Kevin Simm

Kevin Simm
Birth name Kevin Ian Simm
Born (1980-09-05) 5 September 1980
Chorley, Lancashire, England
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer/Songwriter
Instruments Vocals
Years active 2000–present
Labels
Associated acts

Kevin Ian Simm (born 5 September 1980, Chorley, Lancashire, England) is an English pop singer. He won The Voice UK on 9 April 2016. Before appearing on The Voice, Simm was a member of pop group Liberty X.

Early life

Simm was born on 5 September 1980 in Chorley, Lancashire, England. He attended St Anne's Primary School then St. Mary's Catholic Technology College in Leyland between 1991 and 1996, where he showed promise as a junior footballer. In his last year in secondary school, he performed Elton John's "Daniel" in the school's annual show. Simm decided to concentrate on music and joined a local indie band called AnAlien where he began writing his own material. He applied to go on the ITV talent show, Stars in Their Eyes, where he appeared as Simon Fowler of Ocean Colour Scene. After a few years of writing and performing on the northern pubs and clubs circuit, as well as spending a summer season in a band called Force 5 with James Fox, Simm auditioned for the ITV reality TV show, Popstars.

History

2001–07: Popstars and Liberty X

While the five winning contestants of Popstars formed Hear'Say, the five runner-up contestants formed the group Liberty. The name Liberty was chosen to reflect the freedom the members experienced following their participation in Popstars. Amidst pejorative media commentary (including the term "Flopstars"), the act proceeded to sign a multimillion-pound record contract with Richard Branson's independent record label V2 records. Shortly after forming, Liberty received a legal challenge in the UK High Court from a funk R&B band, also called "Liberty", who achieved success in the 1990s, including being awarded Capital Radio Band of the Year, playing Wembley Arena, European tours and the release of albums in the USA, Europe and UK. The original Liberty claimed that the newly formed Liberty was taking advantage of the goodwill that had been created by the former's success (known in English law as the "tort of passing off"). The final judgment was in favour of the funk R&B band and the ex-Popstars then asked readers of UK tabloid newspaper, The Sun to suggest a new name. The winning name was "X Liberty", but the group used the entry as the basis for the official title, "Liberty X".

Liberty X enjoyed seven Top 10 singles from 2001 to 2005. Their biggest hit, "Just a Little", reached Number 1 in May 2002. "Thinking It Over", "Got to Have Your Love", "Being Nobody", "Song 4 Lovers" and "Holding on for You" all reached the top 5 in the UK Singles Chart. Their debut album, Thinking It Over, reached Number 3 in June 2002. Liberty X released another 2 albums, Being Somebody and X, which reached Numbers 12 and 27, respectively. Liberty X won two Brit Awards: for Best British Single and Best British Breakthrough Artist. The group split in 2007 following disappointing album and singles sales from their third studio album.

2007–15: Solo career and reformation of Liberty X

Simm, focusing on his solo career, created his own Myspace music profile, uploading demo tracks for his fans to hear his progress as a solo artist. In a March 2008 interview with Gordon McCully, he stated, "I've been very busy in the studio recording new solo tracks which I'll hopefully be able to share with people very soon." Simm was signed to JamDown Music, where his track "Brand New" is featured on their official website's music player. On 3 October 2008, Simm's debut album, titled Brand New, was released in Japan. The album has since appeared for purchase on iTunes.

In October 2012, it was confirmed that the group would reform for a one off appearance at the Hammersmith Apollo and ITV2 series The Big Reunion which aired from 31 January 2013.

On 1 February 2014, Liberty X posted on their Facebook page that "We have an announcement coming tomorrow... ...but before that we've got some business at G-A-Y to attend to tonight, if you're coming we'll see you later!"[1] The next day, following the performance at G-A-Y,[2] they announced that they had signed to 365 Artists Management "for our future creative and business affairs."[3] The group subsequently performed at a series of sporadic gigs during the spring and summer of 2014.

In 2015, during his audition for The Voice UK, Simm revealed that he left Liberty X as he felt the group were officially over.

