Wayne Wilkins
Wayne Wilkins is a pianist, record producer, songwriter, record engineer, and record mixer. Wilkins has produced such tracks as Natasha Bedingfield "These Words," "Single" and "Love Like This"),[1][2][3][3][4][5][6][7] Beyoncé ("Sweet Dreams"),[8] Cheryl Cole ("Fight For This Love", and "Promise This"),[4][9][10] and Jordin Sparks ("Battlefield")[11].
Wayne Wilkins | |
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Birth name | Wayne Andrew Wilkins |
Born | Croydon, United Kingdom |
Origin | London, United Kingdom |
Genres | |
Occupation(s) |
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Instruments |
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Years active | 2000–present |
Associated acts | TYNI, Troy Noka, Contra, Beyoncé, Cheryl Cole, Natasha Bedingfield, Leona Lewis, Gucci Mane, Wyclef, Westlife |
Website | waynewilkins |
Early life
Wilkins was born in Croydon. He began taking piano lessons by age 4.[12] Wilkins earned a scholarship to a music conservatory as a child.[12] Growing up, he played organ at cathedrals and other venues around London.[12]
Wilkins went on to Royal College of Music in London.[12] Wilkins later graduated with a physics degree from Imperial College.[12]
While in college one of Wilkins early jobs was teaching piano.[12] He also interned at Townhouse Studios and Olympic Studios where he received further training in engineering, mixing, and producing.[13]
Music career
While Wilkins was interning at Olympic Studios he got the opportunity to work for famous engineer Spike Stent.[13] 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.[14] Working for Stent provided Wilkins the opportunity to program for the engineer and work on high budgeted recordings.[13] During his tenure with Stent Wilkins was able to work with producers and artists such as Timbaland, Oasis, Rodney Jerkins, Madonna and U2.[13] 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.[13]
In 2000 Wilkins started working independently.[13] The first band Wilkins produced after going independent was The Corrs.[13][15] 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 No. 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 No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart and reached No. 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.[16] The song released in September 2007 went platinum, to the top of Billboards Dance/Club Play Songs, and to No. 11 on Billboards Hot 100.[3]
Grammy nominated singer Keri Hilson released her debut single "Energy" off of her gold album "In a Perfect World..." in May 2008.[17][18] Wilkins cowrote and coproduced the single with fellow prominent members of production team The Runaways, Sam Watters, Rico Love, and Louis Biancaniello.[19]
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.[20] The single was a dance hit in the United Kingdom and the United States. Reaching No. 1 on UK's Urban Chart and No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club songs.[21][22]
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".[23][24][25] The song went on to reach platinum status and landed at No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[8][26]
In May 2009 former American Idol winner Jordin Sparks released the single "Battlefield".[27] Wilkins cowrote and coproduced the song that reached the top 10 of Billboard's Hot 100.[27] With this song Wilkins assisted the platinum singer in achieving her third top 10 Billboard Hot 100 single.[28][29]
In 2009, he worked with Irish pop band Westlife for a track "Sound of a Broken Heart" included in their Where We Are album where it charted #2 in both UK Albums Chart and Irish Albums Chart.
British artist Cheryl Cole released the single "Fight For This Love" in October 2009 taken from her multiplatinum album "3 Words".[4][30] Wilkins co-wrote and co-produced the single which went platinum in the UK and the BBC's UK Singles Chart.[4][9][10]
In July 2014 Cheryl Cole released the single "Crazy Stupid Love" from her fourth studio album. The song topped the BBC's UK Singles Chart at number one. Wilkins co-wrote and co-produced the song, which also features British rapper Tinie Tempah.
Awards and nominations
-2005 BMI London Award for "These Words"[31]
-2006 BMI London Award for "Single"[31]
-2007 BMI London Award for "Love Like This"[31]
-2008 BMI Pop Award for "Love Like This"[31]
-2008 BMI London Award for "T-Shirt"[31]
-2009 Grammy nomination Album of the Year – Beyoncé – I Am… Sasha Fierce[32]
-2009 BMI Pop Award for "Battlefield"[31]
-2010 BMI London Award for "Battlefield"[31]
-2010 BMI London Award for "Sweet Dreams"[31]
Singles
Year | Single | Chart positions | Album | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AUS | FR | GER | IRE | UK | US Hot 100 | US R&B |
US Pop |
US Dance | |||
2001 | "Would You Be Happier?" (The Corrs) | 47 | 61 | 81 | 26 | 14 | – | – | – | – | Best of The Corrs |
2004 | "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield) | 78 | – | – | 7 | 3 | 57 | – | 38 | – | Unwritten |
"These Words" (Natasha Bedingfield) | 5 | 19 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 17 | – | 9 | 35 | ||
2005 | "I Bruise Easily" (Natasha Bedingfield) | – | – | 46 | 17 | 12 | – | – | – | – | |
2007 | "I Wanna Have Your Babies" (Natasha Bedingfield) | 50 | – | 39 | 8 | 7 | – | – | – | – | NB |
"Love Like This" (Natasha Bedingfield ft. Sean Kingston) | 77 | – | 33 | 34 | 20 | 11 | – | – | 1 | Pocketful of Sunshine | |
2008 | "We Break the Dawn" (Michelle Williams) | – | – | – | – | 47 | – | – | – | 4 | Unexpected |
