Quick Facts
Biography
Benjamin Gerard Coyle-Larner, better known by the stage name Loyle Carner, is an English hip hop musician and actor. His sound has been described by NME as 'sensitive and eloquent' and by The Guardian as 'confessional hip-hop'. His stage name Loyle Carner is a spoonerism of his double-barrelled surname.
Career
Early life
Loyle Carner was born in Lambeth, South London and brought up in south Croydon by his mother, Jean, his step-father, Nik, and his younger brother, Ryan.He has had minimal contact with his father, who is of Guyanese descent. He was later diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and dyslexia.
At the age of thirteen, Loyle Carner had a small role in the 2008 film 10,000 BC, credited as Young Hunter. He started his secondary education at Whitgift School in South Croydon, but he soon received a drama scholarship to the Brit School, and took up a drama degree at the Drama Centre. In 2014, he dropped out of the Drama Centre after his stepfather died, and decided to focus on his music.
Loyle Carner is a Liverpool F.C. supporter, although at concerts he wears a Manchester United F.C. strip in tribute to his stepfather, whose favourite footballer was United's Eric Cantona - Loyle named his 2016 tour after the player in memory of his stepfather.
Music career
He played his first official gig at The Button Factory in Dublin in October 2012 supporting MF Doom. He released his first EP in September 2014, titled A Little Late, which was well received. He supported Joey Badass on his UK tour and went on to play the 2015 United Kingdom festival season, including Glastonbury Festival. He went on tour and collaborated with award-winning poet and spoken-word artist Kate Tempest in late 2015. In October 2015 he played on Huw Stephens' BBC Radio 1 show as part of their Piano Sessions series. In late August 2016, he supported Nas in his show at the O2 Academy in Bristol.
His debut album, entitled Yesterday's Gone, was released on 20 January 2017.
Discography
Albums
- Yesterday's Gone (2017)
EPs
- A Little Late (2014)