Ko Kapches (born c. 1986), better known by the stage name KO (/ˈkoʊ/KOH), is a Canadian musician whose music is a mix of folk, hip hop, reggae, rock and R&B[1][2][3] —a sound which KO refers to as "urban-funk and urban-folk".[4][5]
KO was born into a middle classGreek family in Toronto;[1][6] his mother was a curator for the Royal Ontario Museum and his father a real estate lawyer.[1] Raised in the Toronto neighbourhood of Riverdale,[1][5] KO grew up in a musical environment; "we always had guitars around," KO said in an interview. "I even went for guitar lessons, but after two or three lessons my teacher told me that my hands were too small and that I would never be a guitar player. I never went back."[1][2]
While staying with friends involved in hip hop, he began to experiment with recording guitar over drum beats and eventually laid some tracks in a recording studio.[2][6] His parents recognized that KO was becoming serious about his music and helped to connect him with someone in the music business.[2] By 2006 he was signed by Atlantic Records New York, along with their Canadian affiliate Warner Music Canada later that same year.[2][7]
In 2019 he started working with manager Ivan Albery Powell and Great Music Agency.[8] He released the hit song Leaving California and a video for Rise Up later that same year.
Musical style and influencesEdit
KO's musical style borrows elements from hip hop, folk, rock, R&B and reggae. His songs mainly feature vocals and acoustic guitar played over hip hop beats and his sound has been compared to that of musician Everlast.[6][9] Although he experimented with rapping early in his music career, he has stated in an interview that he wasn't impressed by his own rapping ability and has focused his vocal efforts on singing.[9][10]
KO is a fan of Nirvana and has cited Kurt Cobain as a musical influence — "Kurt Kobain" is also the title of a single from his debut album.[7][10] In the bio section of KO's official website he also states that he is "still influenced by Toronto's underground rap community" and lists Everlast, Kid Rock, Ani DiFranco, Thelonious Monk and Van Morrison as some of his favourite artists.[5]
Debut albumEdit
KO's debut album Let's Blaze was released Aug 25, 2009;[1] he went on to open for some of Snoop Dogg's tour dates the fall of that same year.[2][4][7] KO's debut single "Capable" was picked up by local Toronto modern rock radio station 102.1 The Edge and he was nominated for the station's 2010 CASBY Awards in the categories of "Favourite New Album" and "Favourite New Artist".[4][11] He also opened for De La Soul in 2010.[2][9]
Video productionEdit
KO edits his own videos and posts them to his YouTube channel.[7] His video posts include official versions of his videos for the tracks "Capable", "Let's Blaze", "The Ballad of Jimmy Roscoe", "Kurt Kobain", "Bourbon (Crack Song)", and "Moving Mountains" as well as remixes and live versions of various songs, both of his own work and others.
^ abcdefInfantry, Ashante, "Music lovers, meet Ko: Short name, long story", Toronto Store, Aug 23, 2009 Last retrieved Oct 11, 2010
^ abcdefgGrainger, Lia "Toronto's KO turns troubles into tracks", Canwest News Source, Aug 28, 2009 June 14, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Last retrieved Oct 11, 2010
^Adams, Bill, "REVIEWS: KO", Ground Control Magazine, Sep 14, 2009 July 11, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Last retrieved Oct 11, 2010
^ abcSkinner, Jesse, "Meet Ko", Toro Magazine, Sep 4, 2010 Last retrieved Oct 11, 2010
^ abcKO's bio from his official website Last retrieved Oct 11, 2010
^ abcSchneider, Jason, "KO comes up swinging", The Waterloo Record, Oct 6, 2010 Last retrieved November 10, 2017.
^ abcdFlanagan, Marty, "Interview: KO", Showcase, Aug 28, 2009 Last retrieved Oct 11, 2010
^ abcJones, Kevin, "Concert reviews - De La Soul / Notes to Self / KO Kapches Phoenix Concert Theatre, Toronto, ON August 23", Exclaim!, Oct, 2009 Last retrieved November 10, 2017.
^ abMcMahon, Rob, "Ko knows best", Metro, Sep 3, 2009 Last retrieved November 10, 2017.
^List of 2010 CASBY Award winners and nominees from the official website of 102.1 The Edge 2010-05-24 at the Wayback Machine Last retrieved Oct 11, 2010
^"Canadian Active Rock & Alt Rock Chart Archive: Alternative Rock - May 10, 2011". America's Music Charts. Retrieved May 10, 2011.
^"Canadian Active Rock & Alt Rock Chart Archive: Alternative Rock - September 13 3, 2011". America's Music Charts. Retrieved September 27, 2011.
