Example (musician)

Example
Background information
Birth name	Elliot John Gleave
Also known as	Example XMPL
Born	20 June 1982 (1982-06-20)
Origin	Fulham, London UK
Genres	Electro hop, grime, hip hop, dubstep
Occupations	Rapper, Singer-songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, keyboards, synthesizer
Years active	2004 – present
Labels	The Chats (2004–2006) The Beats (2006–2007) Data (2008–present) Mercury (2012–present)
Associated acts	Wretch 32, Chase & Status, Laidback Luke, DJ Wire, The Streets, Hadouken!, Skream, Faithless, Don Diablo, MJ Cole, Lily Allen, Giggs, Ed Sheeran, Tinchy Stryder, Professor Green, Frisco, AN21, Max Vangeli, Michael Woods, Nero, D Double E
Website	trythisforexample.com

Elliot John Gleave (born 20 June, 1982) better known by his stage name Example, is a British singer and rapper signed to Data Records. His name arose due to his initials being E.G., which is an abbreviation of the Latin phrase "exempli gratia", which means, "for example".

Example's third album Playing in the Shadows was released on 4 September 2011. The album debuted at number 1 on the UK Album Charts with two number 1 singles.

Early life

Elliot Gleave was born at a West London Pub, Hammersmith, the elder of two children, and attended All Saints Primary School in Fulham. He later went on to attend ADT College (now Ashcroft Technology Academy) in Wandsworth. Gleave has claimed in interviews that the main reason he started rapping was due to his introduction to hip-hop through albums by Wu-Tang Clan and Snoop Dogg – the latter's album purchased primarily for "the cool cover art".

In 2000, Elliot attended Royal Holloway, University of London to study film directing. While at university, he started garage MCing to make some money. It was during this period that he met Joseph Gardner, AKA Rusher, the producer whom he would later go on to work with. Gleave and Gardner made a concept album in the audio booth of the University film department which would go on to be Example's first white-label vinyl release, "A Pointless Song".

Following graduation, Gleave worked in Australia for a year in the props departments of films such as Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. He returned to the UK and became a voiceover artist and editor for the Paramount Comedy Channel (now Comedy Central), also working as an editor at MTV Networks.

Career

Early career: What We Made (2004–2008)

After releasing three singles through his own label "All The Chats", including the original 7" version of "I Don't Want To" in January 2006, Example received attention from Pete Tong, Zane Lowe and others at Radio 1. Example also caught the attention of people at four major record labels – perhaps most significantly Mike Skinner (of The Streets), owner of The Beats label.

After signing a deal in April 2006 with The Beats, Example put out a response to Lily Allen's No.1 hit "Smile" entitled "Vile" and received Radio 1 airplay from Zane Lowe, Jo Whiley and Chris Moyles. His first 'proper' release on The Beats was "What We Made" in November 2006, the video for which was filmed in Chernobyl, Ukraine (see below).

Example's second official Beats single entitled "You Can't Rap" was released in March 2007, followed by a re-release of "I Don't Want To" on 11 June 2007. "I Don't Want To" was followed by the single "So Many Roads" (famously sampling The Carpenters "We've Only Just Begun") which eventually turned out to be the opening track on Example's full-length studio debut. After the demise of The Beats label at the end of 2007 Example self-released his next single "Me + Mandy" on 10 March 2008 through his original imprint All The Chats. The video for "Me + Mandy" was shot over 4 days and nights in London, in over 30 locations with over 40 extras. Impressively all this was done at a cost of just £1000. It was directed by Example's friend Cíaran Melly who also made the promos for "Who Needs Sunshine?", "Vile", "You Can't Rap" and "I Don't Want To".

In February 2008 Example also tried his hand at stand-up comedy as part of BBC2's The Culture Show. Mentored by English comic Richard Herring, Example spent six weeks writing and practicing his own stand-up routine which culminated in his first ever stand-up show in front of 60 paying customers in a Covent Garden pub. A week later he appeared on the bill under Richard Herring, Phill Jupitus and Harry Hill at the Lyric Hammersmith – interestingly Example had performed in the same venue ten years earlier whilst a student at ADT College.

