Kermit Leveridge

Name?
Kermit Leveridge

Where are you from?
Moss Side, Manchester

What do you do?
Singer / Writer / Poet

Describe your style in three words?
Whatever I'm digging

You can spend an hour with anyone from history?
I'd like to meet Robert Anthony Wilson. Yeah, he's somebody I'd like to have a conversation with, about certain things. I love his stuff. And George Gurdjieff and I find him another interesting character.

Which music artist has been the greatest influence on your career?
I know when I was young. I was in school, and the first time I saw The Clash I thought, "Joe Strummer is the coolest f**king white guy I've ever seen in my life." Do you know what I mean? I grew up in a house where my Mum used to play country. My dad used to play Blue Beat. One of my sisters used to listen to lover's rock. My other sister was into funk. There's like this amalgamation of stuff I'm into, you see.

But when Maurice White of Earth Wind and Fire died, that really got me. It really got me, because I remember ... being about twelve, listening to these albums, listening to them over and over and over again. Just trying to work out how they put everything together on the tracks. I think that it's got genius all over it.

I just love their production and everything. As a kid listening to it ... The way they'd lay the vocals and everything. Just learning. I went to a school called Manchester High School of Art, and that was for kids who had an aptitude for things like music and dance. From being at school and listening to the albums. Working out how to put it all together and I just found it mind-blowing, you know what I mean. Production still sounds good now. Still sounds crisp, man.

Best record to dance to?
There's a few that ... as soon as I hear it, I head straight for the dance floor. Like ... 'One Nation Under a Groove', by Funkadelic. That's like ... that will f**king get me up... "Where's the dance floor?”

Another you? Any other career that would have appealed?
My dad always said that I'd make a good barrister because I always talked my way around things and ... I'm interested in stuff like that…. I don't know. Probably something ... Somebody who didn't have to do much, like a philosopher or something. Or maybe a Samurai!

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
The Specials - that’s a must, I got into The Specials growing up, and I wouldn’t be doing what I'm doing now if it weren't for them. You know what I mean.

And I saw Jimmy Cliff a few years ago at a festival. The voice on him.! I was like ... I stood staring at the stage like ... It's just like wow.

If you could share the bill with any artist past or present?
Obviously, I'd like to meet Joe Strummer again, because I miss him. You know what I mean. Yeah. The Clash. Yeah. That would be good to do some things with them.

And The Specials…. I have to say they were a big thing when I was growing up. For me, personally, you know there were these white guys and these blacks guys doing their thing, and there was all this shit going on at the time. I really identified with them - you know Neville and Lynval. They’re from Jamaican descent, living in England and you gotta to be a certain way. You either got squashed, back then, or you stood up tall, man. And to me, they were like f**king giants. Do you know what I mean? So enough respect to them guys, yeah.

What music did you listen to growing up?
Well, I've got an uncle who is bang into soul. It was him who got me into Curtis Mayfield and things like that. He used to talk me through these albums. I was so grateful for it because I learned a lot. Just from his passion. I learnt a lot from it.

In our house, there was always music going. My dad would be playing blue beat and one drop reggae stuff. My mom would be playing country. And my sisters would be playing something in their room. There was always something going on. So, I kind of soaked a lot of different stuff up. 'Seven Letters’ by Derek Morgan - reminds me of growing up in my house. That ‘one drop’ stuff. Whenever I hear that tune, I am back in the house.

The radio back then - what did they call it? Yeah….they called it the Radiogram. You know the thing used to slide out, and you used to stack records on the top and then they would drop down. And then you'd open it up, and it was all gold, with mirrors, and fluorescent lights inside. And you used to keep the drinks in it and it there was a doily on top. Yeah man. The Radiogram. No one touch the gram!!!
So, whenever I hear that song, I just like .. I feel like a child again.

What was the first song you played on repeat?
'Daddy was a Bank Robber’ by The Clash. My old lady lost her rag with me for playing that. Not again - Not again!!!... you know, one of those.

One record you would keep forever?
‘Specials', by The Specials
Track ‘A Message To You Rudy'

Song you wish you had written?
‘Many Rivers To Cross’ That is a beautiful song.
By Jimmy Cliff

Song that defines the teenage you?
Guess would have to be another Specials track - they were such a big thing ‘Do Nothing’. I used to put my clobber on to that. And ‘Mirror In The Bathroom’ by The Beat, that’s another one. Tune!

A song lyric that inspires you?
"I'm gonna be the best me,
that I know how to be"

Aloe Blacc - I’m Beautiful
If I know someone is really down - I’ll fire that track over to them.

Best song to start a party?
It's got to be Funkadelic. It's got to be ... 'One Nation Under A Groove', man. Really just brilliant.

Best song to end an all nighter?
‘Could You be Loved’ by Bob Marley

Any new bands you are listening to right now?
The Isrights - Just finished doing a track with them. They are crafting really great songs, man.
Track - Summer ‘05

Childish Gambino - ‘Me and Your Mama’ - First time I heard it was just like f**k.
Track - Me and Your Mama

tUnE-yArDs - really like listening to them.
Track - Water Fountain

Chance The Rapper - ‘Colouring Book' I really enjoyed that.
Track - All Night

Little Sparrow - she’s folk and all that. Really great album.
Track - Wishing Tree