Anita Blay Explained

Anita Blay
Alias:CocknBullKid
Birth Name:Anita Blay
Origin:Hackney, London, England
Occupation:Singer, songwriter
Years Active:2008–present

Anita Blay is a British-Ghanaian singer and songwriter, formerly known by the stage name CocknBullKid (previously thecocknbullkid). She released her debut single in 2008 and her debut album, Adulthood, in 2011. Blay currently writes for other artists - and is part of the dance music duo Antony & Cleopatra[1] and the London-based music collective Kommunion.

Early life

Blay was born in Clapton, east London to Ghanaian parents and raised in the city's Hackney area.[2] [3] Her mother left the family when she was 12 years old. She cultivated an interest in music as a teenager, songwriting with rapper Plan B at a youth placement scheme when she was 16. She completed A-levels in English, sociology and theology. Blay took a series of day jobs in her late teens, including one at Southwark Council, but found full-time employment incompatible with her lifestyle and decided to pursue music professionally.

Career

2008–09: Early releases

Blay adopted the stage name thecocknbullkid, explaining, "Initially I just liked the way it sounded—it gave me aural satisfaction. Then I liked the idea of calling myself a bulls**tter, it's all a bit tongue-in-cheek."[4] She began uploading material to her MySpace profile and networked with music producers, live promoters and managers.[5]

Blay released her debut single, "On My Own", in April 2008, followed by performances at the Glastonbury Festival and on the TV programme Later... with Jools Holland later in the year. She toured Germany with Vice magazine's Vice Live tour in late 2008.[6] Her second single, "I'm Not Sorry" was released in March 2009, and by May 2009, she had signed to Moshi Moshi through Island Records.[4] Following Blay's appearance at the American music festival SXSW, her debut EP, Querelle, was released in the US via Iamsound Records in August 2009 to positive reviews from Prefix and Spin magazines.[7] [8] [9] To mark the EP's release, Blay issued a free mixtape featuring her own tracks alongside songs by artists including Late of the Pier and Diana Ross.[10] [11] Also in 2009, Blay appeared alongside Alessi's Ark, Micachu, Róisín Murphy, and Sinéad O'Connor on a cover of Chaka Khan's "I'm Every Woman", a charity single released to support ActionAid.[12] [13]

Blay was expected to release a full-length album in 2009, with production from Blue May, Dave McCracken, Joseph Mount (of Metronomy), and Mark-Anthony Tieku.[14] [15] [16] By 2010, Blay said she had scrapped the album's original sound;[17] in 2011, a 12-track album from the initial recording sessions titled Adolescence leaked onto the Internet, and Blay actively encouraged her fans to download it.[18] [19]

2010–11: Adulthood

Blay announced the change of her stage name to CocknBullKid in June 2010 and released the song "CocknBullKid" as a free download.[20] Her first single with Moshi Moshi/Island, "One Eye Closed", was released in November 2010, and she opened for Marina and the Diamonds and Kele on their respective tours in October and November.[21] [22] The follow-up single, "Hold on to Your Misery", was released in January 2011, and third single "Asthma Attack" followed in April 2011. These releases preceded her debut album, Adulthood, which was recorded in London, Paris and Stockholm with production from Liam Howe, and includes contributions from Gonzales, Peter Morén (of Peter Bjorn and John), and Joseph Mount. It was released in April 2011, and a fourth and final single, "Yellow", was issued in August 2011. Spin magazine and The Guardians Michael Cragg named Adulthood one of the best albums of the year.[23] [24]

Blay promoted Adulthood with support slots on UK tours by Janelle Monáe (from February 2011),[25] Duran Duran (May 2011),[26] and Patrick Wolf (October and November 2011).[27] She collaborated with several other artists during 2011; featuring on the track "In Doubt" by Black Devil Disco Club, and on The Shoes' song "Cliché" (from their album Crack My Bones) and their remix of Wolf Gang's "Dancing with the Devil" (alongside Mz. Bratt). Blay co-wrote material for Nicola Roberts' solo album Cinderella's Eyes (2011),[28] [29] but her tracks did not make the final cut of the album.

