This is Gideon Conn and you could be hearing -— and seeing — a lot more of him over the next few weeks.
The Manchester-based singer-songwriter is about to release the first single from his debut album. He will also embark on a headlining UK tour.
Called Londonderry, the track is about a date Mr Conn went on. He says he was inspired to write it on his gap year. “I was in Israel with Habonim. Everyone went on some political rally and I stayed behind and wrote the song,” Mr Conn, 29, tells People.
A keen performer, Mr Conn formed the Gideon Conn Band in 2005. They have since toured with leading artists Dan le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, 6 Day Riot and Jason Mraz. They released hip hop/indie crossover single I want you around, which was play- listed on Xfm and awarded breakfast single of the week by BBC 6 Music.
Mr Conn will be performing the new single at different venues across the UK, including Borderline in London on December 17.
“I love performing and having an audience.” His genre? “Acoustic, hip hop, alternative. It’s a mix. When I’m with the band it can be quite upbeat and then, every now and again, I will do a completely different style of song.”
In fact, he doesn’t really believe in genres: “I believe in songs.”
His debut album, New Bop Sounds, is due for release in March 2010. “The aim is to have enough success with this one to record the next one.”
Also a talented artist, Mr Conn graduated with a degree in sculpture from Manchester Metropolitan University. He now concentrates on drawing and painting. He says: “I enjoy capturing people in their environment and love nothing more than to travel around Israel on holiday with my guitar in one hand and sketchbook in the other. I also do many drawings of the bands that I meet while gigging and often give it to them afterwards.”
