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Kano points way forward
IF YOU’RE seeing Kano at the Roundhouse’s under-25 Turning Point festival next month, keep a close eye on the curtains. The rapper likes to peep through minutes before he comes onstage to size up his crowd.
For an east London boy who started out on pirate radio, Kano’s in touch with some high-profile musicians. He’s toured Africa with Damon Albarn and the Chili Peppers’ Flea, appeared with Mike Skinner and is in talks with Mos Def about future work.
He plays Turning Point – a three-day festival organised by young people – alongside Tinchy Stryder, The Noisettes, Zane Lowe, Beardyman, Qemists, Natty, Dan le Sac v Scroobius Pip, Kissy Sellout, Ebony Bones, Rosie Oddie and the Odd Squad.
Kano was named after a Mortal Kombat player but he’s a lot more laid back than his alter ego. As a teenager, he played football for Chelsea and his speech is littered with football references.
Pirate radio left fond memories: “It was an exciting time – your mates are there, it’s all about the music,” he says. “It was like the Saturday match. If you’re a Man U player you train in the week leading up to that game. We used to get prepared and write as many lyrics as we could so when Monday comes we could go on the radio and have loads of new things to say.”
He grafted on pirate radio, broke into the big time with N.A.S.T.Y. crew, then broke out on his own.
“I wanted to make something which was much more underground, says Kano. “I wanted more creative control, do my own thing and have it my way. I was a bit greedy. It definitely worked out. You learn so much in a short space of time.”
He says he’d love to work with M.I.A. – “she’s wicked” – and a dancehall artist called Movado, adding: “People should listen to M.I.A. I’m into the catchy random lyrics that mean something. If you listen to Paper Planes it’s full of little hooky lyrics, but the message in the song is really deep.”
Advice for young rappers? “Find who you are,” says Kano. “Don’t try to be like the next guy. Play to your strengths. Rhianna’s not the best singer but she’s the best at what she does.”
On Turning Point, which is about bringing cutting edge youth culture together, from music and fashion to dance and design, for one unique festival, he says: “It’s very important to have gigs for young people. Sometimes they are starved of seeing live performances.
“The great thing about this one is there’s a lot of young people involved in organising the event so they know who the young people want to see. It’s a great line-up. It’s current, fresh and I think it’s going to be wicked.”
KANO SAYS WATCH OUT FOR: “There’s a girl called Lacey Lace and I’ve done some production and writing with her. She’s from Bristol, she’s a singer, she raps a little bit and I think she’s going to be good.”
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