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Not to be confused with K O rapper Ko Kapches born c 1986 better known by the stage name KO ˈ k oʊ KOH is a Canadian musician whose music is a mix of folk hip hop reggae rock and R amp B 1 2 3 a sound which KO refers to as urban funk and urban folk 4 5 KOBirth nameKo KapchesOriginCanadianGenresHip hopfolkreggaeR amp Balternative rockOccupation s Musiciansinger songwriterInstrument s Acoustic guitarVocalsLabelsAtlantic Records Warner Music Canada Great Music AgencyWebsiteko nation wbr com Contents 1 Early life and musical career 2 Musical style and influences 3 Debut album 4 Video production 5 Discography 5 1 Albums 5 2 Singles 6 References 7 External linksEarly life and musical career EditKO was born into a middle class Greek family in Toronto 1 6 his mother was a curator for the Royal Ontario Museum and his father a real estate lawyer 1 Raised in the Toronto neighbourhood of Riverdale 1 5 KO grew up in a musical environment we always had guitars around KO said in an interview I even went for guitar lessons but after two or three lessons my teacher told me that my hands were too small and that I would never be a guitar player I never went back 1 2 While staying with friends involved in hip hop he began to experiment with recording guitar over drum beats and eventually laid some tracks in a recording studio 2 6 His parents recognized that KO was becoming serious about his music and helped to connect him with someone in the music business 2 By 2006 he was signed by Atlantic Records New York along with their Canadian affiliate Warner Music Canada later that same year 2 7 In 2019 he started working with manager Ivan Albery Powell and Great Music Agency 8 He released the hit song Leaving California and a video for Rise Up later that same year Musical style and influences EditKO s musical style borrows elements from hip hop folk rock R amp B and reggae His songs mainly feature vocals and acoustic guitar played over hip hop beats and his sound has been compared to that of musician Everlast 6 9 Although he experimented with rapping early in his music career he has stated in an interview that he wasn t impressed by his own rapping ability and has focused his vocal efforts on singing 9 10 KO is a fan of Nirvana and has cited Kurt Cobain as a musical influence Kurt Kobain is also the title of a single from his debut album 7 10 In the bio section of KO s official website he also states that he is still influenced by Toronto s underground rap community and lists Everlast Kid Rock Ani DiFranco Thelonious Monk and Van Morrison as some of his favourite artists 5 Debut album EditKO s debut album Let s Blaze was released Aug 25 2009 1 he went on to open for some of Snoop Dogg s tour dates the fall of that same year 2 4 7 KO s debut single Capable was picked up by local Toronto modern rock radio station 102 1 The Edge and he was nominated for the station s 2010 CASBY Awards in the categories of Favourite New Album and Favourite New Artist 4 11 He also opened for De La Soul in 2010 2 9 Video production EditKO edits his own videos and posts them to his YouTube channel 7 His video posts include official versions of his videos for the tracks Capable Let s Blaze The Ballad of Jimmy Roscoe Kurt Kobain Bourbon Crack Song and Moving Mountains as well as remixes and live versions of various songs both of his own work and others Discography EditAlbums Edit Let s Blaze 2009 Welcome to T Dot 2010 Corrupted Nostalgia 2017 Unplugged at Cherry Beach 2018 Bermuda Triangle 2020 Singles Edit Year Song Chart peak AlbumCANAlt 12 13 2009 Capable 9 Let s Blaze2011 Moving Mountains 23 Kurt Kobain 402012 My Life 2019 Leaving California References Edit a b c d e f Infantry Ashante Music lovers meet Ko Short name long story Toronto Store Aug 23 2009 Last retrieved Oct 11 2010 a b c d e f g Grainger Lia Toronto s KO turns troubles into tracks Canwest News Source Aug 28 2009 Archived June 14 2012 at the Wayback Machine Last retrieved Oct 11 2010 Adams Bill REVIEWS KO Ground Control Magazine Sep 14 2009 Archived July 11 2011 at the Wayback Machine Last retrieved Oct 11 2010 a b c Skinner Jesse Meet Ko Toro Magazine Sep 4 2010 Last retrieved Oct 11 2010 a b c KO s bio from his official website Last retrieved Oct 11 2010 a b c Schneider Jason KO comes up swinging The Waterloo Record Oct 6 2010 Last retrieved November 10 2017 a b c d Flanagan Marty Interview KO Showcase Aug 28 2009 Last retrieved Oct 11 2010 Ivan Albery Powell IMDB a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link a b c Jones Kevin Concert reviews De La Soul Notes to Self KO Kapches Phoenix Concert Theatre Toronto ON August 23 Exclaim Oct 2009 Last retrieved November 10 2017 a b McMahon Rob Ko knows best Metro Sep 3 2009 Last retrieved November 10 2017 List of 2010 CASBY Award winners and nominees from the official website of 102 1 The Edge Archived 2010 05 24 at the Wayback Machine Last retrieved Oct 11 2010 Canadian Active Rock amp Alt Rock Chart Archive Alternative Rock May 10 2011 America s Music Charts Retrieved May 10 2011 Canadian Active Rock amp Alt Rock Chart Archive Alternative Rock September 13 3 2011 America s Music Charts Retrieved September 27 2011 External links EditKO s official website KO s profile on Atlantic Records website permanent dead link Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title KO musician amp oldid 1163077364, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
