Josh Kumra

Last updated

Josh Kumra
Born (1991-04-20) 20 April 1991 (age 32)
Swindon, Wiltshire, England
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)
  • Guitar
  • vocals
Years active2011–present
Labels Sony Music Entertainment UK
Website joshkumra.com

Josh Kumra (born 20 April 1991 [1] ) is an English singer and songwriter.

Contents

In 2011, Kumra co-wrote and provided vocals for English rapper Wretch 32's highest-charting single to date, "Don't Go", which reached number one in the UK Singles Chart. [2]

Biography

Kumra grew up in a family home in Swindon, Wiltshire. [3] Kumra is one-quarter Indian (his grandfather was from New Delhi) [4] and started playing the guitar 12 years old, [5] which naturally led to him teaching himself to sing. Kumra is a former student of The Academy of Music and Sound in Swindon. [6]

2011: Breakthrough

In early 2011, Kumra moved from Swindon to London to pursue a career in music and in the first month, met Wretch 32 [5] and together, they created the "Don't Go" collaboration which went on to reach number one in the UK charts. [2]

Due to the song's instant success, Kumra joined Wretch 32 to perform the song on one of the UK's only major music TV shows, Later With Jools Holland [7] and at many of the summer's major festivals. Regarding his subsequent appearance at V Festival, he stated that it was one of his biggest highlights; "Me and Wretch performed Don't Go on the same day that it went to number one. It was an incredible feeling; they had to take away the barriers in the tent we were playing in because it was just getting rammed as there were a couple thousand more people than there should've been in there." [5]

2012–present: Good Things Come To Those Who Don't Wait

Following his success with Wretch 32, Kumra signed to Sony Records, [8] releasing his debut solo effort on 15 July 2012. The single, 'Helicopters & Planes' had its video premiere on Vevo on 18 May. [9] The track features Roc Nation rapper K Koke. [10]

He has supported many artists, including Gabrielle Aplin and in late 2012, Kumra joined Nina Nesbitt on her tour as a support act – he also supported Lianne La Havas in early 2013. In April 2013, he supported OneRepublic on their European tour.

His debut album 'Good Things Come To Those Who Don't Wait' was released on 22 April 2013, featuring songwriting and production collaborations with Fink, Emeli Sandé, Naughty Boy and Mr Hudson.

“We didn't have a brief, we just did what we wanted," says Josh. "We had total freedom to mix up soul, blues and gospel songwriting, sometimes with big hip hop beats. But there's no production for the sake of it. And ultimately it comes down to me, the bedroom singer-songwriter with a guitar in my hand. That's what I wanted to come across." The album is, he considers, "about my journey, which might sound clichéd, but it's true. The songs are about me, but also about things I've observed. They're love songs, mainly." [11]

Kumra released the EP Pull Me Back In in 2020, which includes the single Don't Know Why.

Artistry

Influences

Kumra cites Tracy Chapman's self-titled album, The Rolling Stones and Experience by Jimi Hendrix [12] as his three most influential albums whilst growing up and says Eric Clapton is "God" to him and that he would like to duet together someday. [13]

He describes his sound as "kind of 'singer-songwrity'". [14]

Discography

Albums

TitleAlbum details
Good Things Come To Those Who Don't Wait

Extended plays

TitleAlbum details
iTunes Festival: London 2012
Pull Me Back In
  • Released: 3 April 2020
  • Label: ferryhouse
  • Format: Digital download

Singles

YearTitleAlbum
2012"Helicopters & Planes"
(featuring K Koke)		Non-album single
2013"Waiting For You"Good Things Come To Those Who Don't Wait
"The Answer"
2020"Don't Know Why"Non-album single
YearTitlePeak chart positionsAlbum
UK
[18]
2011"Don't Go"
(Wretch 32 featuring Josh Kumra)		1 Black and White

Related Research Articles

Manhattan Clique is a group composed of producers, remixers and songwriters Philip Larsen and Chris Smith, also known as "MHC". Their successes have been reflected in the Music Week Club and Pop charts in the UK, plus the Billboard dance chart in the US, as well as frequent radio play.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wretch 32</span> Musical artist

Jermaine Sinclaire Scott, better known by his stage name Wretch 32, is a British rapper, singer and songwriter from Tottenham, North London. He was a member of the grime collective Combination Chain Gang, before forming The Movement with Scorcher, Ghetts, and Mercston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emeli Sandé</span> Scottish singer and songwriter (born 1987)

