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web|url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/3782758/Matt-Cardle-teams-up-with-David-Sneddon.html |title=Matt-Cardle-teams-up-with-David-Sneddon;}}</ref> and charted at No.2 on the [[UK Albums Chart]].<ref name="bbc">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/singles |title=Radio 1 - Chart - The Official UK Top 40 Singles Chart |publisher=BBC |date= |accessdate=2012-01-01}}</ref> The track "National Anthem" was co-written with David Sneddon and The Nexus for [[Lana Del Rey]]'s number one selling <ref name="Jones">{{cite web|last=Jones|first=Alan|title=Official Chart Analysis: Lana Del Rey album sells 117k, 43% digital|work=[[Music Week]]|url=http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=1048405&c=1|accessdate=6 February 2012|date=6 February 2012}}</ref>
web|url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/3782758/Matt-Cardle-teams-up-with-David-Sneddon.html |title=Matt-Cardle-teams-up-with-David-Sneddon;}}</ref> and charted at No.2 on the [[UK Albums Chart]].<ref name="bbc">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/singles |title=Radio 1 - Chart - The Official UK Top 40 Singles Chart |publisher=BBC |date= |accessdate=2012-01-01}}</ref> The track "National Anthem" was co-written with David Sneddon and The Nexus for [[Lana Del Rey]]'s number one selling <ref name="Jones">{{cite web|last=Jones|first=Alan|title=Official Chart Analysis: Lana Del Rey album sells 117k, 43% digital|work=[[Music Week]]|url=http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=1048405&c=1|accessdate=6 February 2012|date=6 February 2012}}</ref>
[[UK Albums Chart]] debut album ''[[Born to Die (Lana Del Rey album)|Born to Die]]'' released in January 2012.
[[UK Albums Chart]] debut album ''[[Born to Die (Lana Del Rey album)|Born to Die]]'' released in January 2012.
<ref name="musicfootnotes">{{cite web|url= http://www.musicfootnotes.com |title=Musicfootnotes |publisher=Musicfootnotes |date= |accessdate=2012-01-06}}</ref> Sneddon works with both high profile and highly-anticipated emerging artists in both the US and the UK. In 2012 David was listed as the co-writer for the song "Keep the Sun Away" on [[Morten Harket]] (Norwegian synthpop/rock band [[A-ha]]) solo album "Out of My Hands". <ref>{{cite web|url= http://mortenharket.com/song-lyrics-and-credits-for-out-of-my-hands |title=Morten Harket | song-lyrics-and-credits-for-out-of-my-hands}}</ref> Sneddon works with the UK based [[songwriting]] and [[music production]] team "The Nexus" and has been building a strong reputation as a [[songwriter]] the past years.
<ref name="musicfootnotes">{{cite web|url= http://www.musicfootnotes.com |title=Musicfootnotes |publisher=Musicfootnotes |date= |accessdate=2012-01-06}}</ref> In 2012 David was listed as the co-writer for the song "Keep the Sun Away" on [[Morten Harket]] (Norwegian synthpop/rock band [[A-ha]]) solo album "Out of My Hands". <ref>{{cite web|url= http://mortenharket.com/song-lyrics-and-credits-for-out-of-my-hands |title=Morten Harket | song-lyrics-and-credits-for-out-of-my-hands}}</ref> Sneddon works with both high profile and highly-anticipated emerging artists in both the US and the UK. He works with the UK based [[songwriting]] and [[music production]] team "The Nexus" and has been building a strong reputation as a [[songwriter]] the past years.