2016–present: The Voice UK

In 2016, Simm auditioned for the fifth series of The Voice UK singing a soulful version of Sia's "Chandelier".[4] All four coaches; will.i.am, Ricky Wilson, Boy George and Paloma Faith, turned their chairs for him and he chose to join Faith's team.[4] Simm lost against Faith Nelson in the battle rounds and was nearly eliminated from the competition, but was stolen by Wilson, joining his team for the knockout rounds. He won the knockouts and won the final of The Voice UK on 9 April.[5] Simm released his UK debut single "All You Good Friends" shortly afterwards.[6]

Performances

Performed Song Original artist Result
Blind Audition "Chandelier" Sia All judges turned, joined team Paloma
Battle Rounds "Spotlight" (against Faith Nelson) Jennifer Hudson Lost, joined team Ricky
Knockout rounds "Wings" Birdy Fast pass
Quarter-final "I'm Kissing You" Des'ree Fast pass
Semi-final "The Power of Love" (as part of Team Ricky) Huey Lewis and the News Safe
"Rolling in the Deep" Adele
Live final "Stay" Rihanna Winner
"Mr. Brightside" (with Ricky Wilson) The Killers
"All You Good Friends" Original song

On 28 May 2016 Simm joined Liberty X performing at Birmingham Gay Pride performing hits "Got to Have Your Love", Holding On For You", Being Nobody", Song 4 Lovers and "Just a Little and the winner single "All You Good Friends".[7][8][9][10]

Discography

Albums

Title Details Peak chart positions
UK
 JAP
[11]
Brand New — 12
Recover — —
"—" denotes an album that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
UK JAP
[11]
"Brand New" 2008 — 25 Brand New
"It's About Us" — 96
"Hot Summer's Day" — —
"All You Good Friends" 2016 24 — Non-album single
"Wildfire" — — Recover
"—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Filmography

Television
Year Title Role Notes
2001 Popstars Himself/Competitor Series 1; 2nd place
2002–03 Bo' Selecta Various role Episode 1; Series 1
Episode 6; Series 2
2003 Popworld Presenter "23 March 2003"
2005 The Games Himself/Competitor Series 3
2006 ITV2 Celebrity Daredevils Himself "Kevin Simm" (Episode 2; Series 1)
2013 The Big Reunion Himself "Kevin Simm" (Series 1)
2016 The Voice UK Contestant/Winner Series 5

References

  1. ↑ Liberty X (1 February 2014). "Liberty X – We have an announcement coming tomorrow... ...but before that we've got some business at G-A-Y to attend to tonight, if you're coming we'll see you later!". Facebook. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  2. ↑ Webster, Samantha (2 February 2014). "Michelle Heaton gets rushed to hospital hours before Liberty X gig, still performs with bump on board". OK!. Northern & Shell. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  3. ↑ Liberty X (2 February 2014). "Liberty X – Thank you to everyone that came to see us last night, we had such a laugh! So as promised, a little announcement:". Facebook. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  4. 1 2 Walker, Danny; Cooper, Lorna (30 January 2016). "Can Kevin Simm WIN The Voice? Former Liberty X singer puts the coaches in a spin". Daily Mirror. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  5. ↑ Copson, Josie (10 April 2016). "Liberty X's Kevin Simm has only gone and won The Voice". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  6. ↑ Natrass, JJ (13 April 2016). "Kevin Simm performs new single All You Good Friends on The Voice". Mail Online. DMG Media. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  7. ↑ "Liberty X Interview Birmingham Gay Pride 2016". YouTube. Retrieved May 29, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Liberty X - Just a Little Birmingham Gay Pride 2016". YouTube. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Liberty X - Song 4 Lovers Birmingham Gay Pride 2016". YouTube. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Liberty X - Being Nobody Birmingham Gay Pride 2016". YouTube. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
  11. 1 2 Driver, Pia. "Kevin Simm Konzert im Kölner E-Werk". Red Carpet Reports. Retrieved 19 May 2011.

External links

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