"Energy" (Keri Hilson) | 55 | – | – | – | 43 | 78 | 21 | 72 | – | In a Perfect World... | |
"T-Shirt" (Shontelle) | – | – | – | 26 | 6 | 36 | – | – | 1 | Shontelligence | |
2009 | "Battlefield" (Jordin Sparks) | 4 | – | 40 | 9 | 11 | 10 | – | 6 | – | Battlefield |
"Sweet Dreams" (Beyoncé) | 2 | – | 8 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 48 | 2 | 1 | I Am… Sasha Fierce | |
"Touch My Hand" (David Archuleta) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | David Archuleta | |
"Battle Cry" (Shontelle) | – | – | – | – | 61 | – | – | – | – | Shontelligence | |
"Fight for This Love" (Cheryl Cole) | 54 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | – | 3 Words | |
"No More" (Cassie Davis) | 90 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | Differently | |
2010 | "Strip Me" (Natasha Bedingfield) | – | – | – | – | – | 91 | – | – | – | Strip Me |
"Promise This" (Cheryl Cole) | 78 | – | – | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | – | Messy Little Raindrops | |
2011 | "The Flood" (Cheryl Cole) | – | – | – | 26 | 18 | – | – | – | – |
Musical Influences/Songwriting/Mixing and Engineering/Gear
Musical Influences
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.[13]
Songwriting
With his writing techniques, Wilkins prefers to start with chord progressions as opposed to lyrics.[12] He has said he attempts to be a "vessel" in which music just flows out of him naturally.[12] He prefers writing and producing together to see the song all the way through both processes to make sure it's a hit.[33] When writing Wilkins chooses not to use many sounds but only what is completely necessary.[33] He says he tends to write simple lyrics that people can grasp with a running theme throughout the song.[33] He likes to write simple chords to pop songs and focuses on the melody.[33] When he can Wilkins prefers co-writing.[34] Generally Wilkins focuses on the music and the melody and collaborates with lyricists.[13]
Mixing and Engineering
Early in his career Wilkins worked under mixing engineer Mark "Spike" Stent of EMI.[33] Wilkins knows how to record and also professionally mix recordings.[12] Wilkins prefers to record an artist where they are most comfortable so he travels to where the artist is with portable gear.[34]
Gear
Wilkins' gear generally consists of an Apple Logic, a MacBook Pro and an Apogee Symphony Mobile System.[12] Wilkins has stated his gear allows him to record anywhere in the world.[34]
External links
References
- These Words | AllMusic
- These Words | Natasha Bedingfield Number Ones | Number One hits from the UK Singles Charts
- Natasha Bedingfield Album & Song Chart History | Billboard.com
- http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/search.aspx Archived 17 January 2010 at WebCite
- Natasha Bedingfield Scores Grammy Nomination @ Top40-Charts.com – Songs & Videos from 49 Top 20 & Top 40 Music Charts from 30 Countries
- Single | AllMusic
- Natasha Bedingfield – Single – Music Charts
- Sweet Dreams – Beyoncé | Billboard.com
- https://www.billboard.com/music/cheryl-cole/chart-history/
- Official Charts Company – Cheryl Cole – Fight For This Love
- (https://www.billboard.com/music/jordin-sparks/chart-history/
- "How to Write a Hit Song | Home Recording Tips, How To Record, Artist Recording Blogs | Apogee's Recording Blog". Archived from the original on 20 March 2011. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
- "Talking Shop With Grammy-Nominated Songwriter and Producer Wayne Wilkins – Part 1 | Serve The Song". Archived from the original on 13 January 2011. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
- 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/". Archived from the original on 31 December 2009. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
- "Pop Singer Keri Hilson Debut Album In a Perfect World is Certified... – SANTA MONICA, Calif., Oct. 23 /PRNewswire/". Archived from the original on 5 August 2011. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
- Keri Hilson | AllMusic
- T-Shirt [Main] | AllMusic
- "Career Timeline | // ShontelleOnline.com – #1 Source for Everything Shontelle! //". Archived from the original on 27 August 2011. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
- https://www.billboard.com/music/shontelle/chart-history/dance/club-play-songs
- "RIAA – Recording Industry Association of America". Archived from the original on 5 January 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
- "Nominees And Winners | GRAMMY.com". 30 April 2017. Archived from the original on 19 December 2010. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
- 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=Beyoncé
- https://www.billboard.com/music/jordin-sparks/chart-history/
- Jordin Sparks Album & Song Chart History | Billboard.com
- "RIAA – Recording Industry Association of America". Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
- Fight For This Love | AllMusic
- "BMI | Repertoire Search". Archived from the original on 24 January 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
- "Nominees And Winners | GRAMMY.com". 30 April 2017. Archived from the original on 19 December 2010. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
- Hit Music Producer & Songwriter Wayne Wilkins: Beyoncé Sweet Dreams, Jordin Sparks Battlefield
- "Talking Shop With Grammy-Nominated Songwriter and Producer Wayne Wilkins – Part 2 | Serve The Song". Archived from the original on 27 August 2011. Retrieved 1 May 2011.