- published: 12 Aug 2009
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Jack Fabian Peñate ( /pənˈjɑːteɪ/; born September 2, 1984, Blackheath, London) is an English musician and singer-songwriter signed to XL Recordings.
Jack Peñate attended St. Olave's Preparatory School, New Eltham until he left to attend Alleyn's School when he was 18 years of age.[citation needed] Following secondary school he undertook a bachelor's degree in Ancient World Studies at University College London, but dropped out at the end of the second year as interest from record labels grew. His grandfather was Mervyn Peake, author of the Gormenghast books.
Peñate made his way up the ranks of the club and bar scene of London before he was signed by record label XL Recordings. He released his first promo single in October 2006, "Second, Minute or Hour" along with its b-side track, "Got My Favourite". This single was released by the record label Young Turks, as a 1000-only limited 7 inch, each containing a different Polaroid photograph, taken of Peñate. And in April 2007 he released the "Spit At Stars EP". In addition to the title track, this featured "My Yvonne", "Cold Thin Line" and a cover of Darondo Pulliam and Darondo's "Didn't I". The CD edition of the EP also included the first song he ever wrote, "Jack Of All Trades", which he wrote with his band at school called "Jack's Basement". He has appeared on XFM radio's "Xposure" and his first two singles were both Single of the Week on BBC Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe's show.