==Origins==
==Origins==

Revision as of 17:21, 19 April 2012

David Sneddon
David Sneddon at Highbarn, Essex
David Sneddon at Highbarn, Essex
Background information
Birth nameDavid Sneddon
Born (1978-09-15) 15 September 1978 (age 45)
Paisley, Scotland
GenresPop, soul
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, musician, record producer
Instrument(s)Vocals, piano, keyboards
Years active2003–present
LabelsSony/ATV Music Publishing

David Sneddon (born 15 September 1978) is a Scottish musician and singer-songwriter. He has performed on British television, radio and theatre. Sneddon won the first BBC UK series of Fame Academy in 2002. Sneddon released his debut single "Stop Living the Lie" in January 2003 which was a number one hit single selling over 250,000 copies, and making it the 12th highest selling single of the year. Seven Years – Ten Weeks, Sneddon's album released in April 2003 four months after he won the show and containing his own compositions, entered the UK Albums Chart at No. 5.[1] He also had three further UK Singles Chart hit singles with his own compositions - "Don't Let Go" No.3, "Best of Order" No. 19 and "Baby Get Higher" No.39. Sneddon's song "Baby Get Higher" has since been a success hit on the dance floor for Almighty Records and also a Singles Chart hit for Dutch singer VanVelzen.[2] He took the unusual step of moving from being a popstar to working as a songwriter for other singers. He wrote the international hit "The Message" for UK soul artist Nate James. In 2009 Sneddon signed to major music publisher Sony/ATV Music Publishing as a songwriter and he describes his music as 'melody-driven indie pop'.[3]

Sneddon has written songs for other artists such as Hurts, Morten Harket of A-ha, X Factor winner Matt Cardle and number one selling American singer Lana Del Rey.[4] Del Rey received attention for her number of hits on YouTube. He has written songs for the synthpop duo Hurts 2010 debut album Happiness - "Illuminated", "Silver Lining" and "Blood, Tears & Gold."[5] He has written songs for 2010 The X Factor (UK) winner Matt Cardle's debut album "Letters" which was released in October 2011,[6] and charted at No.2 on the UK Albums Chart.[7] The track "National Anthem" was co-written with David Sneddon and The Nexus for Lana Del Rey's number one selling [8] UK Albums Chart debut album Born to Die released in January 2012. [9] In 2012 David was listed as the co-writer for the song "Keep the Sun Away" on Morten Harket (Norwegian synthpop/rock band A-ha) solo album "Out of My Hands". [10] Sneddon works with both high profile and highly-anticipated emerging artists in both the US and the UK. He works with the UK based songwriting and music production team "The Nexus" and has been building a strong reputation as a songwriter the past years.

Origins

Sneddon was born and grew up in Paisley, Scotland, with mother Anne, father David Sr. and younger sister Pauline. He enjoyed performing in musicals from a young age, and when his parents bought him a piano he discovered he had a talent for writing songs and taught himself to play. Sneddon was inspired by his father’s record collection of The Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Van Morrison and Elton John, and he cites The Beatles as a big influence. He studied music at school, won several talent competitions and played lead roles in musicals both at school and at PACE Youth Theatre. "The person who has inspired me the most is Elton John. I love the Beatles, but as I was growing up, I always wanted to play the piano like him. I've never had any lessons, so he has been my only teacher.".........?"[11] After attending The University of Paisley for a year, where he met Danny Dyer, with whom he forged a close personal relationship, Sneddon decided to pursue a career in music. He performed in musicals and sang with bands in Scotland for several years, while he continued working on his songwriting and sending off demos. He was offered a role in a musical in London, and a part in a young boyband called Arena. He presented Inside Out, a children's show on Scottish TV.

While acting in Romeo and Juliet he met John Kielty (Sneddon was Romeo and John played Juliet's father). After performing some acoustic nights together at the Tron theatre in Glasgow in 2001, they decided to start a band and called themselves The Martians. The Martians busked and did shows during the Edinburgh Festival. Sneddon was performing with The Martians in 2002 when he decided to enter the BBC's first series of Fame Academy. After David won the show he brought John down to London to co-write his debut album and go on tour with him. Sneddon also played in the indie-rock band The Sham with John Kielty in 2004 and 2005. Since then The Martians won the Highland Quest for a new musical in 2006 - The Sundowe was produced by Cameron Mackintosh and toured the Scottish Highlands in early 2007.

Music career

Fame Academy

Sneddon was brought to public attention when he won the BBC's first Fame Academy (a combination of a talent quest and a reality television show) in 2002. He was not selected for the first show, but was drafted in as a replacement when one contestant withdrew from the TV show due to illness. Sneddon soon became a favourite with both the audience and his fellow contestants. He won the final program of the show winning the voters attention for his versions of "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" by Elton John, "I Don't Want to Talk About It" by Danny Whitten, and his own composition "Stop Living the Lie". He won the public vote with approximately 3.5 million votes in December.

