Example (musician)

Example
Example
Background information
Birth name	Elliot John Gleave
Also known as	Example
Born	(1982-06-20) 20 June 1982
Origin	Fulham, London, England
Genres	Alternative hip-hop, electro house, eurodance, UK garage, british hip hop, dubstep, EDM, trance, electronica
Occupation(s)	Vocalist, rapper, singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)	Vocals, synthesizer
Years active	2004 – present
Labels	The Chats (2004–2006) The Beats (2006–2007) Data (2008–present) Mercury (2012–present)
Website	trythisforexample.com trythisforxmpl.tumblr.com

Elliot John Gleave (born 20 June 1982), better known by his stage name Example, is an English 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 ("for example").

Example first found success with the release of his second studio album, Won't Go Quietly, which peaked at number 4 on the UK Albums Chart. The album had two top 10 singles, "Won't Go Quietly" and "Kickstarts". His 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, "Changed the Way You Kiss Me" and "Stay Awake". His fourth album, The Evolution of Man was released on the 19 November 2012.

Personal life

Elliot Gleave was born at a West London hospital in 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.

Gleave is currently in a relationship with Australian model and actress Erin McNaught and plans to propose within the next six months (as of August 2012).

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 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. This was done at a cost of just £1000. It was directed by Example's friend Henry Scholfield 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 practising 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 – Example had performed in the same venue ten years earlier whilst a student at ADT College.

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 12 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 5 June 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 "Midnight Run" was released on 4 December 2011 and reached number 30 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, Moscow and so on.

The Evolution of Man (2012)

Example tweeted that on the plane to Sydney he planned on writing some songs for a new album and he would be listening to Kasabian's new album for lyrical inspiration. While Example was in Australia for two months, the singer/rapper planned to write the entire fourth album in the time he spent there. Example confirmed via Twitter that the titles of the songs have all been completed and the list of producers lined up.

Example confirmed he was to have a track he wrote for The Wanted to be featured on their debut US album, The Wanted. The song is called "Chasing The Sun". The track was released as a single on 17 April 2012 in USA and 20 May 2012 in the United Kingdom, featuring remixes from Hardwell and Tantrum Desire and peaking at #2 in the UK Singles Chart, and receiving worldwide recognition.

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.

Example's arena tour from 20 April to 5 May 2012, supported by Wretch 32, Alvin Risk, P Money, Nina Nesbitt and Youngman, saw the live debuts of three tracks - "We'll Be Coming Back" produced by Calvin Harris, released on 29 July 2012 as Calvin's single and obtaining #2 in the UK Singles Chart within a day of downloads and #1 in Ireland; "Whisper", an older and previously unreleased progressive house track produced by AN21 (brother of Swedish House Mafia's Steve Angello) & Max Vangeli, which will feature as a bonus track on The Evolution of Man as well as on AN21 & Max Vangeli's upcoming album; and finally "Where Did The Sun Go" produced by Alvin Risk, which didn't make the final cut of the album by Alvin's decision. A fourth track, "Come Taste The Rainbow" produced by Benga, was due to get its live debut on the tour; however despite being on the official setlist, it was not played, and was replaced by "Last Ones Standing", which was not previously on the list.

On 25 July 2012 Example announced via Twitter that the name of the lead single from his fourth album was Say Nothing - produced by Dirty South, also revealing it would premiere on Monday, 30 July 2012, on Capital FM.

On 26 July 2012 further details were revealed about "Say Nothing" via NME. The EP features remixes from Roska, TC, Foamo and Hardwell alongside an extended mix, and the BURNS remix was released as a single.

The interview also stated that "Say Nothing" and "Perfect Replacement" (produced by Feed Me) would receive their live debuts on August 18–19, 2012 at the V Festival. On 30 July 2012 Example revealed the single artwork for "Say Nothing" via Twitter. An iTunes preorder became available on the same day.

The video for "Say Nothing" that was recorded in Almería, Andalucia, went live on YouTube on 8 August 2012.

On 17 August 2012 the 2013 tour dates were announced. The 12-date tour is to start on 11 February 2013 in Bournemouth and finish in Manchester Arena on 1 March 2013. Support comes from British dubstep producer Benga who also produced Example's album track "Come Taste The Rainbow".

The single Say Nothing was released on 16 September 2012, debuting at number 2 in the UK charts on 19 September.

Discography

Main article: Example discography

Albums:

• What We Made (2007)
• Won't Go Quietly (2010)
• Playing in the Shadows (2011)
• The Evolution of Man (2012)

Film making

While filming a promo video for his track "What We Made" in the abandoned city of Prypiat 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?"

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

External links

• Official website
• Official Example Fan Site
• Exclusive Interview with Virgin Red Room
• Example signs US deal with Universal