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Jack Peñate

Born 1985, Jack Peñate is a singer/songwriter from Blackheath in South London. He is the grandson of Mervyn Peake, author and illustrator of [i]The Gormenghast Trilogy[/i]. Along with the likes of [url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/Lily+Allen]Lily Allen[/url], [url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/Jamie+T]Jamie T[/url], [url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/Kate+Nash]Kate Nash[/url] and [url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/Adele+(3)]Adele[/url], he is often included in the [i]"Estuary English"[/i] pack of UK musicians - the 2006/2007 UK trend of young musicians "discovered on MySpace", characterised by ska influences, songs of everyday tales and singing in cockney/London accents (often of dubious authenticity). At 17 he started the band [i]Jack's Basement[/i] with his friend [url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/Felix+White]Felix White[/url]. The band split in two, one half going on to form [url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/Maccabees%2C+The]The Maccabees[/url], the other half forming Jack Peñate's backing band, with [url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/Joel+Porter]Joel Porter[/url] (bass) and [url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/Alex+Robins]Alex Robins[/url] (drums). Having started a Classics degree at UCL, Jack hooked up with London indie club and label, [url=http://www.discogs.com/label/Young+Turks]Young Turks[/url] and his studies were dropped in favour of a music career. In autumn 2006, Peñate signed to [url=http://www.discogs.com/label/XL+Recordings]XL Recordings[/url] who have delivered main-stream success with the release of his debut album [i]Matinée[/i]. His eclectic mix of styles incorporates elements of his varied influences which range from rockabilly and folk to jazz and trip-hop, leading to him being labelled "[i]the missing link between [url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/Jeff+Buckley]Jeff Buckley[/url] and [url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/Justin+Timberlake]Justin Timberlake[/url][/i]". He lists [url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/Prince]Prince[/url], [url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/Jeff+Buckley]Jeff Buckley[/url], [url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/Shuggie+Otis]Shuggie Otis[/url], [url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/Todd+Rundgren]Todd Rundgren[/url], [url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/J.J.+Cale]J.J. Cale[/url] and [url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/Herbie+Hancock]Herbie Hancock[/url] among his influences. His live performances are characterised by his much commented, unique style of high energy dancing whilst playing guitar.