Sneddon signed a record contract with Mercury Records and was given a luxury penthouse, Audi car and more as part of his prize. He shot his music video for his first single at Abbey Road Studios. His first single "Stop Living the Lie", was no. 1 in the UK Singles Chart for two weeks in January 2003, and in the UK Top 40 for a full nine weeks. Sneddon is the only artist from a reality TV show to have a number one hit single with his own composition, without working with any co-writers. He had three other UK Singles Chart hits with his compositions - "Don't Let Go" No. 3, "Best Of Order" No. 19 and "Baby Get Higher" No. 39. "Baby Get Higher" has since been a hit on the dance floor for Almighty Records and a singles chart hit for Dutch singer VanVelzen.[2]

Seven Years - Ten Weeks Sneddon's album, was released in April 2003, four months after he won the show, and entered the UK album chart at No. 5. The album contains all original compositions written by Sneddon, two co-writes with Scott MacAlister and four songs co-written with Martians' member Kielty. Sneddon wrote songs about his seven years after leaving university when he performed with bands, and on stage in Scotland - and about his ten weeks singing live on the BBC television series. It contains his three chart singles "Stop Living the Lie", "Don't Let Go" and "Best of Order". The album was produced by Hugh Padgham who produced Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel in the '80s, and was recorded with Elton John's band. There was a Scottish album launch for the release on April 27 when David performed 7 gigs in ten hours all over Scotland.[1] David was given all of 3 months to write, rehearse and record original material for his debut album, a process that normally takes years. By comparison now in 2010 the The X Factor (UK) winners release their debut album during the next year series when they are able to jog the public's memories - and are given a year to work with co-writers and producers for an album of original material

Throughout 2003 Sneddon and his band played a university tour, the Box Live and Summer XS tours, headlined at the 'Pop on the Rock' music festival in the Channel Islands, and supported Bryan Adams in Bristol and Elton John in Hull. Sneddon also performed on TV many times, including the BBC's chart music program Top of the Pops. David was also a guest presenter on The Saturday Show (BBC TV series) and the BBC Scotland Children in Need Appeal, and he took part in Avid Merrion's comedy show 'Bo Selecta' on Channel 4[12] After all the expectations of the shows, the highs of the chart successes and playing the SECC Glasgow and the Scottish tour for his album, he was never happy with the popstar role thrust on him, while he did love all the music side - the writing and recording, which he has a natural talent for.

Sneddon signed an exclusive publishing deal as a songwriter with Universal Music Group in October 2003. Sneddon's main focus has always been his songwriting. He said "I've loved all the music side of it, it's everything I hoped it would be - the recording, the studio, writing, but the other stuff..........?"[11]

Performing

In 2004 David was songwriting in Londonwhen he formed a rock band called The Sham with John Kielty in 2004. They played gigs in London, Scotland and the North of England and headlined at the Hogmanay Celebrations in Aberdeen.[11] The Sham included Jay Mein(bass), Ed Carlile(drums), Si Jones(guitar), Jake Gosling(keys) and John Kielty (guitar).

Sneddon performing Bedford London

In 2006 Sneddon started writing and recording for a new solo album. In July he showcased his songs in a series of intimate, acoustic gigs with John Kielty on guitar in London, Essex and Scotland. In an interview for FPR Radio Oct 2006, he said "It's not what people are expecting, I’m trying something a bit different. The feedback, from people who know me from the show, on the new songs has been incredible."[13]

From July 2006 to Oct 2007 he performed occasional gigs mostly in London, at the Bedford, the Regal Room, The Cobden and the Troubadour venues. When John Kielty moved to America in late 2006, Sneddon brought in David Mullins as his backing guitarist. He also presented a radio sports show on BBC radio in June 2007. Sneddon performed a few gigs in Scotland over this time - the Oran Mor, Dunstaffstage, the Jazz Bar and the Kilsyth festival. Sneddon released an acoustic five-track EP called "White Noise" in January 2007, his first recorded work for several years. It was recorded in 'one live acoustic take' and has melody-driven piano songs. Tracks include White Noise, Time, Lady Lullaby, One Old Soul and Wish You Well.

