Wayne Wilkins
| Wayne Wilkins | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Wayne Andrew Wilkins |
| Born | Croydon, United Kingdom |
| Origin | London, United Kingdom |
| Genres | Hip hop, Rap, R&B, Pop, Dance |
| Occupations | Record producer, songwriter, record engineer, Mixing Engineer, pianist |
| Instruments | Piano, Synthesizer, Keyboards, Drum Machine, Sampler |
| Years active | 2000-present |
| Associated acts | Tiny Dancer, Troy Noka, Josh Sugar, Contra |
| Website | www.waynewilkins.com |
Wayne Wilkins is a classically trained pianist, Record producer, songwriter, record engineer, and record mixer born in the southeast London neighborhood of Croydon. Wilkins’ productions for Natasha Bedingfield (#1 UK Single“These Words,” #3 UK Single “Single” and “Love Like This”),[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] Beyoncé (“Sweet Dreams” #10 Billboard Hot 100),[9] Cheryl Cole (“Fight For This Love” #1 Billboard UK Songs and “Promise This” #1 UK Digital Songs),[4][10][11] and Jordin Sparks (“Battlefield” #10 Billboard Hot 100)[12] are quickly making him one of the industry’s most sought after songwriter/producers.
Wilkins also heads his own record label, Croydon Boy,[13] production company, Wayne Wilkins Music Group and music publishing companies, Ego Frenzy and Blow The Speakers.[14] Wilkins is managed by Made Communication, Miami, FL.[15]
Contents |
Early life [edit]
Wilkins became exposed to music very early in life and was taking piano lessons by age 4.[16] Wilkins soon earned a scholarship to a music conservatory as a child.[16] Growing up Wilkins also played organ at cathedrals and other venues around London.[16]
Wilkins went on to Royal College of Music in London.[16] Wilkins had other intellectual interests outside of music and also graduated with a physics degree from Imperial College.[16]
While in college one of Wilkins early jobs was teaching piano lessons.[16] He also interned at Townhouse Studios and Olympic Studios where he received further training in engineering, mixing, and producing.[17]
Music career [edit]
While Wilkins was interning at Olympic Studios he got the opportunity to work for famous engineer Mark “Spike” Stent.[17] Stent’s resume includes working with such artists as Madonna, Beyoncé, Björk, Lily Allen, Depeche Mode, Massive Attack, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Oasis, U2, Usher, and Lady Gaga.[18] Working for Stent provided Wilkins the opportunity to program for the engineer and work on high budgeted recordings.[17] During his tenure with Stent Wilkins was able to work with producers and artists such as Timbaland, Oasis, Rodney Jerkins, Madonna and U2.[17] Wilkins was able to work on the No Doubt “Rock Steady” album which Wilkins says later on afforded him higher profile opportunities for him to work on in the industry.[17]
In 2000 Wilkins started working independently.[17] The first band Wilkins produced after going independent was the multiplatinum, Grammy nominated group The Corrs.[17][19] Since The Corrs Wilkins has gone on to produce and write for many more prominent artists.
In May 2004 multiplatinum Grammy nominated singer Natasha Bedingfield released “Single”, a song co-written and co-produced by Wilkins.[4][5][6] The song went on to reach #3 on the UK Singles Top 75 chart.[7]
Natasha Bedingfield followed “Single” with “These Words” released in August 2004.[1] Co-produced and co-written by Wilkins, the song climbed to #1 on the UK Singles Chart and was a top 20 hit in the US reaching #17 on Billboard’s Hot 100.[2][3]
Wilkins co-wrote and co-produced another hit for Natasha Bedingfield, "Love Like This", which also featured Sean Kingston.[20] The song released in September 2007 went platinum, to the top of Billboards Dance/Club Play Songs, and to #11 on Billboards Hot 100.[8]
Grammy nominated singer Keri Hilson released her debut single “Energy” off of her gold album “In A Perfect World” in May 2008.[21][22] Wilkins cowrote and coproduced the single with fellow prominent members of production team The Runaways, Sam Watters, Rico Love, and Louis Biancaniello.[23]
In early 2008, Wilkins co-wrote We Break the Dawn alongside Solange Knowles and Andrew Frampton for R&B singer Michelle Williams third album "Unexpected." He was also involved in creating the remix for the same song.
