Martin Brammer (born 13 May 1957) is an English singer, songwriter, composer and record producer. He is best known as the lead vocalist and primary lyricist of the pop trio Kane Gang. Brammer later developed his songwriting abilities to pen many successful tracks for a variety of notable musicians.
Brammer has been nominated for an Ivor Novello Award, and has been involved in the making of records that have sold over 20 million copies worldwide. He was the manager of the British punk rock band Vant.
Career Brammer was born in Seaham, County Durham, England. Part of a trio of local North East musicians, Brammer was a founding member of the Kane Gang, which started in late 1982. Brammer co-wrote their smooth ballad "Closest Thing to Heaven", a UK top 20 chart hit in 1984. He also co-wrote other chart successes for them, including "Smalltown Creed" (1984), "Gun Law" (1985) and "Motortown" (1987). Kane Gang broke up in 1991.
Brammer then continued his career as a songwriter to the present day. Songs he has written or co-written have been recorded by Tina Turner, James Morrison, Marco Mengoni, Josh Kumra, James Bay, Olly Murs, Nolwenn Leroy, Julian Velard, Melanie C, Urszula, Mr Hudson, Jack McManus, Beverley Knight, Rachel Stevens, Nick Carter, Lighthouse Family, Roland Gift, Sheena Easton, Mark Owen, Reigan Derry, Foxes and Stevie McCrorie. In addition, Brammer has contributed as record producer on various albums including Good Things Come to Those Who Don't Wait (Josh Kumra); Olly Murs and In Case You Didn't Know (Olly Murs); plus Now or Never (Nick Carter).
He also sang backing vocals on a 1994 album by Opus III (Guru Mother).
Brammer has his own recording studio in which he both writes and records, and favours using microphones manufactured by sE Electronics. Brammer's most recent work includes writing material for John Newman, Ella Eyre, Joel Compass, Karen Harding and Luke Friend.
Personal life
Brammer has an ex-wife, Alia, and two daughters, Salma and Ella. He told BBC Radio 2 that he does not employ a manager.
Songwriting credits
Apart from those written for Kane Gang, Brammer's songwriting credits include: Year Musician Song(s) Album1991 Sheena Easton "Time Bomb" What Comes Naturally 1995 Lighthouse Family "Lifted""Loving Every Minute"Ocean Drive 1996 Mark Owen "Child" "Are You With Me" Green Man 1997 Lighthouse Family "Raincloud" Postcards from Heaven 2002 Roland Gift "Flown" Roland Gift 2002 Nick Carter "My Confession" "Is It Saturday Yet?" Now or Never2003 Rachel Stevens "Funky Dory"Funky Dory 2004 Tina Turner "Open Arms" All the Best 2007 Beverley Knight "Everytime You See Me Smile" "Why Me, Why You, Why Now" "Tell Me I'm Wrong" "Trade It Up" Music City Soul 2007 James Morrison "Undiscovered""The Pieces Don't Fit Anymore" Undiscovered 2008 Jack McManus "Bang on the Piano" "You Can Make It Happen" "She's Gone"Either Side of Midnight2008 James Morrison "If You Don't Wanna Love Me" "Fix the World Up for You" " "Love Is Hard" Songs for You, Truths for Me2009 Mr Hudson "Stiff Upper Lip"Straight No Chaser 2010 Urszula "Skacze Na Dach"Dziś już wiem 2010 Olly Murs "Busy" "I Blame Hollywood" Olly Murs 2011 Olly Murs "Oh My Goodness" "I've Tried Everything" "I Need You Now" In Case You Didn't Know 2011 Julian Velard ""Love Again for the First Time" Mr. Saturday Night2011 James Morrison "I Won't Let You Go" "6 Weeks" "Say Something Now" "Beautiful Life" The Awakening 2011 Melanie C "Stupid Game" The Sea 2012 Nolwenn Leroy "Limitless"Ô Filles de l'Eau 2013 Josh Kumra "The Answer" "Reckless Love" "Keep on Walking" "Lost Again" Good Things Come to Those Who Don't Wait 2013 James Bay "Clocks Go Forward" The Dark of the Morning (EP) 2013 Marco Mengoni "Evitiamoci (La Soluzione)"prontoacorrere 2013 Sarah & Pietro "Slow Lightning"Dream Team 2014 Reigan Derry "All of the Pieces" All of the Pieces (EP) 2015 James Morrison "Reach Out""Just Like a Child" Higher Than Here2016 Foxes "Amazing"All I Need2016 Ronan Keating "Time of My Life"Time of My Life2016 Bobby Bazini "Summer Is Gone"Summer Is Gone 2016 The Shires "My Universe"My Universe 2016 Stevie McCrorie "Take Our Time"Big World2018 Maty Noyes "Perspective"Love Songs from a Lolita2019 Zucchero Fornaciari "Freedom" "My Freedom"D.O.C.2019 James Morrison "Ruins"You're Stronger Than You Know2019 Hollow Coves "Beauty in the Light"Moments2020 James Bay "Clocks Go Forward" All Up in My Feels (EP)2021 Saint Etienne "Fonteyn" I've Been Trying to Tell You
References