Breakthrough and Won't Go Quietly (2009–2010)

Example made his first chart appearance in September 2009, when he released "Watch the Sun Come Up" as the lead single from his second album Won't Go Quietly through Data Records. The single debuted at number 20 on the UK Singles Chart, rising to number 19 the following week. The single was followed by a release of "Won't Go Quietly", released on 18 January 2010. The single debuted at number 6 in the United Kingdom, marking Example's first appearance within the top 10. It also peaked 36 in Ireland. The announcement was then made in April 2010 that the second album Won't Go Quietly would be released on 21 June 2010 and would be preceded by the single "Kickstarts". Receiving its radio debut on 13 April by BBC Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe, the song was produced by Sub Focus. "Kickstarts" was released on 20 June, where it debuted at number 3. Released the following week, the album Won't Go Quietly debuted at number 4 on the UK Albums Chart. On the 12th September, Example released "Last Ones Standing" as the fourth cut from the album, where it reached a peak of number 27 in the United Kingdom and 37 in Ireland. On 14 November 2010, he released the final single off the album "Two Lives", though it only peaked at 84 on the UK Singles Chart. On the other hand, it was able to peak at number 10 on the UK Dance Chart.

Playing in the Shadows and Tour (2011)

It was revealed in January 2011 via Example's Twitter that work on the third album had begun. During an interview, Example revealed the forthcoming album would remain dance orientated, although he would make a gradual move into electronicgenres. The lead single from the album is named "Changed the Way You Kiss Me" and was released in June 2011. On 24 March 2011 "Changed the Way You Kiss Me" debuted on BBC Radio 1 as Zane Lowe's Hottest Record in the World. In an interview with Lowe he revealed that his third album would be released in September 2011, entitled Playing in the Shadows. Example described the album as a darker record than previous album Won't Go Quietly.

Example's second United Kingdom tour began in February 2011, with support acts including Wretch 32 and Neon Hitch.

On June 5, 2011 he released his first single from his third album, "Changed the Way You Kiss Me" where it debuted at number one in the UK. The song also charted in many European countries and Australia, where it was also certified Platinum. The second song of the album "Stay Awake", which was produced by Nero, was debuted on Friday 1 July 2011 on BBC Radio 1 by Annie Mac. It was released on 28 August, and also debuted at number 1. His third single will be "Midnight Run" was released on 4 December 2011 and reached number 36 in the UK singles Chart.

His third studio album, "Playing in the Shadows" debuted at number one in the UK albums chart and also charted in Australia, Ireland and New Zealand. The album received positive reviews from critics and was acclaimed by fans.

Example toured across the UK in November/December 2011 with Fenech-Soler, Russo & DJ Baller B supporting. After the tour, Example travels to Sydney, Australia, where he will be performing at New Year's Day festival Field Day. In April 2012, Example will embark on his first arena tour, touring 12 cities including London and Cardiff. His support act has been confirmed as Wretch 32. Also a European tour has been confirmed, with performances in cities like Prague, Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, Milan and so on.

4th Studio album (2012–present)

Via Twitter, Example tweeted that on the plane to Sydney he plans on writing some songs for a new album and he will be listening to Kasabian's new album for lyrical inspiration.

Via Twitter tweets to Funkagenda, Example confirmed he is working on his 4th studio album straight away and will send Funk details and briefs if he is interested. This will be the third time Funkagenda will produce for Example, and Benga is also to produce.

While Example is in Australia for 2 months, the singer/rapper plans to write the entire 4th album in the time he spends there. Example comfirmed via twitter that the title of the songs have all been completed and the list of producers lined up.

Example confirmed he is to have a track he wrote for The Wanted to be featured on their repackaged Battleground album. The song is called 'Chasing The Sun'.

In January 2012, Example signed a US record deal with Mercury which is part of Universal. He is hoping to crack America on his own terms with his next album.

