Simple Kid

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Simple Kid


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Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Ciarán McFeely
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Origin = Cork, Ireland
Instrument = Vocals, guitar, banjo, harmonica
Genre = Alternative
Electronica
Folk
Industrial rock
Occupation = Singer-songwriter, musician
Years_active = Age 17 – present
Label = 2m, Vector Recordings, Gentlemen Recordings, Yep Roc Records
Associated_acts = The Young Offenders
URL = [http://www.simplekid.com/ SimpleKid.com]
Notable_instruments =

Simple Kid, real-name Ciarán McFeely, is an Irish born solo musical artist. His older brother's guidance led to his musical influences to being that of Led Zeppelin, Neil Young, Bowie, and other classics. His lyrics are largely inspired by the works of such authors as Charles Bukowski.

History

Simple Kid's approach to recording involves recording to an 8-track cassette player - giving the music a vintage feel - then fed into his computer where he applies more modern techniques to create finised songs. All tracks on his albums "1" and "2" are mixed and mastered from his own recordings on his own equipment by himself. His style of remixing and sampling has been compared to Fatboy Slim's, although Simple Kid uses his own recordings as sources. More often his sound is compared to the similarly eclectic and deliberately ramshackle Beck.cite web| url=http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/simple_kid/bio.jhtml| title=Simple Kid| work= vh1.com| accessdate=2008-05-23]

Simple Kid's influences include folk, country (he prominently features banjos and slide guitar in his work), glam rock (particularly T. Rex) and late 60s big pop arrangements of records like The Beatles's 'White Album'.

Before becoming "Simple Kid", McFeely was a member of The Young Offenders. Forming when he was 17, the band was composed of friends made while growing up in Cork Ireland. The group attempted to release an album in America but was met with failure and broke up.

Although having spent considerable time in America before becoming "Simple Kid", his popularity today is mostly limited to the United Kingdom and Ireland. His touring is based out of London and he has previously played support for R.E.M., Kings Of Leon, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Spiritualized, Seasick Steve, Richard Ashcroft, Erasure, Travis, The Thrills and Suede among others.

Television appearances include Later... with Jools Holland, The Conan O'Brien Show, The Late Late Show and Other Voices on RTE. He's also been the subject of a Channel 4 (4 Play) short documentary and appeared on TFI Friday with The Young Offenders.

His second effort, titled "2" was released by Country Gentleman Recordings in October 2006 in the UK, and by Yep Roc Records in August 2007 in the US. "2" was included in Mojo Magazine's top 50 albums of the year, was CD of the week in The Times Culture section and had positive reviews in the NME, The Guardian, Time Out and the Independent on Sunday, to name a few. The Rolling Stone Magazine also featured Simple Kid as a breakthrough act for 2007.

The track "Lil' King Kong" off "2" is featured in a Saturn automobile advertisement in the US, [cite web| url= http://tunesontv.com/2008/04/23/saturn-vue-commercial-music/| title=Saturn Vue Commercial Music| work= Tunes on TV| accessdate=2008-05-23] as well as in an advert in the UK for the mobile phone operator Orange. "Lil' King Kong also featured in Hollywood movie Jumper in 2008.

Discography

"1" (a.k.a. "Simple Kid 1" or "SK1")

Released September 2003 (UK), June 2004 (USA)
*1 – Hello"
*2 – Truck On"
*3 – Staring At The Sun"
*4 – The Average Man"
*5 – The Commuter"
*6 – Drugs"
*7 – Loves An Enigma"
*8 – Supertramps And Superstars"
*9 – Kids Don't Care"
*10 – Breakups Breakdowns"
*11 – No News" [cite web| url= http://www.simplekid.com/music/discography/SK_1.aspx| title=Discography| work=Official Community of Simple Kid| accessdate=2008-05-23]

"2" (a.k.a. "Simple Kid 2" or "SK2")

Released October 2006 (UK), August 2007 (USA)
*1 – "Lil' King Kong"
*2 – "Self Help Book"
*3 – "The Twenty Something"
*4 – "Old Domestic Cat"
*5 – "Serotonin"
*6 – "A Song of Stone"
*7 – "Mommy N Daddy"
*8 – "Oh Heart, Don't Be Bitter"
*9 – "You"
*10 – "Loves an Enigma Part II" [cite web| url= http://www.simplekid.com/music/discography/SK_2.aspx| title=Discography| work=Official Community of Simple Kid| accessdate=2008-05-23]

References

External links

* [http://www.simplekid.com Official Simple Kid Website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/simplekidmusic Simple Kid's MySpace]
* [http://www.serotoninintomysoul.com Fan site]
* [http://wc06.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:kbfoxq90ldfe~T1 Simple Kid] at Allmusic