Adele Emily Sandé,, known professionally as Emeli Sandé, is a Scottish singer and songwriter. Born in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, and raised in Alford, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, by an English mother and a Zambian father, Sandé rose to prominence after being a featured artist on the 2009 track "Diamond Rings" by rapper Chipmunk. It was the first top 10 single on the UK Singles Chart for both of them. In 2010, she was featured on "Never Be Your Woman" by the rapper Wiley, which was another top ten hit. In 2012, she received the Brit Awards' Critics' Choice Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heaven (Emeli Sandé song)</span> 2011 single by Emeli Sandé

"Heaven" is the debut solo single from Scottish recording artist Emeli Sandé. It was released by Virgin Records after she signed a record deal with the label after the success of single "Never Be Your Woman" which Sandé was featured as a guest artist. It was also the first release from Sandé's debut album, Our Version of Events, on 14 August 2011. The single was added to BBC Radio 1's playlist in June 2011. The song was also crowned record of the week by the station’s daytime DJ, Fearne Cotton. The single is written by Sandé, Naughty Boy, Craze, Zeus Charalambous & Hoax, with producer Mike Spencer.

<i>Our Version of Events</i> 2012 studio album by Emeli Sandé

Our Version of Events is the debut studio album by Scottish recording artist Emeli Sandé. The album was released on 13 February 2012 by Virgin Records, following Sandé's winning of the Critics' Choice Award at the BRIT Awards 2012. Though Our Version of Events is her first album release, Sandé has been active in the industry since 2009, most notably appearing on singles by Chipmunk and Wiley. The album features R&B, soul and pop music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Go (Wretch 32 song)</span> 2011 single by Wretch 32 featuring Josh Kumra

"Don't Go" is a single from British rapper Wretch 32 that appears on his début album Black and White and features vocals from English singer Josh Kumra. The single was released in the United Kingdom as a digital download on 14 August 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Read All About It (song)</span> 2011 single by Professor Green

"Read All About It" is a song by British rapper Professor Green which features vocals from British singer-songwriter Emeli Sandé. The track served as the lead single for Professor Green's second studio album, At Your Inconvenience and was released as a digital download in the United Kingdom on 23 October 2011. The track debuted at number-one in the UK with sales of over 153,000 copies and spent two consecutive weeks at the peak. "Read All About It" is a hip hop and R&B song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emeli Sandé discography</span>

The discography of R&B and soul recording artist Emeli Sandé consists of four studio albums, thirty singles and twenty-one music videos

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Next to Me (Emeli Sandé song)</span> 2012 single by Emeli Sandé

"Next to Me" is a song by Scottish recording artist Emeli Sandé. The single was first released in Ireland on 10 February 2012 as the third single from her debut studio album, Our Version of Events (2012). "Next to Me" was written by Sandé and co-written by Hugo Chegwin, Harry Craze and A. K. Paul. The recording was also produced by Craze and Chegwin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wretch 32 discography</span>

The discography of British rapper Wretch 32 consists of four studio albums, six mixtapes, fourteen singles and nineteen music videos.

The Academy of Music and Sound is an independent popular music college with centres in five locations in England and Scotland. The Academy delivers instrument specific courses validated by local partner college and Universities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wonder (Naughty Boy song)</span> 2012 single by Naughty Boy

"Wonder" is the debut single released by British record producer Naughty Boy, featuring vocals from Scottish singer and songwriter Emeli Sandé. It was released on 21 October 2012, originally slated as the lead single from Naughty Boy's debut album, Hotel Cabana. "Wonder" is also included on the American version of Sandé's debut album, and as a bonus track on the re-release of her debut album, Our Version of Events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beneath Your Beautiful</span> 2012 single by Labrinth

"Beneath Your Beautiful" is a song by British musicians Labrinth and Emeli Sandé. Written by Labrinth, Mike Posner and Sandé, it was promoted as the sixth single from Labrinth's debut album, Electronic Earth (2012), and is included as a bonus track on the US Deluxe Edition of Sandé's debut studio album Our Version of Events. Impacting from 18 October 2012, and following a well-received performance on the ninth series of The X Factor, the single would go on to sell 108,000 copies in the UK during its first week and top the UK Singles Chart. It became Labrinth's first number one single as a lead artist and additionally became his first top 40 hit on the US Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at number 34. The song was nominated for 'Best British Single' at the 2013 Brit Awards and was ranked the twelfth best-selling single of 2012 in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe</span> 2013 single by Kendrick Lamar

"Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe", is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar, from his major-label debut studio album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012). The song, produced by frequent collaborator Sounwave of Top Dawg Entertainment in-house production team Digi+Phonics, heavily samples "Tiden Flyver", by Danish electronic group Boom Clap Bachelors. It was originally intended to be a collaboration with American singer Lady Gaga, but her contributions were ultimately excluded from the final recording due to timing issues. A remix of "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe" featuring American rapper Jay-Z was sent to radio as the album's fifth single on March 21, 2013, with the original version and another remix featuring British singer Emeli Sandé later being released.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lifted (Naughty Boy song)</span> 2013 single by Naughty Boy featuring Emeli Sandé

"Lifted" is a single released by British record producer Naughty Boy, featuring vocals from Scottish singer and songwriter Emeli Sandé. It was released on 18 August 2013 as the third single from Naughty Boy's debut album, Hotel Cabana (2013). The full track was uploaded to Naughty Boy's SoundCloud account on 4 July 2013. An alternate version of the song, featuring a rap from Professor Green is included on the album as well as the original song.

<i>Hotel Cabana</i> 2013 studio album by Naughty Boy

Hotel Cabana is the debut studio album by British record producer Shahid "Naughty Boy" Khan, released on 23 August 2013 through Naughty Boy Recordings and Virgin EMI. Khan set up his Naughty Boy Productions record and production company. He would find his break by producing Chipmunk's 2009 top-ten single "Diamond Rings", featuring a then unknown Emeli Sandé. Naughty Boy released his own debut single as a signed artist in 2010. "Never Be Your Woman" samples White Town's 1997 number-one single "Your Woman" and featured British grime artist Wiley and Sandé on the chorus; it reached the top ten in the UK and is included as a bonus track on Hotel Cabana.

Rachel Moulden, better known as Maiday, is an English singer-songwriter from Worcestershire, now living in Bow, East London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alright with Me</span> 2015 single by Wretch 32 featuring Anne-Marie and Prgrshn

"Alright with Me" is a song by British rapper Wretch 32, featuring vocals from English singer Anne-Marie and Welsh singer Prgrshn. It was released as a digital download in the United Kingdom on 11 December 2015 through Ministry of Sound. The song was written by Emeli Sandé and Wretch 32.

<i>Kingdom Coming</i> (EP) 2017 EP by Emeli Sandé

Kingdom Coming is an extended play (EP) by Scottish singer songwriter Emeli Sandé, released on 3 November 2017 by Virgin Records. Kingdom Coming is Sandé's third EP following 2013 iTunes Sessions and 2016's Live from London Bridge, and also follows Sandé's second studio album Long Live the Angels (2016). The EP features Harlem rapper Dave East, as well as collaborations with UK grime rappers Giggs and Wretch 32.

References

  1. ↑ "I am 22" . Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  2. 1 2 Tarley, Rachel (21 August 2011). "Wretch 32 beats Emeli Sande and Christina Aguilera to number 1 spot". Metro.co.uk. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
  3. ↑ Biography. joshkumra.com
  4. ↑ Lester, Paul (6 April 2012). "Josh Kumra (No 1,245)". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 "Josh Kumra Interview". LozzaMusic.com. Archived from the original on 4 June 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
  6. ↑ "Academy of Music & Sound – The UK's leading dedicated college for today's musician". Academyofmusic.ac.uk. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
  7. ↑ "Wretch 32 feat. Josh Kumra – Don't Go (Later with Jools Holland)". YouTube. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
  8. ↑ "Swindon pop star Josh Kumra signs major record contract". Swindon Advertiser. 1 November 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  9. ↑ "Josh Kumra feat. K Koke – Helicopters & Planes". YouTube. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
  10. ↑ "Josh Kumra Feat. K Koke – Helicopters & Planes". LozzaMusic.com. 18 April 2012. Archived from the original on 11 November 2013. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
  11. ↑ "Josh Kumra hopes new single will be The Answer to elusive hit". Swindon Advertiser. 15 April 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  12. ↑ "Interviews – Introducing: Josh Kumra". The House of Coxhead. 4 January 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
  13. ↑ Pingitore, Silvia (12 April 2020). "Interview with Josh Kumra, the boy who beat Christina Aguilera". the-shortlisted.co.uk. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  14. ↑ "x SuchATune.co.uk – Josh Kumra Interview". LozzaMusic.com. 7 February 2012. Archived from the original on 28 May 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
  15. ↑ "Good Things Come To Those Who Don't Wait: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
  16. ↑ "iTunes – Music – Good Things Come To Those Who Don't Wait by Josh Kumra". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
  17. ↑ iTunes – Music – iTunes Festival: London 2012 – EP by Josh Kumra
  18. ↑ Peak positions for the featured singles in the UK:
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.