Confirmed track names via Example's Twitter –

• Come Taste the Rainbow

The list of already comfirmed producers –

• Benga
• Feed Me
• Laidback Luke
• Funkagenda
• Dirty South
• Alvin Risk
• DJ Tommy Trash
• Kill the Noise
• Dillon Francis
• Switch
• Diplo
• Sandy Vee

Collaborations

• On Professor Green's song "Before I Die", Example features on an official remix featuring Plan B, Ghetts and Big Narstie. The official video can be found on YouTube.

• Example featured on the Professor Green single "Monster", which proved successful, peaking at number 29 in the UK.

• He featured on the Rogue Traders 2010 single Love Is a War but is not credited.

• Example featured on a track "Game Over" with UK Rappers Tinchy Stryder, Giggs, Professor Green, Tinie Tempah, Devlin & Chipmunk. The promo-song reached 22 on the UK charts.

• A collaboration between Example and Skream, entitled "Shot Yourself in the Foot Again" received its first radio play from Zane Lowe on his BBC Radio 1 show on 4 January 2011, having been made available as a free download soon after. The song managed to chart at 82 in the UK.

• On 1 April 2011 Example featured on another track, "Look Over Your Shoulder" with Peckham grime artist Giggs.

• Another Example collaboration, with Tottenham-born grime artist Wretch 32. Entitled "Unorthodox", It was released on 17 April 2011. The single reached number two on the UK Singles Charts.

• Example & DJ Wire released a mixtape called Example & DJ Wire Present the Playlist.

• Example features on a new track by AN21 & Max Vangeli, "Whisper".

• He also features on a track with D Double E called "Catch Me If You Can" from D Double's "Bluku! Bluku!" ep. A remix of the song featured on Dizzee Rascal's mixtape Dirtee.tv on January 1 2012.

• On YouTube with over 4 million views Example & Ed Sheeran were filmed freestyling backstage at Example's tour at the Waterfront in Norwich about Nandos. It is titled "Nando's Skank".

• He appeared on Laidback Luke's latest single "Natural Disaster". The single is included in Example's number 1 album and debuted at number 37.

• Example is to feature on Flux Pavillion's debut single.

• Ed Sheeran & Example plan to collaborate on a new single, there is also talks of a music video.

Discography

Main article: Example discography

• What We Made (2007)
• Won't Go Quietly (2010)
• Playing in the Shadows (2011)
• TBC (2012–2013)

Film making

• While filming a promo video for his track "What We Made" in the abandoned city of Chernobyl in northern Ukraine, Example also filmed an 18-minute documentary in the ghost towns he visited and their deserted schools, hotels and funfairs, many of which still remain exactly as they were when they were abandoned after the infamous disaster 20 years ago. "I don't think anyone who's been here can be for nuclear power," he said, looking around at empty cots and babies' gas masks in a disintegrating schoolroom near Chernobyl. "I've read stuff recently about how we're only ever going to survive if we make nuclear power available, but you just think: why would you want it to happen after seeing this?"

• Example & Skream's video for Shot Yourself in the Foot Again was directed by Gleave himself and duo The Chamber Brothers was released on 7 January 2011, with the single itself being playlisted by BBC Radio 1 amongst other radio stations. Example studied media in University and he wanted to direct his first ever music video. It gained over 1 million views in just 1 month.

Awards and nominations

Year	Event	Prize	Nominated work	Result
2010	Popjustice £20 Music Prize		Kickstarts	Won
2011	BT Digital Music Awards	Best Male Artist		Nominated
		Best Independent Artist or Group		Nominated
	4Music Video Honours	Best Boy		Nominated
		Best Video	Changed the Way You Kiss Me	Nominated
			Stay Awake	Nominated
2012	BRIT Awards	British Single	Changed the Way You Kiss Me	Nominated

References

• Exclusive Interview with Virgin Red Room
• Example signs US deal with Universal

External links

• Official website
• Example on Myspace
• Example on Twitter
• Example on Facebook