0161 Rising: [ K S R ] Talks UK R&B, Manchester’s Creative Scene, and New Balance’s ‘Grey Day’

“Let it never be said that Manchester doesn’t supply the goods. A hub for growth, community support and self-determination, 0161—with a music scene that has gone relatively under the radar in the past—has risen to the surface with aplomb over the last few years. Across hip-hop, R&B and other Black British sounds, Manchester has offered a steady stream of artists who are reimagining UK music at large, from Children Of Zeus’ throwback soul sound to IAMDDB’s trap-pop hybrid. No one artist sounds the same, and that is testament to the individuality brimming out of the city as a whole, playing its part in the overall greatness of the current UK musical landscape. Among this class of talent is [ K S R ], a singer-songwriter merging late-night grooves with angelic vocals for a modern take on R&B and dance music.”