2012–present: Solo and songwriting work

Blay recorded "Doing It Wrong", the theme tune for the BBC Three television series Some Girls, which premiered in 2012.[30] The same year she featured on Niyi's "Ur No Good" and the single "Never Let Go" by Rowdy Superstar, with whom she formed a side project called X&Y.<ref>Web site: ROWDY SUPERST*R // 'Never Let Go' Single // Olugbenga & Barbara Panther Remixes. bangonpr.com. 6 July 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150923182044/http://www.bangonpr.com/campaigns/press-release/rowdy-superstr-never-let-go-single-olugbenga-barbara-panther-remixes. 23 September 2015. dead. [31] She co-wrote girl group Neon Jungle's 2013 debut single, "Trouble", which reached the top 20 on the UK Singles Chart.[32]

Blay has also been working on a second solo album, according to her publisher Downtown Music Publishing.[33] In 2015, Blay (credited as CocknBullKid) was featured on the Boxed In track "Lo Life".[34]

In April 2016, Blay's songwriting collaboration with Little Mix on their song "Hair", released from their 2015 album Get Weird, was released as an official single, featuring vocals from Sean Paul, and is classed as the biggest and most successful songwriting collaboration that Blay has taken part in so far in her music career.

May 2018 saw Blay co-write a OneRepublic track titled "Start Again". It was featured on the second season of the hit Netflix show 13 Reasons Why.

In September 2020, Blay collaborated with Kae Tempest and High Contrast on a standalone single "Time Is Hardcore".[35] [36] The track was premiered on August 12 on BBC Radio 1 by Clara Amfo,[37] and was subsequently selected as Adele Roberts' "Tune of the Week".[38] [39]

In January 2021, Blay updated her social media profiles from CocknBullKid to Anita Blay, whilst posting a simple message "BRB".[40] This has prompted speculation amongst fans (most notably Perez Hilton) that she may be releasing music under her own artist name some time in 2021.[41]

2012–present: Antony and Cleopatra

Antony & Cleopatra

See main article: Antony and Cleopatra (musical duo). In 2014, Blay and Alexander Burnett (of Australian band Sparkadia) formed a deep house duo called Antony & Cleopatra, who featured on three singles in 2014: Lancelot's "Givin' It Up", Beni's "Protect", and Sammy Bananas' "Money Time".[42] [43] [44]

Their debut single as lead artists, "Sirens", was released in 2015, with multiple singles and collaborations from 2015-2019.[45] [46]

23 November 2018 saw the release of Antony & Cleopatra's 6-song debut EP, Hurt Like Hell. Blay described the EP as "the best way of showing our more techno and weird musical moments that you'd see in our live show or DJ set.".[47]

Artistry

Blay's work encompasses a number of influences including Björk, Celine Dion, Morrissey and synthpop acts, including The Human League and The Knife.[48] [49] [50] BBC 6Music DJ Lauren Laverne has described Blay as "a latter-day Morrissey—or even a British Kelis".[51]

As CocknBull Kid, Blay's visual imagery has been inspired by Mexican folk art and colours prominent in South American culture,[52] and she wears a bespoke headress for her live performances adorned with fairly lights, peace symbols, and skulls.[53]

American singer Shamir has cited CocknBullKid (Blay) as one of his major influences, and had himself tattooed with a lyric from "Hold on to Your Misery".[54] [55]

Discography

Mixtapes

Singles

as CocknBull Kid

Title! scope="col"
YearAlbum
"On My Own"2008
"I'm Not Sorry"2009Querelle
"One Eye Closed"2010Adulthood
"Hold on to Your Misery"2011
"Asthma Attack"
"Yellow"

as Antony & Cleopatra

Title! scope="col"
YearArtist(s)
"Givin' It Up"
(feat. Antony & Cleopatra)
2014Lancelot
"Money Time"
(feat. Antony & Cleopatra)
Sammy Bananas
"Protect"
(feat. Antony & Cleopatra)
Beni
"Sirens"2015Antony & Cleopatra
"Take Me"Antony & Cleopatra
"Love Is A Lonely Dancer"2016Antony & Cleopatra
"Careful Baby"
(feat. Antony & Cleopatra)
Nicky Night Time
"The Future"
(feat. Antony & Cleopatra)
2017Motez
"Never Get To You"Moon Boots
"Dust"Antony & Cleopatra
"Twitch"Antony & Cleopatra
"The Islands"2018Antony & Cleopatra
"Hurt Like Hell"Antony & Cleopatra
"Why Don't You Just Call Me"2019Antony & Cleopatra
"Slippin"Jaded / Black Caviar / Antony & Cleopatra

as Kommunion

Title! scope="col"
YearArtist(s)
"Lose My Cool"2022KOMMUNION [57]