He played gigs and festivals across England and Scotland in 2007 with backing guitarist David Mullins. In August 2007 he performed three sold out gigs at the Jazz Bar Edinburgh Festival to good reviews.[11][14] David's songs Insomnia, Anticipation, One Old Soul and Scars proved popular with his fans.[15]

Sneddon's 2007 EP sold well and re-entered the top of the Indiestore chart in 2008 where it has stayed into 2010, even with him rarely performing. In 2008 Sneddon played several gigs in London, while he continued with his song writing work alongside guitarist James Mein. He describes his music as 'melody driven pop'.

Songwriting

Since 2003 Sneddon has worked with James Bauer Mein in a London recording studio discovering, producing and writing with new talent. He wrote the chart hit single "Baby Get Higher" for Van Velzen.[2]. In October 2003 Sneddon's single release, "Baby Get Higher" reached No.39 in the UK Singles Chart, and this song has achieved further chart successes. In November 2003 the dance label Almighty Records produced an exclusive promo remix, which was a hit. The label then recorded a version featuring Belle Lawrence, which was included on several dance compilation albums.[2] In November 2006 the song was then also a singles chart hit for Dutch singer VanVelzen. He has had several songs picked up by artists worldwide.[4] He wrote the international hit The Message for UK soul singer Nate James[3] which was released as a single in the UK in 2005 and was on Nate's debut album "Set The Tone".[4] and charted in Italy and Japan in 2006. Nate James is on the third album and has had hits on the worldwide stage, he keeps his music closely to the classic soul of Motown. In 2009 Sneddon signed a new deal with music publisher Sony/ATV Music Publishing and will be writing for labels Decca Records, Universal Music Group and Syco, which is Simon Cowell’s label. Sneddon stated in the Paisley Daily Express, “This deal has been in the pipeline for a year and we wanted to wait for the right deal. I don’t think there has been another reality TV winner who took a back step to this side of the industry but I like being able to get on with my work. We had to prove ourselves...and so that’s why we did a lot of development work."[16] In 2008 Sneddon focused on his songwriting career while he also performed a few occasional gigs in London over this time. He signed in 2009 with new management Three Six Zero Group and to Sony/ATV Music Publishing in July 2009 as a songwriter.[16] He works with high profile and highly-anticipated emerging artists in both the US and the UK, with several big releases in 2011 and 2012. In May 2010, Sneddon travelled to Los Angeles for his songwriting work with James Mein.


Sneddon has written songs for other artists such as Hurts, Morten Harket of A-ha, X Factor winner Matt Cardle and number one selling American singer Lana Del Rey. [4] Del Rey received attention for her number of hits on YouTube. In June 2011 it announced that he had written songs for the synthpop duo Hurts 2010 debut album Happiness - "Illuminated", "Silver Lining" and "Blood, Tears & Gold." [5] Hurts music is described as melodramatic pop or pop noir. Their debut album Happiness reached the Top 10 in 12 European countries, and has sold over 1 million copies worldwide. The band have also sold more than 1 million singles worldwide.[17] Sneddon has also written the songs "Letters" and "Slowly" for 2010 The X Factor (UK) winner Matt Cardle's debut album, Letters, which was released in October 2011,[6] and charted at No.2 on the UK Albums Chart.[7] In the summer of 2011 David became engaged to his long-term girlfriend, who works in television in London.

