Jon Kennedy
Encyclopedia
Jon Kennedy is a drummer
and electronic musician who was born in Dukinfield
, Greater Manchester
, England
.
He was discovered in 2000 when he passed a demo
CD to Ninja Tune
artist Mr Scruff. Scruff played tracks from the CD soon after on his "Unfold" radio show on Brighton's
Juice 107.2
. Brighton-based Tru Thoughts
independent record label
contacted Kennedy on hearing the tracks and signed him. Having recorded in Mr Scruff's Stockport studio, Kennedy now lives and records in Bristol
, and regularly plays in both Bristol and London.
His first three 12" singles, and his debut album, We're Just Waiting For You Now were released between 2001 and 2002 on Tru Thoughts.
In 2002, Kennedy joined Grand Central Records
, releasing his second album in 2003. The album featured collaborations with new label-mates Kate Rogers
and Aim
, whom he also toured with.
His third album, "Useless Wooden Toys" was released in 2005, on which he performed vocals on several tracks.
As a live act, he performs with a six piece band and plays drums
himself.
The rest of the live band is made up of Dan Coggins on guitar
, Ben Thomas on bass
, Naomi Hart on keyboard
, Sarah Scott on vocals
and Bernard Moss of Pork Recordings
on flute
and alto sax.
Kennedy has also recorded under the aliases 777 and KRS Jon, and under the group name Snare Force One with fellow musician, Fletch.
Kennedy is currently working on various remix projects, including the soundtrack of the cult British film Withnail and I
. His fourth solo album was due for release in the summer of 2006, but has been delayed. In the meantime, he has been asked to remix a track and produce the forthcoming album by Senser
.
In 2007, Kennedy started his own record label, The Jon Kennedy Federation. His first release on the new label is a 12" EP entitled Demons. In May 2007 he toured China as drummer for the band Kava Kava and remixed their song "Tic" for Chocolate Fireguard Records
.
12" Singles
12" Remixes
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
and electronic musician who was born in Dukinfield
Dukinfield
Dukinfield is a small town within the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies in central Tameside on the south bank of the River Tame, opposite Ashton-under-Lyne, and is east of the city of Manchester...
, Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
He was discovered in 2000 when he passed a demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
CD to Ninja Tune
Ninja Tune
Ninja Tune is a London-based independent record label started by DJs Matt Black and Jonathan More, better known as Coldcut and managed by Peter Quicke. The label has a strong leaning towards mostly Electronic Music...
artist Mr Scruff. Scruff played tracks from the CD soon after on his "Unfold" radio show on Brighton's
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
Juice 107.2
Juice 107.2
Juice 107.2 is a Independent Local Radio station based in Brighton, UK, playing MOR dance music and commercial classics.It also has a sister station - the internet radio station, Totally Radio.Juice was formerly known as Surf 107....
. Brighton-based Tru Thoughts
Tru Thoughts
Tru Thoughts is an independent record label. It was formed in Brighton, UK in 1999 by Robert Luis of Deeds Plus Thoughts and Paul Jonas.It became, in one decade, one of the most famous and well respected labels in independent music world.- History :...
independent record label
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
contacted Kennedy on hearing the tracks and signed him. Having recorded in Mr Scruff's Stockport studio, Kennedy now lives and records in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, and regularly plays in both Bristol and London.
His first three 12" singles, and his debut album, We're Just Waiting For You Now were released between 2001 and 2002 on Tru Thoughts.
In 2002, Kennedy joined Grand Central Records
Grand Central Records
Grand Central Records was an independent record label based in the Northern Quarter of Manchester, UK. It was started in 1995 by DJ Mark Rae . Rae started out working as manager of the Fat City Records' store...
, releasing his second album in 2003. The album featured collaborations with new label-mates Kate Rogers
Kate Rogers
Kate Rogers is the cousin of Grand Central Records head, Mark Rae. She was born just outside Toronto, Canada and as a child studied at the Royal Conservatory of Music....
and Aim
Aim (musician)
Aim is a British musician, DJ and producer, who was born in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. Aim's sound is a blend of funky electronic music and hip hop beats, a sound which typified the Grand Central Records label...
, whom he also toured with.
His third album, "Useless Wooden Toys" was released in 2005, on which he performed vocals on several tracks.
As a live act, he performs with a six piece band and plays drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
himself.
The rest of the live band is made up of Dan Coggins on guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, Ben Thomas on bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, Naomi Hart on keyboard
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, Sarah Scott on vocals
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
and Bernard Moss of Pork Recordings
Pork Recordings
Pork Recordings is a record label based in Kingston upon Hull, East Yorkshire, England, that specialises in electronica, mostly in the downtempo or chill-out styles....
on flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
and alto sax.
Kennedy has also recorded under the aliases 777 and KRS Jon, and under the group name Snare Force One with fellow musician, Fletch.
Kennedy is currently working on various remix projects, including the soundtrack of the cult British film Withnail and I
Withnail and I
Withnail and I is a British black comedy made in 1986 by HandMade Films. It was written and directed by Bruce Robinson and is based on his life in London in the late 1960s. The main plot follows two unemployed young actors, Withnail and “I” who live in a squalid flat in Camden in 1969 while...
. His fourth solo album was due for release in the summer of 2006, but has been delayed. In the meantime, he has been asked to remix a track and produce the forthcoming album by Senser
Senser
Senser, a politically-charged UK band, originally formed in South West London from a group of friends in the late 1980s, Nick Michaelson , Heitham Al-Sayed , Kerstin Haigh , John Morgan , James Barrett and Alan "Hagos/Haggis" Haggarty and in 1992 they were joined by Spiral Tribe D.J, Andy Clinton...
.