Guest appearances

YearSongAlbum
2009"I'm Every Woman"
(Alessi's Ark, thecocknbullkid, Micachu, Róisín Murphy, and Sinéad O'Connor)
2010"Anywhere You Looked" (CockNBullKid remix)
(Au Revoir Simone)
Night Light
2011"In Doubt"
(Black Devil Disco Club featuring CocknBullKid)
Circus
"Cliché"
(The Shoes featuring CocknBullKid)
Crack My Bones
"Dancing with the Devil" (Shoes remix)
(Wolf Gang featuring CocknBullKid + Mz. Bratt)
2012"Never Let Go"
(Rowdy Superstar featuring CocknBullKid)
Battery
"Ur No Good"
(Niyi featuring CocknBullKid)
Great Britain: The Best of 2005–2012
2015"Lo Life"
(Boxed In featuring CocknBullKid)
Boxed In
2020"Time Is Hardcore"
(Boxed In featuring Kae Tempest and Anita Blay)
Notes from the Underground

Songwriting credits

TitleYearArtist(s)AlbumWritten with:
"Budbäraren"2012Peter MorénPyramidenPeter Morén
"Trouble"2013Neon JungleWelcome to the JungleBenjamin Berry
"Future X Girl"2014Aminata Jamieson
"London Rain"Benjamin Berry, Uzoechi Emenike
"Right Beside You"
The DealerTimothy Deal, Benjamin Berry, Andrew Bullimore
"Home"2015BlueColoursDuncan James, Paul Meehan
"Hair"Little MixGet WeirdEdvard Forre Erfjord, Henrik Michelsen, Iain James, Camille Purcell
"To Be Free"2017L D R UDrew Carmody, Alexander Burnett, Anita Blay
"Bad Boys"2018Lilly AhlbergLilly Ahlberg, Johnny Hockings, Matthew Newman
"Skin"
TayaTaya, Alan Sampson, Ashley Kirnon, Lucas Henry
"Start Again"
OneRepublic13 Reasons Why: OSTRyan Tedder, Justin Franks, Jez Ashurst, Daniel Mijo Majic, Alexander Stacey, Sir Robert Hall II
"Frozen Frames"Hannah Jane LewisHannah Jane Lewis, Johannes Andersson
"Capricorn"ElderbrookOld Friend EPAlexander Kotz, Alexander Burnett, Oliver Horton, Nicholas Routledge
"Lost in Space"2019Becky HillRebecca Hill, Peter "LostBoy" Rycroft
"Celebration"TieksMark Tieku, Alexander Burnett, Anita Blay, Jack Badu, Oliver Horton, Senab Adekunle

