Kano has collected a string of accolades since bursting onto the music scene several years ago. In 2005 he won a MOBO award for best newcomer, was announced as one of “London’s Heroes of 2005” by Mayor of London, Ken Livingston and nominated for a Brit Award as Best
Urban act in January 2006. Despite his success, Kano remains down to earth and easy to talk to, as Tazmin Miah found out, during a chat about his music, including ‘This is the Girl’, his new single, featuring Craig David.

What made you give up football?
I played for Chelsea F.C. and Norwich City. I got a little fed up. Travelling [to Norwich] was a bit too much for me, as I was still young [in early teens] and not as dedicated to football, as I am to music, so I stopped playing.

What made you go solo from the N.A.S.T.Y. crew?
Relationships with people changed and a time came when I needed to go and do my own thing. A man needs to express himself in his own way. I was always making my own music, so it wasn’t anything new to me.

What was it like working with The Streets?
It was really good. Mike Skinner is a cool guy. I have a lot of respect for him. He gave me the opportunity to be in my first video and to support him on tour. He is really into his music and a very talented guy.

Who is your biggest inspiration?
I don’t have one specific inspiration. I get a lot of inspiration from the garage genre of music and being brought up in a Jamaican household there was always reggae music playing, which also inspires me.

Which one of your tracks is your favourite?
Probably ‘Ps and Qs’. I mean it’s the song that got me into the game and I like to think it’s the song that people identify with me. People recognise me like ‘Oh yeah Kano he sang Ps and Qs innit’. It also got me known outside London.

If you could duet with anyone who would it be?
I would quite like to see how Jay-Z works in the studio. I’m a studio guy and people have said Jay-Z is an amazing worker in the studio. I would love to see how he writes. He is definitely one of my favourite artists.

What inspires you to write your lyrics?
I would say most of my albums are autobiographical. I think that if you sing what you know about, it makes the music better. Music suffers if you don’t know what your singing about as you can’t put your feelings into the lyrics. You’ve got to sing like you mean what you’re saying.

What was it like working with Craig David?
Craig David is a really cool guy. He is so energetic and always moving, which is the opposite of me. I’m really laid back, but it works for us. We get into the studio and the energy is high and the chemistry is brilliant. We bounce ideas off each other.

What number do you think ‘This Is The Girl’ will reach in the charts?
I’m not good at predicting chart numbers but I do think it has the qualities to make it a high runner. I hope it makes number one.

When your third single ‘Remember Me’ only reached no. 71 did you feel like giving up?
Not at all. At that time I was performing and touring and getting love from the fans and that was enough for me. I have never had a top ten hit but I have never expected it, the feedback from the fans is all I need.

Do you get a lot of encouragement from you family?
My family are supportive of everything I do. My mum is always there even when I was playing football she would be in the sidelines. She is always interested in my music and what’s coming out next. She calls my manager once a week because I don’t really get to talk to her that often while I’m touring. My brothers and cousins support me. They come to my shows and generally are there for me.

What are your plans for the future?
I don’t look too far into the future, but in the near future I’m going to release my album, London Town. I’m touring in September and October around the UK. Then I’m going to hit Europe and hopefully be a success out there. I’ll take the rest from there.