Singing plumber signs record deal after fitting music mogul’s bathroom [Video]

• Kev Crane from Leicestershire got a plumbing job fitting three bathrooms at the house of Paul Conneally, the owner of New Reality Records.
• Paul heard the plumber’s good voice when he was singing along to the radio as he worked on the bathroom tiles and plumbing.
• Kev has since written, produced, and released his 80s-influenced debut album under Paul’s record label.

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When Leicestershire plumber Kev Crane showed up for a bathroom fitting job, he had no idea that it would launch his singing career.

For about six weeks, Kev, 49, worked on three bathrooms at the house of Paul Conneally.

Paul, 62, had just launched the New Reality Records in Loughborough in 2020. He hoped that the label will bring artists together to create a local sound.

He recalled how he heard Kev singing along to the radio while he worked on the tiles and plumbing in the bathrooms. Paul was drawn to his “good voice.”

When Paul complimented Kev on his singing, the plumber “mentioned he’d been writing and recording songs in his home studio.”

Kev had built his own home studio during the lockdown. He watched YouTube videos to learn how to mix music and record.

Paul said, “I told him he had a good voice and … He sent me some songs and I was blown away by his songwriting and his attention to detail in producing a sound that is so 80s but so now at the same time.”

Kev has described the whole journey as “surreal.” He has been a bathroom fitter for eight years. Now, he has written, produced, and released his 80s-influenced debut album, “Why Can’t I Be You?”

Kev said that he has “always been into music.” Being part of a few bands when he was younger, writing songs has become his hobby.

“I never expected anything like this to happen,” Kev shared. “When I went round to give Paul a quote, he mentioned he owned a record label but I didn’t really think much of it.”

Kev is still writing new songs. As for his musical career? He says he’ll see where the road takes him.

“I don’t have any expectations,” he shared. “I would love to be able to write songs for other artists but if nothing else happens, then it was fun while it lasted.”

Source: BBC