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: INTERVIEW : Antony & Cleopatra ‹ TEEZ' . 2022-08-16 . fr-FR.
  2. Web site: News, comment and reviews from the Hackney Citizen - hackneycitizen.co.uk. Hackney Citizen. 6 February 2011 . 6 July 2015.
  3. Web site: The Stool Pigeon » Maintenance Mode. thestoolpigeon.co.uk. 6 July 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150707012759/http://www.thestoolpigeon.co.uk/features/interview/interview-thecockandbullkid.html. 7 July 2015. dead.
  4. Web site: Thecocknbullkid. Digital Spy. 9 March 2009 . 6 July 2015.
  5. Web site: The Cocknbullkid Interview. PopCultureMonster. Pop Culture Monster. 10 March 2010 . 6 July 2015.
  6. Web site: Gewinnt Tickets für die Vice Live Tour. iHeartBerlin.de. 6 July 2015.
  7. Web site: SXSW Confirms More Bands, Some of Them Good. magnetmagazine.com. 11 January 2009 . 6 July 2015.
  8. Web site: Album Review: thecocknbullkid - Querelle. Prefixmag. 6 July 2015.
  9. Stacey Anderson, "Reviews (Albums) - thecocknbullkid - Querelle", Spin, October 2009, pg. 88.
  10. Web site: Thecocknbullkid mixtape and Esser remix. Nialler9. 6 August 2009 . 6 July 2015.
  11. Web site: AltSounds - The Best New Music Videos in the World. AltSounds. 6 July 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20141227040106/http://hangout.altsounds.com/news/109797-star-rise-anita-blay-aka-thecocknbullkid-releases.html. 27 December 2014. dead.
  12. Web site: Rainworks Omnimedia - Transformative museum experiences that educate and inspire.. rainworksomnimedia.com. 6 July 2015.
  13. Web site: BBC - 6 Music - Roisin's charity cover. BBC. bbc.co.uk. 6 July 2015.
  14. Web site: BBC - 6 Music - In the studio with.... BBC. bbc.co.uk. 6 July 2015.
  15. Web site: Eat Your Own Ears THECOCKNBULLKID - Eat Your Own Ears. eatyourownears.com. 6 July 2015.
  16. Web site: thecocknbullkid Single Release. Clash Magazine. 20 January 2009 . 6 July 2015.
  17. Web site: A year in the life of our Buzz Graph. Michael Cragg. The Guardian. 12 January 2010 . 6 July 2015.
  18. Web site: New music: festive freebies reviewed. Michael Cragg. The Guardian. 29 December 2011 . 6 July 2015.
  19. Web site: Free album: CocknBullKid - Adolescence • Nialler9. Nialler9. January 2012 . 6 July 2015.
  20. Web site: Cocknbullkid. Digital Spy. 23 June 2010 . 6 July 2015.
  21. Web site: CocknBullKid // New Single & Live Dates. The 405. 6 July 2015.
  22. Web site: CockNBullKid Announces New Single. Glasswerk.co.uk. 2010-10-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20101005110820/http://www.glasswerk.co.uk/news/national/10635/CocknBullKid+Announces+New+Single. 5 October 2010. dead.
  23. Web site: SPIN's 20 Best Pop Albums of 2011. Spin. 22 December 2011 . 6 July 2015.
  24. Web site: Best albums of 2011: how Guardian critics voted. Guardian music. The Guardian. 16 December 2011 . 6 July 2015.
  25. Web site: Latest Music News, Charts, Playlists and Videos. https://web.archive.org/web/20110408152918/http://www.mtv.co.uk/music/urban/260054-janelle-monae-live-in-birmingham-the-review. dead. 8 April 2011. MTV UK. 6 July 2015.
  26. Web site: Duran Duran Cocknbullkid to Open for Duran Duran in the UK! - Duran Duran. Duran Duran. 16 May 2011 . 6 July 2015.
  27. Web site: Patrick Wolf + CocknBullKid. Roundhouse. 6 July 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20141227035556/http://www.roundhouse.org.uk/index.php/whats-on/archive/patrick-wolf-cocknbullkid/. 27 December 2014. dead.
  28. Web site: Superfast 4G Phones & Fibre Broadband UK - 4GEE Mobile Network - EE. EE. 6 July 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20141227044735/http://web.orange.co.uk/p/musicstore/story_cocknbullkid_interview. 27 December 2014. dead.
  29. Web site: First & Last: Cocknbullkid / DIY. DIY. 16 April 2011 . 6 July 2015.