In June 2008 Shontelle’s “T-shirt” was released and co-written by Wilkins.[24] The single was a dance hit in the United Kingdom and the United States. Reaching #1 on UK’s Urban Chart and #1 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Club songs.[25][26]
Beyoncé released her double platinum and 5x Grammy winning album “I Am…Sasha Fierce” in November 2008 which included the Wilkins’ Production and co-written single “Sweet Dreams”.[27][28][29] The song went on to reach platinum status and landed at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[9][30]
In May 2009 former American Idol winner Jordin Sparks released the single “Battlefield”.[31] Wilkins cowrote and coproduced the song that reached the top 10 of Billboard’s Hot 100.[31] With this song Wilkins assisted the platinum singer in achieving her third top 10 Billboard Hot 100 single.[32][33]
British artist Cheryl Cole released the single “Fight For This Love” in October 2009 taken from her multiplatinum album “3 Words”.[4][34] Wilkins co-wrote and co-produced the single which went platinum in the UK and topped Billboard’s UK Songs Chart and the BBC’s UK Singles Chart.[4][10][11]
Awards and Nominations [edit]
-2005 BMI London Award for “These Words”[35]
-2006 BMI London Award for “Single”[35]
-2007 BMI London Award for “Love Like This”[35]
-2008 BMI Pop Award for “Love Like This”[35]
-2008 BMI London Award for “T-Shirt”[35]
-2009 Grammy nomination Album of the Year – Beyoncé – I Am…Sasha Fierce[36]
-2009 BMI Pop Award for “Battlefield”[35]
-2010 BMI London Award for “Battlefield”[35]
-2010 BMI London Award for “Sweet Dreams”[35]
Singles [edit]
Discography [edit]
Musical Influences/Songwriting/Mixing and Engineering/Gear [edit]
Musical Influences [edit]
Wilkins has cited artists such as Michael Jackson, David Foster, Whitney Houston, Chicago, John Williams, and Oscar Peterson as having a major influence on his style and tastes.[17]
Songwriting [edit]
With his writing techniques, Wilkins prefers to start with chord progressions as opposed to lyrics.[16] He has said he attempts to be a “vessel” in which music just flows out of him naturally.[16] He prefers writing and producing together to see the song all the way through both processes to make sure it’s a hit.[37] When writing Wilkins chooses not to use many sounds but only what is completely necessary.[37] He says he tends to write simple lyrics that people can grasp with a running theme throughout the song.[37] He likes to write simple chords to pop songs and focuses on the melody.[37] When he can Wilkins prefers co-writing.[38] Generally Wilkins focuses on the music and the melody and collaborates with lyricists.[17]
Mixing and Engineering [edit]
Early in his career Wilkins worked under mixing engineer Mark “Spike” Stent of EMI.[37] Wilkins knows how to record and also professionally mix recordings.[16] Wilkins prefers to record an artist where they are most comfortable so he travels to where the artist is with portable gear.[38]
Gear [edit]
Wilkins’ gear generally consists of an Apple Logic, a MacBook Pro and an Apogee Symphony Mobile System.[16] Wilkins has stated his gear allows him to record anywhere in the world.[38]
Ventures [edit]
Croydon Boy/Ego Frenzy/Wayne Wilkins Music Group/Blow The Speakers [edit]
Wilkins started his own record label, Croydon Boy, in 2013, and signed Tiny Dancer as a new artist.[39]
Wilkins runs his own production company Wayne Wilkins Music Group, and publishing companies, Ego Frenzy and Blow The Speakers.[14] Producers and songwriters T-Wiz, Josh Sugar, and Glass are signed to Ego Frenzy.[40][41] Wilkins is currently interested in developing new artists.[38] Wilkins has said that he scouts new talent on youtube and myspace.[38]
External links [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ a b These Words | AllMusic
- ^ a b These Words | Natasha Bedingfield Number Ones | Number One hits from the UK Singles Charts
- ^ a b Natasha Bedingfield Album & Song Chart History | Billboard.com
- ^ a b c d e http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/search.aspx Archived 17 January 2010 at WebCite
- ^ a b Natasha Bedingfield Scores Grammy Nomination @ Top40-Charts.com - Songs & Videos from 49 Top 20 & Top 40 Music Charts from 30 Countries
- ^ a b Single | AllMusic
- ^ a b Natasha Bedingfield - Single - Music Charts
- ^ a b Natasha Bedingfield Album & Song Chart History | Billboard.com
- ^ a b Sweet Dreams - Beyoncé | Billboard.com
- ^ a b http://www.billboard.com/artist/299082/cheryl+cole/chart[dead link]
- ^ a b Chart Stats - Cheryl Cole - Fight For This Love
- ^ (http://www.billboard.com/artist/305200/jordin+sparks/chart
- ^ PopJustice
- ^ a b http://twitter.com/#!/GoWaynewilkins[dead link]
- ^ Made
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j How to Write a Hit Song | Home Recording Tips, How To Record, Artist Recording Blogs | Apogee's Recording Blog
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Talking Shop With Grammy-Nominated Songwriter and Producer Wayne Wilkins – Part 1 | Serve The Song
- ^ Secrets Of The Mix Engineers: Mark ‘Spike’ Stent
- ^ The Corrs Official Website
- ^ Love Like This | AllMusic
- ^ Keri Hilson Scores Grammy Nominations for Best New Artist and Best Rap/Sung... - SANTA MONICA, Calif., Dec. 3 /PRNewswire/
- ^ Pop Singer Keri Hilson Debut Album In a Perfect World is Certified... - SANTA MONICA, Calif., Oct. 23 /PRNewswire/
- ^ Keri Hilson | AllMusic
- ^ T-Shirt [Main] | AllMusic
- ^ Career Timeline | // ShontelleOnline.com - #1 Source for Everything Shontelle! //
- ^ http://www.billboard.com/artist/279174/shontelle/chart?f=359[dead link]
- ^ RIAA - Recording Industry Association of America[dead link]
- ^ Nominees And Winners | GRAMMY.com Archived 19 December 2010 at WebCite
- ^ I Am...Sasha Fierce - Beyoncé | Billboard.com
- ^ and platinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&title=I+Am+Sasha+Fierce&format=album&go=Search&perPage=50&artist=Beyonce[dead link]
- ^ a b http://www.billboard.com/artist/305200/jordin+sparks/chart[dead link]
- ^ Jordin Sparks Album & Song Chart History | Billboard.com
- ^ RIAA - Recording Industry Association of America[dead link]
- ^ Fight For This Love | AllMusic
- ^ a b c d e f g h BMI | Repertoire Search
- ^ Nominees And Winners | GRAMMY.com Archived 19 December 2010 at WebCite
- ^ a b c d e Hit Music Producer & Songwriter Wayne Wilkins: Beyonce Sweet Dreams, Jordin Sparks Battlefield
- ^ a b c d e Talking Shop With Grammy-Nominated Songwriter and Producer Wayne Wilkins – Part 2 | Serve The Song
- ^ PopJustice
- ^ http://twitter.com/#!/wizup/favorites[dead link]
- ^ http://twitter.com/#!/OllieSpano[dead link]
