Amanda Ghost

Amanda Ghost
Birth name	Amanda Louisa Gosein
Origin	Enfield, North London, England
Occupations	Singer, songwriter, producer, record executive
Labels	Plan A Records, Epic Records
Website	www.amanda-ghost.com

Amanda Ghost (born Amanda Louisa Gosein) is a singer and songwriter from Enfield, North London, England. After an initial period in which she performed as a solo artist, she formed a band which performed under her name, and of which she was the lead singer. From February 2009 until December 2010, Ghost was also president of Epic Records, however she left the role to resume her career as a songwriter and music producer.

Career

Born in North London to a Gibraltarian mother and an Indian father, Ghost was encouraged at an early age to play guitar. Her first recording contract was with Warner Bros. Records in Los Angeles, California, for whom she recorded her first album, Ghost Stories.

For the past couple of years she has worked and performed with her long-term collaborator and partner in 'Amanda Ghost', Ian Dench (formerly a guitarist with EMF). Ghost's second album was released in autumn 2006 on her own record label, Plan A Records, and was preceded by a limited edition EP, Blood On The Line.

As a songwriter, Ghost was a co-writer for James Blunt’s “You're Beautiful”; "Beautiful Liar" by Beyoncé and Shakira; and Jordin Sparks' first single, "Tattoo". She co-wrote the theme music to the NBC drama, Journeyman. The song uses the melody from the swedish song Vandraren (Swedish wiki) performed by Nordman (Swedish wiki). [She has co-written four songs for Beyonce's third album, I Am… Sasha Fierce; "Disappear", "Satellites" and "Ave Maria" and "Once In A Lifetime". She also co-wrote and sang backing vocals on "Colours", which was on the Prodigy's 2009 album, Invaders Must Die as well as working collaboratively with John Legend on the lyrics for the track "Getting Nowhere" by Magnetic Man.

On 3 February 2009, Ghost was named the new president of Epic Records. She replaced Charlie Walk, who left at the end of 2008 to start his own company.

Ghost co-wrote, with Scott McFarnon and Ian Dench, "Red" a top 5 hit for Daniel Merriweather in the UK in May 2009. She has worked with Beverley Knight (writing and producing on her new album and lead single "Beautiful Night") and "I Did It For The Glory" by Ian Brown, which she co-wrote with Ian and Dave McCracken. She also worked with Shakira on the track "Gypsy", from the album She Wolf.

Ghost is a three time Ivor Novello Award winner; a Golden Globe nominee; and has been nominated for three Grammy Awards. One of the latter was as co-producer of two tracks on Beyoncé's album, I Am... Sasha Fierce, which is nominated as Album of the Year, and the other for "Once In A Lifetime", which she co-wrote with Scott McFarnon, Ian Dench, Jody Street, James Dring and Beyoncé. The song was the title track from Beyoncé's film, Cadillac Records and was nominated for the Best Song Written for a Motion Picture Award.

In October 2010, it was announced that Amanda Ghost would leave her position as president of Epic Records at the end of the year.

Discography

Singles

• "Idol" (2000) - UK #63
• "Glory Girl" (2000)
• "Filthy Mind" (2000) - only released in the U.S./Australia
• "Break My World" (2004) - UK #52 †
• "Girls Like You" - digital only release (2005)
• "Monster" - digital only release (2005)
• "Blood On The Line" EP (2006)
• "Time Machine" (featuring Boy George) (January 2007)

† Credited to Dark Globe featuring Amanda Ghost

Albums

• Ghost Stories (2000)
• Blood On The Line - The Download Collection (2008)

External links

• Amanda Ghost's MySpace
• Official website
• Amanda Ghost discography at MusicBrainz

Preceded by Charlie Walk

Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Epic Records February 2009-December 2010

Succeeded by L.A. Reid