  30. Web site: BBC Three - Some Girls, Series 1, Some Girls: "Doing it Wrong". BBC. 5 September 2013 . 6 July 2015.
  31. Web site: Rowdy Superstar Exclusive Mix. Dazed. Dazed. 4 July 2012 . 6 July 2015.
  32. Web site: Neon Jungle. https://web.archive.org/web/20131115000902/http://www.mtv.com/artists/neon-jungle/. dead. 15 November 2013. MTV Artists. 6 July 2015.
  33. Web site: Anita Blay | Downtown Music Publishing . 2014-12-27 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141227040246/http://www.dmpgroup.com/artist/anita-blay/ . 27 December 2014.
  34. Web site: Boxed in by Boxed In - Album Review - The Line of Best Fit. James Appleyard. 13 January 2015. The Line of Best Fit. 6 July 2015.
  35. Web site: 12 Aug 2020. Time Is Hardcore (feat. Kae Tempest & Anita Blay) (Lyric Video). 3 Feb 2021. YouTube.
  36. Web site: Blay. Anita. 12 Aug 2020. Spotify: Anita Blay, Time Is Hardcore. 3 Feb 2021. Spotify.
  37. Web site: Contrast. High. 11 Aug 2020. First play this Weds 8pm. 3 Feb 2021. Twitter.
  38. Web site: Contrast. High. 28 Sep 2020. Huge thanks to @AdeleRoberts for making Time Is Hardcore (feat. @kaetempest @anitablay) her Tune of the Week Raising hands. Hear it every day this week on @BBCR1. 3 Feb 2020. Twitter.
  39. Web site: Blay. Anita. 29 Sep 2020. Your girl is featured on is @bbcradio1's Tune of the Week.. Instagram.
  40. Web site: Blay. Anita. 25 Jan 2021. Anita Blay Official Facebook page. 3 Feb 2021. Facebook.
  41. Web site: Blay. Anita. 15 Jan 2021. New music coming soon?. 3 Feb 2021. Facebook.
  42. Web site: LANCELOT FEAT. ANTONY & CLEOPATRA 'GIVIN' IT UP': "VIBRANT SLICE OF CONTEMPORARY HOUSE MUSIC". famemagazine.co.uk. 6 July 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150706182100/http://www.famemagazine.co.uk/2013/12/21/lancelot-feat-antony-cleopatra-givin-it-up-vibrant-slice-of-contemporary-house-music/. 6 July 2015. dead.
  43. Web site: Beni: "Protect" (feat. Antony & Cleopatra) « La.Ga.Sta.. lagasta.com. 20 June 2014 . 6 July 2015.
  44. Web site: Money Time feat. Antony & Cleopatra - FOOL'S GOLD. foolsgoldrecs.com. 6 July 2015.
  45. Web site: Get To Know: Antony & Cleopatra. HUNGER TV. 6 July 2015. 6 July 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150706090448/http://www.hungertv.com/feature/get-to-know-antony-cleopatra/. dead.
  46. Web site: Antony & Cleopatra 'Sirens' - Purple Sneakers. Purple Sneakers. 6 July 2015.
  47. News: EP Walkthrough: Antony & Cleopatra on their debut EP, Hurt Like Hell . 30 January 2019. Pilerats. Davies . Hayden . November 2017.
  48. News: Paul Lester meets thecocknbullkid. The Guardian. 2010-10-10. London. 2 January 2009.
  49. News: thecocknbullkid A no nonsense pop star. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220507/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/thecocknbullkid-a-no-nonsense-pop-star-1676908.html . 7 May 2022 . subscription . live. Independent. 2010-10-10. London. 1 May 2009.
  50. Web site: Amelia's Magazine - An interview with CocknBullKid on the release of new album Adulthood. ameliasmagazine.com. 6 July 2015.
  51. Web site: New talent: Lauren Laverne on thecocknbullkid. Time Out London. 6 July 2015.
  52. Web site: Island Records - CocknBullKid - RE:SYSTEMS. re-systems.co.uk. 6 July 2015.
  53. Web site: CocknBullKid: I exorcised a lot of demons making very personal songs. metrowebukmetro. Metro. 18 February 2011 . 6 July 2015.
  54. Web site: This Is Who Shamir Is. Vice.com. 26 May 2015.
  55. Web site: Urgent – Banner. Glamcut.com.
  56. Web site: UK ALBUM RELEASE DATE | Blog | The Official CocknBullKid Website . Cocknbullkid.com . 2011-12-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120321191222/http://www.cocknbullkid.com/blog/uk-album-release-date . 21 March 2012 . dead .
  57. Web site: PREMIERE: Antony & Cleopatra Launch KOMMUNION with Club Pop Tune 'Lose My Cool' . 25 August 2022 . Music Feeds .