Kid British
| Company type | Music group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Headquarters | Manchester , England |
| Products | Music recordings (albums, EPs, singles) |
Kid British, sometimes presented as KiD BRiTiSH, was a six-member music ensemble originating from Manchester, England. The group comprised Adio Marchant (vocals), Simeon McLean (vocals), Sean Mbaya (vocals, guitar, keyboard), Dominick Allen (vocals, rhythm guitar), Mykey Wilson (drums), and Tom Peek (bass guitar).
James Mayer (vocals) and Tom Peek (bass) departed the band due to personal circumstances. Subsequently, Adio Marchant initiated an indie pop venture named Bipolar Sunshine, releasing the EP Aesthetics in June 2013. The track Rivers from this EP was highlighted as an iTunes free single of the week in July 2013.
History
The formation of Kid British occurred in 2007 when producer Sean Mbaya, known by the same name as the band, teamed up with his school friends Adio Marchant, Simeon McLean, and James Mayer. Their original name was Kid British & the Action Manky before being shortened to Kid British. In May 2008, they secured a contract with Mercury Records and followed this with a long-term publishing agreement with EMI Music Publishing in June. Their debut single "Elizabeth" was issued on vinyl in October 2008.
Their first release under Mercury was the EP Leave London, which they promoted by performing ten guerrilla gigs at various London Underground stations, including an unplanned show in front of Mayor Boris Johnson. The band's core lineup grew to add Tom Peek on bass, Dominick Allen on rhythm guitar, and Mikey Wilson on drums.
Kid British enjoyed frequent airplay on BBC Radio One's Chris Moyles show and supported well-known acts such as The Enemy, The Specials, and UB40. Their single "Our House Is Dadless," which sampled Madness's "Our House," reached number 63 on the UK Singles Chart in July 2009. The EP It Was This Or Football First Half peaked at number 67 but exited the top 75 the subsequent week. Despite promotional copies existing, neither the planned Second Half EP nor the full album combining both parts were commercially released.
In early 2010, the band announced new recording sessions aimed at a summer album launch. After being dropped by Mercury Records, they released "Winner" in June 2010 following England's exit from the World Cup; although it did not enter the top 100 charts, the track was included in Electronic Arts' official World Cup video game.
In 2011, Kid British offered a free EP titled Northern Stories and toured several cities including Manchester, Birmingham, London, and Leicester.
Initially, their production work involved John Pennington; later sound engineering duties were managed by Pete Poweron Smith, recognized for his work under Big Arm and collaborations with artists such as Lewis Watson and Bipolar Sunshine.
With a revamped lineup, they issued the EP You Can't Please Them All through LAB Records in June 2012 and supported The Stone Roses during their Heaton Park concert that same month. They also completed a six-date UK tour covering Glasgow, York, London, Southampton, Birmingham, and Manchester.
On 17 September 2012, Kid British announced their disbandment alongside releasing their final video for "You Against The World," canceling multiple tour dates citing personal reasons. Their concluding live show occurred in Manchester in December 2012.
Musical style
Kid British's sharp social observations combined with their lively stage presence have led to comparisons with acts such as The Specials, Madness, Blur, and The Streets. Their music is a fusion of indie rock, ska, and hip hop elements. Arwa Haider from Metro characterized their sound as "a contemporary blend of genres – indie rock, r'n'b, rap, ska revival – infused with a charming, boyish energy in their upbeat melodies."
Albums
- It Was This or Football (2009), released under Mercury
EPs
- Leave London (2009), Mercury
- iTunes Live: London Festival '09 (2009), Mercury
- It Was This or Football - First Half (2009), Mercury
- Northern Stories (2011), independently produced
- You Can't Please Them All (2012), issued by LAB
Singles
- "Elizabeth" (2008), Mercury
- "Sunny Days" (2009), Mercury
- "Our House Is Dadless" (2009), Mercury
- "Winner" (2010), Modern English
- "Until Monday" (2012), LAB
- "You Against the World" (2012), LAB