Kevin Mark Trail facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kevin Mark Trail
Kevin Mark Trail performing at Parklife, Sydney 2011
Background information
Birth name	Kevin Mark Trail
Born	October 1980
Genres	R&B, soul, reggae, hip hop, folk, electronic
Years active	2003–present
Labels	EMI (2004–2005)

Kevin Mark Trail is a talented British singer, songwriter, and music producer. He was born in October 1980. He is known for his mix of R&B, soul, reggae, and hip hop music. Kevin Mark Trail became well-known for his work with the music group The Streets. He sang on two songs from their first album, Original Pirate Material. One of these songs was the popular hit "Let's Push Things Forward", which reached the top 40 in the UK music charts.

About Kevin Mark Trail

His Early Life and Music

Kevin Mark Trail grew up in North West London. His parents came from Jamaica. His music style blends different sounds like soul, reggae, hip hop, folk, and electronic music. He was inspired by American R&B and Jamaican reggae. His mother introduced him to reggae and soul music when he was a child. Visiting Jamaica every summer helped him connect with his family's culture.

He looks up to many famous musicians. Some of his reggae inspirations include Bob Marley and Gregory Isaacs. For soul music, he admires artists like Sade, Marvin Gaye, and Stevie Wonder. He also enjoys modern artists like Little Dragon and Prince.

When he was 15, Kevin started making music in his bedroom. He later went to an arts college in Camden. There, he learned about writing songs, performing, and playing music. These skills helped him create his first album, Just Living. His teachers encouraged him to develop his unique British sound. He also discovered British artists like Omar and Roots Manuva.

Working with The Streets

Kevin Mark Trail became famous after he finished college and started working with The Streets. He sang on their hit song "Let's Push Things Forward". He also sang on another song called "Same Old Thing" from their album Original Pirate Material. "Let's Push Things Forward" was a big success, reaching number 30 on the UK music charts. This was his biggest hit song at the time.

Kevin said that Mike Skinner, the leader of The Streets, was very talented. He had never heard music like it before, which made him want to work on the project. Mike Skinner also invited Kevin to join The Streets on their live tours.

His Solo Music Career

The Just Living Album

In 2004, Kevin Mark Trail signed with EMI, a record company. He released his first solo song, "Perspective". His second song, "D Thames", came out in February 2005 and did even better. He worked with the British rapper Estelle on a remix of "D Thames".

On March 7, 2005, Kevin released his first solo album, Just Living. He explained that the album was about his own experiences and life. For example, the song "D Thames" is about a clear moment in life. "Perspective" talks about everyday worries. "Bread" is about the joy and meaning of food at his family's dinner table. Kevin wrote and recorded the songs in his bedroom first. Then, he worked with a band in a studio to finish them. He said the album is about trying to improve yourself and give back to others.

Besides touring with The Streets, Kevin Mark Trail also performed at places like the Jazz Café in London. He worked with Nitin Sawhney on the song "Eastern Eyes" from Nitin's album Human. This happened after Nitin saw Kevin perform live. Critics praised their collaboration. Time Out magazine even compared Kevin's singing to Donny Hathaway, one of his favorite artists.

After Just Living was released, Kevin toured with Beverley Knight. He received good reviews for his performances. During this tour, he shared a new song called "Last Night". This song was later released on a new version of Just Living. The album was re-released on July 4, 2005, and included another new song, "Ticket Line".

Kevin Mark Trail's Music

Albums

Extended Plays (EPs)

Singles