# Martin Brammer

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 is currently 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) | Album |
| 1991 | 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 Never |
| 2003 | 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 Midnight |
| 2008 | James Morrison | "If You Don't Wanna Love Me" "Fix the World Up for You" " "Love Is Hard" | Songs for You, Truths for Me |
| 2009 | 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 Night |
| 2011 | 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 Here |
| 2016 | Foxes | "Amazing" | All I Need |
| 2016 | Ronan Keating | "Time of My Life" | Time of My Life |
| 2016 | Bobby Bazini | "Summer Is Gone" | Summer Is Gone |
| 2016 | The Shires | "My Universe" | My Universe |
| 2016 | Stevie McCrorie | "Take Our Time" | Big World |
| 2018 | Maty Noyes | "Perspective" | Love Songs from a Lolita |
| 2019 | Zucchero Fornaciari | "Freedom" "My Freedom" | D.O.C. |
| 2019 | James Morrison | "Ruins" | You're Stronger Than You Know |
| 2019 | Hollow Coves | "Beauty in the Light" | Moments |
| 2020 | James Bay | "Clocks Go Forward" | All Up in My Feels (EP) |
| 2021 | Saint Etienne | "Fonteyn" | I've Been Trying to Tell You |