HOWSINGINGINTHEBATHROOM LANDEDKEVARECORDDEAL
HE SPENT SIX WEEKS WORKING ON THE HOME OF MUSIC CHIEF
BATHROOM fitter Kev Crane landed himself a record deal after a label boss heard him singing while he worked.
Kev, originally from Long Eaton, spent six weeks fitting three bathrooms in the Leicestershire home of New Reality Records boss Paul Conneally.
And Paul was so impressed with the 49-year-old’s vocals that he decided to sign him up so he could release his debut album, Why Can’t I Be You.
“It’s just so bizarre,” said Kev, who has been a bathroom fitter for the last eight years. “When I went round to give Paul a quote, he mentioned he owned a record label but I didn’t really think much of it.
“I’ve always been into music. I used to be in a few bands when I was younger and have written a lot of my own music.
“I got back into it during lockdown when I built my own studio in the cellar and started writing again. “I’m just seeing where it leads. I don’t have any expectations. I would love to be able to write songs for other artists but if nothing else happens then it was fun while it lasted.”
Paul, who is an internationally recognised haiku poet, launched New Reality Records during the first lockdown in 2020 after suffering a heart attack three years ago.
The 62-year-old says his aim was to bring together artists in the same ways early independent labels did in punk and new wave days in a bid to create a local sound.
He said: “I heard Kev singing as he worked. He sings along to the radio all day as he tiles and plumbs in bathrooms.
“I told him he had a good voice and he mentioned he’d been writing and recording songs in his home studio.
“He sent me some songs and I was blown away by his songwriting and his attention to detail in producing a sound that is so 80s but so now at the same time.
“Kev came to New Reality Records HQ to fit three bathrooms and left having released an album. I’d always dreamed of running an independent record label – it took a heart attack and a worldwide pandemic to see that dream come true.”
Kev, who now lives in Quorn near Loughborough, has written and produced all eight tracks from his debut album.
It’s a far cry from the days he spent watching YouTube videos during lockdown one so he could learn how to produce his own tracks.
Kev, who lives with wife Karen and their cockapoo Harley added: “I’m still struggling to get my head around it. It just feels surreal. I never expected anything like this to happen. I love writing music. It’s my hobby.
“The 80s vibe is coming back. I grew up in the 80s and I just love the sound. A lot of the songs have stories behind them and mean something to me so for these to be produced as an album is incredible.
“I spent hours looking on YouTube at how to mix music. To be honest if it hadn’t been for Covid, I wouldn’t have got the opportunity to do it.”
Kev’s album can be listened to at https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/ kevcrane/why-cant-i-be-you-3
I’m still struggling to get my head around it. It just feels surreal. I never expected anything like this to happen.
Kev Crane