garage, influenced by U.S. R&B and Jamaican reggae. His mother introduced him to reggae and soul in his childhood. He lists acts such as John HoltJohn Holt (singer)
John Holt is a reggae singer and songwriter.-Biography:Holt was born in Kingston in 1947. By the age of 12, he was a regular entrant in talent contests run at Jamaican theatres by Vere Johns...
, Bob Marley
Bob Marley
Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley, OM was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He was the rhythm guitarist and lead singer for the ska, rocksteady and reggae band Bob Marley & The Wailers...
, Gregory Isaacs
Gregory Isaacs
Gregory Anthony Isaacs was a Jamaican reggae musician. Milo Miles, writing in the New York Times, described Isaacs as "the most exquisite vocalist in reggae". His nicknames include Cool Ruler and Lonely Lover....
and Toots & the Maytals
Toots & the Maytals
Toots and the Maytals, originally called simply The Maytals, are a Jamaican musical group and one of the best known ska and reggae vocal groups. According to Sandra Brennan at Allmusic, "The Maytals were key figures in reggae music...
as some of his reggae influences, and Millie Jackson
Millie Jackson
Mildred "Millie" Jackson is an American R&B/soul singer-songwriter and comedienne. Three of her albums have been certified gold by the RIAA for over 500,000 copies....
, Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
, Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
and Donny Hathaway
Donny Hathaway
Donny Edward Hathaway was an American soul singer-songwriter and musician. Hathaway contracted with Atlantic Records in 1969 and with his first single for the Atco label, "The Ghetto, Part I" in early 1970, Rolling Stone magazine "marked him as a major new force in soul music."His collaborations...
as his soul influences. His influences in modern music include Cassandra Wilson
Cassandra Wilson
Cassandra Wilson is an American jazz musician, vocalist, songwriter, and producer from Jackson, Mississippi. Described by critic Gary Giddins as "a singer blessed with an unmistakable timbre and attack [who has] expanded the playing field" by incorporating country, blues and folk music into her...
, 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...
, Jill Scott
Jill Scott
Jill Scott is an American soul and R&B singer-songwriter, poet, and actress. In 2007, Scott made her cinematic debut in the films Hounddog and in Tyler Perry's feature film, Why Did I Get Married? That year, her third studio album, The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3, was released on...
, N*E*R*D, The Roots
The Roots
The Roots is an American hip hop/neo soul band formed in 1987 by Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter and Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are famed for beginning with a jazzy, eclectic approach to hip hop which still includes live instrumentals...
, A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest is an American hip hop group, formed in 1985, and is composed of rapper/producer Q-Tip , rapper Phife Dawg , and DJ/producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad. A fourth member, rapper Jarobi White, left the group after their first album but rejoined in 2006...
and Sting.
At 15, Trail obtained an Atari and began developing sketches in his bedroom in Wembley
Wembley
Wembley is an area of northwest London, England, and part of the London Borough of Brent. It is home to the famous Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena...
. Later, he attended a weekend arts college in Camden
Camden Town
-Economy:In recent years, entertainment-related businesses and a Holiday Inn have moved into the area. A number of retail and food chain outlets have replaced independent shops driven out by high rents and redevelopment. Restaurants have thrived, with the variety of culinary traditions found in...
, where he gained experience in composition, performance and musicianship, all of which shaped his debut album Just Living
Just Living
Just Living is the debut album by UK R&B / soul / reggae / hip hop singer-songwriter Kevin Mark Trail. The album features three singles, "Perspective" and "D Thames". The album was re-issued later in 2005 with the third single "Last Night" added to the track listing, along with a new track "Ticket...
. He was mentored by two tutors, Rachel Bennet and Julie Dexter, who taught him to keep his sense of British identity.
Trail first shot to fame after passing a diploma in music production and business, when he collaborated with The Streets
The Streets
The Streets were a British rap/garage project from Birmingham, United Kingdom, led by vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Mike Skinner and has included a myriad of other contributors most notably drummer Johnny Drum Machine, vocalist Kevin Mark Trail and the Italian-American beatmaker Leroy.The...
. He provided vocals on The Streets' hit single "Let's Push Things Forward
Let's Push Things Forward
"Let's Push Things Forward" is a song released in April 2002 by UK rapper The Streets. It was the second single taken from his debut album Original Pirate Material, it peaked at #30 on the UK chart...
", and also on "Same Old Thing" from his Original Pirate Material
Original Pirate Material
Original Pirate Material is the debut album by the English rapper and producer Mike Skinner, under the name The Streets.The album is a unique take on UK garage and lyrics dealing with everyday circumstances and occurrences...
album. The "Let's Push Things Forward" single peaked at #30 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 ...
. The single was his first taste of chart success and remains his biggest hit to date. Trail commented at the time, "Mike Skinner is a talented guy - I rate him, man. I hadn't heard anything like it before, and that's what attracted me to the project." Skinner also invited Trail to tour as part of The Streets' live experience.
Just Living era
In 2004 Trail signed to EMIEMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
and released his first solo single, "Perspective". His second single, "D Thames" was released in February 2005 and fared better. Trail collaborated with UK rapper Estelle
Estelle (singer)
Estelle Fanta Swaray commonly known as Estelle, and formerly as Est'elle, is an English R&B singer-songwriter, rapper and record producer.-Early Life:Estelle was born 18 January 1980 in Hammersmith, London, England...
on the single's remix, which was featured as the single's B-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
.
On 7 March 2005, he released his debut album, Just Living
Just Living
Just Living is the debut album by UK R&B / soul / reggae / hip hop singer-songwriter Kevin Mark Trail. The album features three singles, "Perspective" and "D Thames". The album was re-issued later in 2005 with the third single "Last Night" added to the track listing, along with a new track "Ticket...
