One eskimO was 'born' in 2004 and is the brain child of Kristian Leontiou. At the time Kristian was at the end of promoting his debut album: Some Day Soon (Polydor) which sold over 200,000 copies. His debut single (Story Of My Life) also went Top 10 in the UK singles chart. Kris (as he is known to his friends) grew up in the north-west suburbs of London, his first experiences of music coming from his older sisters, who would regularly shake the Leontiou household whilst practicing with their respective punk bands, in their bedrooms! At only 10 years old Kris was mesmerized when sisters Anna and Alex would sneak him in to watch them perform at venues like The Mean Fiddler. ...show more

One eskimO was 'born' in 2004 and is the brain child of Kristian Leontiou. At the time Kristian was at the end of promoting his debut album: Some Day Soon (Polydor) which sold over 200,000 copies. His debut single (Story Of My Life) also went Top 10 in the UK singles chart. Kris (as he is known to his friends) grew up in the north-west suburbs of London, his first experiences of music coming from his older sisters, who would regularly shake the Leontiou household whilst practicing with their respective punk bands, in their bedrooms! At only 10 years old Kris was mesmerized when sisters Anna and Alex would sneak him in to watch them perform at venues like The Mean Fiddler.

When most kids were getting used to weekend lay-ins, at 14 Kristian had already developed a self survival 'street' mentality and had already undertaken work in an array of 'grown up' situations that not many so young are exposed to. The resulting attribute is someone very much of his own mind, a humble belief in his own visions creatively. Often he was a child in an adult's world. It's no surprise then at only 15, Kristian was introduced to recording studios, adding guest vocals on friend's garage & dance demos, and using any down time to begin his first explorations musically.

His early and lasting influences on these initial compositions were acts like Arrested Development, The Fugees, REM, Groove Armada and Finlay Quay. Working in various and unsatisfying dead-end jobs after leaving school, Kris went to the studio whenever he had any spare time, hoping it would one day pay off...and eventually it did. In his late teens Kristian met by chance Mike Sault of Warner Chappell (Dido/Craig David/Groove Armada) who promptly offered a publishing deal. Kris went traveling around the country working with various producers searching for 'his sound' Sault eventually paired Kristian with Producer/Song writer Pete Wilkinson (credits include Paolo Nutini & Amy Macdonald) of Melodramatic Records. ...show less