Kermit Leveridge

Singer / Writer / Poet — Manchester

01Profile

A Kermit Leveridge Photo

03Interview

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.

If you could 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.

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.

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 was 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 learned a lot from it.

04Playlist Notes

What was the first song you played on repeat?
'Bankrobber’ 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'.

A song you wish you had written?
‘Many Rivers To Cross’ by Jimmy Cliff.

That is a beautiful song.

A 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."

'I’m Beautiful' by Aloe Blacc.

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

Best song to kick off 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?

'Summer ‘05' by The Isrights
Just finished doing a track with them. They are crafting really great songs, man.

'Me and Your Mama’ by Childish Gambino
First time I heard it was just like f**k.

'Water Fountain' by tUnE-yArDs
Really like listening to them.

'All Night' by Chance The Rapper
'Colouring Book' I really enjoyed that.

'Wishing Tree' by Little Sparrow
She’s folk and all that. Really great album.

03Interview

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.

If you could 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.

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.

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 was 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 learned a lot from it.

04Playlist Notes

What was the first song you played on repeat?
'Bankrobber’ 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'.

A song you wish you had written?
‘Many Rivers To Cross’ by Jimmy Cliff.

That is a beautiful song.

A 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."

'I’m Beautiful' by Aloe Blacc.

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

Best song to kick off 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?

'Summer ‘05' by The Isrights
Just finished doing a track with them. They are crafting really great songs, man.

'Me and Your Mama’ by Childish Gambino
First time I heard it was just like f**k.

'Water Fountain' by tUnE-yArDs
Really like listening to them.

'All Night' by Chance The Rapper
'Colouring Book' I really enjoyed that.

'Wishing Tree' by Little Sparrow
She’s folk and all that. Really great album.

 

05Videos

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."

Kermit Leveridge - Full Interview

Black Grape | Pop Voodoo (2017)

Black Grape | Reverend Black Grape (1995)

Ruthless Rap Assassins | Justice (Just Us) (1990)