David Sneddon

David Sneddon

David Sneddon (born 15 September 1978, in Paisley, Scotland) is a Scottish musician, singer and songwriter. Sneddon has written for other artists and co-wrote "The Message" for UK soul artist Nate James. He is signed to major music publisher Sony/ATV Music Publishing in 2009 as a songwriter, and describes his music as 'melody-driven indie pop'. He has been working with several high profile, as well as highly-anticipated emerging artists in both the US and the UK.

Previously, he played with a band called The Martians with John Kielty, and performed in theatre, radio and television. Sneddon won the first BBC UK series of Fame Academy in 2002. Sneddon released his 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. He also had three further UK hit singles 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 success hit on the dance floor for Almighty Records and a singles chart hit for Dutch singer Van Velzen. Sneddon is the only winner of a reality TV show to have a number one hit single with a self-composed song, without working with any co-writers.

Origins

David Sneddon 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 an 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.".........?" After attending The University of Paisley for a year, 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 performing Bedford London

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 Van Velzen.

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. 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 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 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..........?"

Performing

In 2004 David was songwriting in London. He formed an indie-rock band The Sham with John Kielty in 2004 and 2005. They played gigs in London, Scotland and the North of England, and headlined at the Hogmanay Celebrations in Aberdeen. The Sham included Jay Mein(bass), Ed Carlile(drums), Si Jones(guitar), Jake Gosling(keys) and John Kielty (guitar)

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."

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.

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'.

Songwriting

Since 2003 Sneddon has been working with James Bauer Mein in a London recording studio discovering, producing and writing with new talent - including the international hit The Message for Nate James, and the hit single "Baby Get Higher" for Van Velzen. Sneddon co-wrote international hit The Message for UK soul singer Nate James which was released as a single in the UK in 2005, and was also on Nate's debut album "Set The Tone". It charted in Italy and Japan in 2006. Nate James is now on the third album, and has had hits on the worldwide stage. He keeps his music closely to the classic soul of Motown.

In October 2003 Sneddon's single release, "Baby Get Higher" made 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. In November 2006 the song was then also a Singles chart hit for Dutch artist Van Velzen. Sneddon had several songs picked up by artists worldwide.

In 2009 Sneddon signed a new deal with major Music publisher (popular music) Sony/ATV Music Publishing and he will be writing for labels Decca Records, Universal Music Group and Syco, which is Simon Cowell’s label. Quote from Sneddon in Paisley Daily Express, “This deal has been in the pipeline for a year…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." .

In 2008 Sneddon focused exclusively 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. He has been working with several high profile, as well as highly-anticipated emerging artists in both the US and the UK, with several releases expected in 2010. In May 2010, Sneddon travelled to Los Angeles for his song writing work with James Mein.

• 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 January 2007)

External links

• David Sneddon MySpace - David Blog, Photos, Gigs, News.
• David Sneddon Fansite - David Bio, Photos, Reviews.
• Edinburgh Guide Review