In 2007, Kennedy started his own record label, The Jon Kennedy Federation. His first release on the new label is a 12" EP entitled Demons. In May 2007 he toured China as drummer for the band Kava Kava and remixed their song "Tic" for Chocolate Fireguard Records
Chocolate Fireguard Records
Chocolate Fireguard Records is an independent record label founded in 2000 by Pat Fulgoni.It is home to such bands as Fulgoni's dance/rock outfit Kava Kava , The Bluefoot Project featuring Rachel Modest, French hip hop crew La Cedille, girl punk rockers Mary-Jane, hip hop grime artist Practical...
.
Discography
Albums- We're Just Waiting For You NowWe're Just Waiting for You NowWe're Just Waiting For You Now was the first album released by Jon Kennedy.This is his only release on the Tru Thoughts independent record label...
(1 April 2001) - Take My Drum To EnglandTake My Drum to EnglandTake My Drum to England is Jon Kennedy's second album, and his first since signing to the independent record label, Grand Central Records.- Track listing :# "Basic Dialogues"# "Funk Construction"# "Do As You Did"# "Blow Keys"# "Do Something"...
(25 August 2003) - Useless Wooden ToysUseless Wooden Toys-Track listing:#"Cutup"#"You, You and You"#"Heavyweight Freight"#"Sand People"#"We Milk Life But Dress Smooth"#"Save The People"#"Pick Up Sticks"#"The Beef"#"Useless Wooden Toys"#"Lodestar"#"All A Dream"#"Never Wed An Old Man"#"They Made Us Too Many"...
(4 April 2005)
12" Singles
- Tell Me How You Feel (27 November 2000)
- No TV EP (2001)
- Chocolate And Cheese (22 July 2002)
- East Is East (21 July 2003)
- The Loafer (21 July 2003)
- Way I Feel (12 April 2004)
- On The Both Days (3 March 2005)
- Demons (4 June 2007)
12" Remixes
- Barclay James HarvestBarclay James HarvestBarclay James Harvest are an English progressive rock band. They were founded in Saddleworth, Lancashire, in September 1966 by John Lees, Les Holroyd, Stuart "Woolly" Wolstenholme , and Mel Pritchard .-History:...
- "Good Love Child" (EMIEMIThe 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...
, 2008) - DJ Sept - "Morning Comes" (Equinox Records, 2008)
- Evirgen - "Sudden" (Aber Records, 2007)
- Future Loop FoundationMark BarrottMark Barrott is an English DJ and record producer. Recording under the name Future Loop Foundation, he has released ambient- and drum and bass-inspired music since the mid-1990s.-As Future Loop Foundation:...
- "Experimentation" (Louisiana Recordings, 2007) - Rough Edge Quartet - "Change" (TBC, 2007)
- Mr. Bambu - "Lunar Eclipse Style" (Organik Records, 2007)
- Watine - "Not A Pretence" (Catgang, 2007)
- Kava KavaKava kavaKava Kava is the rock band / live dance act from Huddersfield in the UK featuring the soulful vocals of Pat Fulgoni, Matt Bond guitarist, Jason Riley on bass guitar alongside drums, electronica, brass, strings and beats...
- Tic (Chocolate Fireguard RecordsChocolate Fireguard RecordsChocolate Fireguard Records is an independent record label founded in 2000 by Pat Fulgoni.It is home to such bands as Fulgoni's dance/rock outfit Kava Kava , The Bluefoot Project featuring Rachel Modest, French hip hop crew La Cedille, girl punk rockers Mary-Jane, hip hop grime artist Practical...
, 2007) - Mod X - "Political Sun" 12" (Ice And Spice Records, 2006)
- Aldo Vanucci - "When I See You Smile" 12" (Catskills Records, 2004)
- The Baker Brothers - "Givson" from The Baker Brothers - Remixed 12" (Peddler, 2004)
- Fletch - "Heavy Stepper 7" (7 Hills Records, 2004)
- Dynamo Dresden - "In the End" from In The End (Remixes) 12" (Mada Music, 2003)
- Soul 'n' Soda - "Tomorrow" 12" (Stereo Deluxe, 2003)
- Mujaji - "Siempre" from The FourFlavors EP (Bastard Jazz Recordings, 2003)
- AimAim (musician)Aim is a British musician, DJ and producer, who was born in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. Aim's sound is a blend of funky electronic music and hip hop beats, a sound which typified the Grand Central Records label...
- "The Girl Who Fell Through The Ice" 12" (Grand Central RecordsGrand Central RecordsGrand Central Records was an independent record label based in the Northern Quarter of Manchester, UK. It was started in 1995 by DJ Mark Rae . Rae started out working as manager of the Fat City Records' store...
, 2002) - Switchstance 12" (2003)
- Quantic - "Snakes In The Grass" from Apricot Morning 12" (Tru ThoughtsTru ThoughtsTru Thoughts is an independent record label. It was formed in Brighton, UK in 1999 by Robert Luis of Deeds Plus Thoughts and Paul Jonas.It became, in one decade, one of the most famous and well respected labels in independent music world.- History :...
, 2002) - Hint - "Faderation" from "The Beau Selectah EP" (Deep-Water Records, 2002)
- Bonobo - "Dinosaurs" from One Offs... Remixes & B-SidesOne Offs... Remixes & B-SidesOne Offs... Remixes & B-Sides is a compilation album released in 2002 by the British electronic music artist Bonobo. It features rare and previously unreleased work, and remixes of tracks from his first album Animal Magic...
CD (Tru ThoughtsTru ThoughtsTru Thoughts is an independent record label. It was formed in Brighton, UK in 1999 by Robert Luis of Deeds Plus Thoughts and Paul Jonas.It became, in one decade, one of the most famous and well respected labels in independent music world.- History :...
, 2002)