About Kev Gray

Kev Gray is British singer-songwriter based in London and Tokyo. Previously with the Tokyo band, Akibakei, he built up a cult following with his velveteen vocal style and dark themes mirroring the work of The Beautiful South, The Smiths, Nick Drake and Jeff Buckley.
 
Highly respected on the both the London and Tokyo Japanese music scene he won the prestigious Gaijin Sounds 2008 award for his song, How The Story Ends, and was declared 'a lyrical genius' by the national press.
 
Since then he has produced 3 albums and 1 EP, recorded for soundtracks, and earned a reputation as a top live performer by playing a regular slot at the legendary Crocodile Club in Harajuku, Tokyo, with his multi-band, The Gravy Train. He now lives between Tokyo and London but spends much of his time in US to tour and promote his songs.

Kev Gray Music

A melting pot of lush melodies from bossa nova, funk, gospel, lounge and blues, songwriting involves a fusion of traditional genres, resulting in a welcome antidote to modern conformity. Contemporary lyrical themes and soulful vocal textures add the polish to the Englishman's ongoing success.

Highlights

Feature act during "UK-Japan Year 2008"
Winner of Gaijin Sounds National Songwriting Competition 2008 & 2009
Performed in over 10 countries in Europe, Asia-Pacific, and North America, including London, New York, Tokyo, Helsinki and Sydney.
Headlined Japan Music Week 2009 & 2010
Aeon Festival and Wimbledon Calling 2010
2011-12 Almost Dead
2013 Hard Rock Cafe Anniversary
2013 Tokyo Woodstock
2013 US Tour
2014 Featured NHK
2015 Dirty Downward Dog Tour - USA
2017 World Tour TBC

Press

"How the Story Ends", one of those rare tracks so achingly beautiful that the listener is laid out on a bed of melancholy... You'll understand once you hear it. It's an instant classic..." 
Jon Wilks
 - Editor, Timeout

Kev Gray: genius? Quite possibly....  Jonty Davies
- Editor, Seek Japan

"How the Story Ends" demonstrates lyrical genius, as well as undeniable instrumental gifts. Imagine, if you will, an encounter between Nick Drake and Antony Hegarty, and you might be somewhere close - Japanzine

...sings like Macartney, moans like Morrisey, writes likes Dylan

Different Class Radio

"Six Feet Under" is simply mesmeric. An audience of strangers suddenly synced in song - 
Japan Music Week

BIOGRAPHY

Early in 2008, he was spotted by musical entrepreneur, Paul Morgan of Medici Studios in Australia, and invited to record there with one of the country’s top producers, ARIA-nominated, Michael Stangel of Jellyfish Records. The result: Shipwrecked, an eclectic mix of recordings of pop jazz, gospel, Latin and folk, that transcended each genre.

In late 2008, he formed The Gravy Train, a multi-culti live outfit from Britain, Canada, Japan and the US. A feature band during "UK-Japan Year 2008", The Gravy Train quickly established themselves as a top local act.

Still, it is the solo performances that continue to enchant listeners the world over. From Club Passim in Boston to Soho Arts in London, Gray's vocal emotion always connects, with total silence often ensuing once the vocals hit their target. A near fatal accident in 2011 cancelled the release. Similarly, a serious car crash in the US Tour of summer 2015 cut short the Dirty Downward Dog Tour  and video shoot. However, Gray has recovered and embarks on a world tour of Asia, Europe and America from July - October 2017.
 


Songs vary from venue to venue and the state of the crowd. Solo, duo and acoustic trio are as common as the change of genre. From Slow Cuban Funk on Voodoo Doll to Uber-Rockabilly on Mississippi Nelson, the sheer eclecticism of lyrical themes, genres and tempos is testament to the ever-evolving nature of the songwriter.

His mission is unashamedly that of bringing music back to the listener. Asked why, he argues in a world of autotune and programmed music, live performance must prevail, hence the focus on connecting with the audience through dynamic vocals and lyrical content that mirror everyday themes - cold feet at the altar, the rat race, having children, escaping responsibility, swingers parties, the inability to grow up: If you have something worth saying, people will listen.

In terms of live performance, songwriting, lyrical versatility and vocal quality, we believe Kev Gray & the Gravy Train has the most to offer to any live audience.