With 2012 fast approaching, the British music scene is flourishing with an unrivalled production line of high-calibre talent - cue the latest man versus machine hybrid; Cynikal. Born in London, raised in Essex and a graduate of the famed Leeds College of Music academy, this is not your ordinary private-school-educated, first-class-degree-obtaining, West-Ham-United-loving, British Asian audio wizard. The past twelve months have also been eventful, most notably with full-band appearances at Lovebox, Underage Festival and Turning Point Festival, alongside names such as Snoop Dogg, De La Soul, Professor Green, Katy B and Ed Sheeran to name a few. The world famous Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London also played host to Cynikal, whereby he and The Street Orchestra became one of a rare few Hip Hop acts to perform in the venue’s 50-year history (twice). Towards the latter part of 2010, graduation season witnessed Cynikal and the acoustic half of his band perform at his ceremony, suited-booted, robed and gowned in Leeds Town Hall, something unheard of for a Hip Hop act. The scene was set for the hard-working, multi-talented East-Ender to collect the certificate for his 1:1 in BA Music Production. Previous notable achievements include a support slot on US rapper The Game’s UK tour, airplay on BBC 1Xtra, BBC Asian Network (as well as an interview with Nihal), Kiss FM and Choice FM, as well as appearances on MTV Base and Channel 4 as part of Dubplate Drama’s and ChildLine’s ‘Spit It Out’ campaign. With work on his forthcoming EP Research and Development firmly underway, we should expect to both see and hear exactly what this artist is capable of very, very soon.