. He commented at the time that the album was about "all the stuff I experienced, just an album about life. I just write about what I experience, what's going on round me." For example, in "D Thames", he talks about a moment of clarity, in "Perspective", he talks about everyday anxieties and "Bread" discusses the pleasure and politics of when food was served on his family's dinner table. Trail wrote, demoed and produced the tracks in his bedroom first and then arranged them and performed them with a band in the studio. Kevin commented that "It's about trying to better yourself as a person, trying to achieve and give back. You're always facing new things and rising to the challenge, so it's a constant battle. You've got to keep moving forward and stay positive."
As well as touring with The Streets, Trail performed at venues including the Jazz Café in London. He collaborated with Nitin Sawhney
Nitin Sawhney
Nitin Sawhney is an Indian-British musician, producer and composer. His critically acclaimed work combines Asian and other worldwide influences with elements of jazz and electronica and often explores themes such as multiculturalism, politics and spirituality...
on the track "Eastern Eyes", taken from his album Human, after he watched one of Trail's live performances. The collaboration received positive reviews, with Time Out magazine comparing his vocal performance to Donny Hathaway
Donny Hathaway
Donny Edward Hathaway was an American soul singer-songwriter and musician. Hathaway contracted with Atlantic Records in 1969 and with his first single for the Atco label, "The Ghetto, Part I" in early 1970, Rolling Stone magazine "marked him as a major new force in soul music."His collaborations...
, one of his major influences. Shortly after the release of Just Living, Trail toured with Beverley Knight
Beverley Knight
Beverley Knight MBE is a British soul and R&B singer, songwriter, and record producer who released her debut album in 1995. Heavily influenced by soul greats such as Sam Cooke and Aretha Franklin, Knight has released six studio albums to date...
on her "Affirmation" tour, to which he received favourable reviews. On the tour Trail previewed a brand new song, "Last Night", which would be released shortly after on a re-release of Just Living. The album was re-released on 4 July 2005, with another new track "Ticket Line". "Last Night" was the lead single, however, the single was subsequently cancelled and Trail announced on his official messageboard that he had been dropped by his record label.
Present
Trail is currently working on tracks for his second album, whilst also searching for a new record label. He has also debuted new songs on his MySpaceMySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page including "Friend Of Mine", "My Gun", "Poison", "Super Confident" and "Trouble"; as well as remixes of Just Living album tracks "Ego City" and "Vibe". Trail is still touring with The Streets and has recorded the acoustic 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...
, "Sketches".
Albums
| Year | Album | Chart Positions |
|---|---|---|
| UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
||
| 2005 2005 in music -Events:*During the year 2005, 12 rock music albums scored number 1 in the USA. This was the first time even ten albums have scored number 1 since 1996.-January:... |
Just Living Just Living Just Living is the debut album by UK R&B / soul / reggae / hip hop singer-songwriter Kevin Mark Trail. The album features three singles, "Perspective" and "D Thames". The album was re-issued later in 2005 with the third single "Last Night" added to the track listing, along with a new track "Ticket... |
Did not chart |
| 2005 2005 in music -Events:*During the year 2005, 12 rock music albums scored number 1 in the USA. This was the first time even ten albums have scored number 1 since 1996.-January:... |
Last Night - Digital EP | |
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart Positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 ... |
|||
| 2003 2003 in music -January:* January – following an investigation by The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and London detectives, police raids in England and the Netherlands recover nearly 500 original Beatles studio tapes, recorded during the Let It Be sessions. Five people are arrested... |
"Let's Push Things Forward" (The Streets The Streets The Streets were a British rap/garage project from Birmingham, United Kingdom, led by vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Mike Skinner and has included a myriad of other contributors most notably drummer Johnny Drum Machine, vocalist Kevin Mark Trail and the Italian-American beatmaker Leroy.The... Featuring Kevin Mark Trail) |
30 | Original Pirate Material Original Pirate Material Original Pirate Material is the debut album by the English rapper and producer Mike Skinner, under the name The Streets.The album is a unique take on UK garage and lyrics dealing with everyday circumstances and occurrences... |
| 2004 2004 in music See also:* 2004 in music Record labels established in 2004-January:*January 1**The Vienna New Year's Concert is conducted by Riccardo Muti.**Kurt Nilsen wins World Idol.... |
"Perspective" | 126 | Just Living Just Living Just Living is the debut album by UK R&B / soul / reggae / hip hop singer-songwriter Kevin Mark Trail. The album features three singles, "Perspective" and "D Thames". The album was re-issued later in 2005 with the third single "Last Night" added to the track listing, along with a new track "Ticket... |
| 2005 2005 in music -Events:*During the year 2005, 12 rock music albums scored number 1 in the USA. This was the first time even ten albums have scored number 1 since 1996.-January:... |
"D Thames" | 96 | Just Living Just Living Just Living is the debut album by UK R&B / soul / reggae / hip hop singer-songwriter Kevin Mark Trail. The album features three singles, "Perspective" and "D Thames". The album was re-issued later in 2005 with the third single "Last Night" added to the track listing, along with a new track "Ticket... |
| 2005 2005 in music -Events:*During the year 2005, 12 rock music albums scored number 1 in the USA. This was the first time even ten albums have scored number 1 since 1996.-January:... |
"Last Night" | Cancelled | Just Living Just Living Just Living is the debut album by UK R&B / soul / reggae / hip hop singer-songwriter Kevin Mark Trail. The album features three singles, "Perspective" and "D Thames". The album was re-issued later in 2005 with the third single "Last Night" added to the track listing, along with a new track "Ticket... [Re-Release] |