It was revealed in January 2012 that David had written the song "National Anthem" for the 'Next Big Thing' Lana Del Rey's number one selling debut album Born to Die. The song on Del Rey's album was co-written and produced with David Sneddon and The Nexus.[9] Lana Del Rey's album Born to Die reached No. 1 in the UK Albums Chart and became one the fastest-selling albums of the year selling 116,745 copies, the biggest first-week sales of 2012. Digital sales accounted for 50,007 units to become the fifth album to sell upwards of 50,000 downloads in a single week.[8] Born to Die is the major-label debut by American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey and was released on January 30, 2012 through Interscope Records and Stranger Records. Lana Del Rey's first single from the album, "Video Games" received huge interest on YouTube and brought about the singer's popularity. David wrote the song "Driving in Cars With Boys" with Del Rey. In April 2012 David was listed as the co-writer for the song "Keep the Sun Away" on Morten Harket solo album "Out of My Hands." Harket is best known as the singer of the Norwegian synthpop/rock band A-ha. [18]

Sneddon works with the UK based songwriting and music production team "The Nexus" and has been building a strong reputation as a songwriter the past years. "The Nexus" work on major label projects across the UK, Europe and the US. "The Nexus" also specialise in the discovery of new talent, assisting in their development and have successfully taken several artists from independent to major label status.


  • Winner BBC Fame Academy 2002.
  • Awards - Nordoff Robins Award for Contribution to music 2003.
  • Radio Forth (Forth One) Best Newcomer award 2003.

Discography

Albums

Album information
Seven Years - Ten Weeks
  • Release Date: April 2003,
  • UK Chart peak: no. 5 (UK Pop)
  • IMPALA Sales Certification: Gold (100,000)
  • Worldwide sales: 100,000
  • Singles: "Stop Living The Lie", "Don’t let Go", "Best of Order".

Singles

  1. "Stop Living the Lie" (2003) #1 UK
  2. "Don't Let Go" (2003) #3 UK
  3. "Best of Order" (2003) #19 UK
  4. "Baby Get Higher" (2003) #38 UK

EPs

"White Noise" (released Indiestore January 2007)

  1. "White Noise" (2007)
  2. "Time" (2007)
  3. "Lady Lullaby” (2007)
  4. "One Old Soul" (2007)
  5. ”Wish You Well” (2007)

References

  1. ^ a b "Seven Years - Ten Weeks". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-09-23.
  2. ^ a b c d "Belle Lawrence Handbag Heaven Boulevard of Broken Dreams". Almighty Records. Retrieved 2008-09-23.
  3. ^ a b UK. "David Sneddon on MySpace". Myspace.com. Retrieved 2011-08-01.
  4. ^ a b c d Karen Bale (November 24, 2006). "1 Million Notes for Sneddon". Daily Record. Retrieved 2008-09-23.
  5. ^ a b "David Sneddon's a write talent | The Sun |Showbiz|Bizarre". The Sun. 2011-06-30. Retrieved 2011-08-01.
  6. ^ a b {{cite web|url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/3782758/Matt-Cardle-teams-up-with-David-Sneddon.html |title=Matt-Cardle-teams-up-with-David-Sneddon;}}
  7. ^ a b "Radio 1 - Chart - The Official UK Top 40 Singles Chart". BBC. Retrieved 2012-01-01.
  8. ^ a b Jones, Alan (6 February 2012). "Official Chart Analysis: Lana Del Rey album sells 117k, 43% digital". Music Week. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  9. ^ a b "Musicfootnotes". Musicfootnotes. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
  10. ^ "Morten Harket". {{cite web}}: Text "song-lyrics-and-credits-for-out-of-my-hands" ignored (help)
  11. ^ a b c d "David Sneddon Fansite". David Sneddon Fansite. Retrieved 2011-08-01.
  12. ^ Bo Selecta at IMDb
  13. ^ "FPR Community Radio | Paisley Blog". Paisley.org.uk. 2008-06-18. Retrieved 2011-08-01.
  14. ^ Ruby Soxer (2007-09-04). "David Sneddon & Chris Townsend (Accoustic Sessions)". EdinburghGuide.com. Retrieved 2011-08-01.
  15. ^ david sneddon - YouTube
  16. ^ a b "Pasiley Daily Express". Paisleydailyexpress.co.uk. 2009-08-03. Retrieved 2011-08-01.
  17. ^ "Hurts". Three Six Zero Group. Retrieved 2011-08-30.
  18. ^ "Morten Harket". {{cite web}}: Text "song-lyrics-and-credits-for-out-of-my-hands" ignored (help)

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