Brian West (record producer)
Brian West (born March 12, 1971) is a Canadian record producer, songwriter, and musician.[1] Formerly of the production team Track and Field, he is best known for his work with Nelly Furtado, Maroon 5, Awolnation, K'naan, and Bono. He co-produced Andy Grammer's single Honey, I'm Good with Steve Greenberg and Nolan Sipe. His most recent release, "Salted Wound," sung by Sia, is on the Fifty Shades of Grey soundtrack. West has been nominated for an Academy Award, two Grammy Awards and has won seven Juno Awards. West is a guitarist for the Canadian band The Philosopher Kings.
Brian West | |
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| Background information | |
| Also known as | Sweet Westy, Field from Track & Field |
| Born | March 12, 1971 Sarnia, Ontario, Canada |
| Origin | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
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| Instrument(s) |
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| Years active | 1994–present |
| Website | sweetwesty |
Life and career
West began his career as the lead guitarist for Toronto-based band The Philosopher Kings in 1994.[2] After achieving some commercial success in the late 1990s and winning a Canadian Juno Award with the group,[3] he began to produce music for other artists, partnering up with Kings lead singer Gerald Eaton to produce Nelly Furtado's debut album, Whoa, Nelly![4] The project garnered a Grammy nomination for West's production and a win for Furtado, as well as several Juno Awards. Working as a production duo under the name Track and Field, together West and Eaton co-wrote and co-produced Furtado's follow-up album Folklore and two albums with Somali Canadian rapper K'Naan, landing themselves several more Junos.[5] Before long, West branched off into solo production, now producing and writing alongside such notable artists as Maroon 5, Awolnation, K'Naan, Nakia, and Bono.
His work has been featured on soundtracks for a number of films, including Fifty Shades of Grey, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, 20 Feet from Stardom, The Italian Job, Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay, and Brokedown Palace, among others.
Selected discography
| Year | Artist | Album | Details | Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Bryan Ellis | The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones soundtrack; forthcoming album | Producer, writer, engineer, musician ("Strange Days" on film soundtrack; "Days of the Summer")[6] | Universal Republic |
| Nakia | Drown In The Crimson Tide | Producer, writer, musician ("Walking On A Slant")[7] | Something Music | |
| Judith Hill | 20 Feet from Stardom soundtrack | Producer, writer, engineer, musician ("Desperation") | Columbia Records | |
| 2012 | Maroon 5 | Overexposed | Producer, writer, musician ("Man Who Never Lied")[8] | A&M/Octone |
| Judith Hill | Spike Lee's Red Hook Summer soundtrack | Producer, writer, engineer, musician ("Desperation") | 40 Acres and a Mule Musicworks | |
| K'Naan | Country, God or the Girl | Producer, writer, engineer, musician ("Bulletproof Pride" featuring Bono, "Simple," "70 Excuses")[8] | A&M/Octone | |
| 2011 | Paper Tongues | Paper Tongues | Producer, writer, engineer, musician ("Ride To California," "Trinity," "Get Higher," "For the People," "Love Like You")[8] | A&M/Octone |
| Marlon Roudette | Matter Fixed | Producer, writer, engineer, musician ("Storyline")[8] | Universal Germany | |
| Alysha Brillinger | Forthcoming album | Producer, writer, engineer, musician ("Better Soon," "Boy Ho," "Sorry") | Lava/Universal | |
| He Met Her | Forthcoming album | Producer, writer, engineer, musician ("Be Ok," "Moon Cafe") | ||
| Awolnation | Megalithic Symphony | Producer, writer, engineer, musician ("Kill Your Heroes")[8] | Red Bull Records | |
| Darren Hayes (singer of Savage Garden) | Secret Codes and Battleships | Producer, writer, engineer, musician ("Cruel Cruel World," "Explode," "Tiny Little Flashlights")[8] | ||
| 2010 | Bonnie Pink | Dear Diary | Producer, engineer, musician ("World Peace") | Warner Music Japan |
| 2009 | Nelly Furtado | Mi Plan | Producer ("Sueños" featuring Alejandro Fernández) | Universal Music Latino |
| K'Naan | Troubadour | Producer, writer, engineer, musician (11 tracks)[8] | A&M/Octone | |
| Bonnie Pink | One | Producer, engineer, musician ("Mo-So-Lover," "Play and Pause," "Get on the Bus") | Warner Music Japan | |
| 2006 | Stacie Orrico | Beautiful Awakening | Producer, writer, engineer, musician ("Beautiful Awakening)[8] | Virgin Records |
| Philosopher Kings | Castles | Member, writer, musician, producer, engineer (14 tracks) | Sony BMG Canada | |
| 2005 | K'Naan | The Dusty Foot Philosopher | Producer, writer, engineer, musician (10 tracks)[8] | Sony BMG |
| Esthero | Wikked Lil' Grrrls | Producer, writer, engineer, musician ("O.G. Bitch," "Junglebook" featuring Andre 3000)[8] | Reprise/WEA | |
| 2004 | Various Artists | Perfecto Chills Vol. 2 | Producer, writer, remixer ("Try" by Nelly Furtado featuring the Kronus Quartet) | Thrive Records |
| 2003 | Nelly Furtado | Folklore | Producer, writer, engineer, musician (10 tracks)[8] | DreamWorks |
| Kazzer | The Italian Job soundtrack | Writer ("Pedal to the Medal") | Paramount Pictures | |
| 2000 | Nelly Furtado | Whoa, Nelly! | Producer, writer, engineer, musician (11 tracks, including "I'm Like a Bird" and "Turn Off the Light")[8] | DreamWorks |
| 1997 | Philosopher Kings | Famous, Rich and Beautiful | Member, musician, writer (13 tracks)[8] | Sony BMG Canada |
| 1994 | Philosopher Kings | Philosopher Kings | Member, musician, writer (12 tracks)[8] | Sony BMG Canada |
Awards and nominations
- 2013 – Best Pop Vocal Album (Maroon 5, Overexposed): Nominated[9]
- 2002 – Producer of the Year, Non-Classical: Nominated[1]
- 2010 – Best Female Pop Vocal Album (Nelly Furtado, Mi Plan): Won
- 2010 – Artist of the Year (K'Naan): Won[10]
- 2006 – Rap Recording of the Year (K'Naan, The Dusty Foot Philosopher): Won
- 2004 – Single of the Year (Nelly Furtado, "Powerless (Say What You Want)"): Won[11]
- 2001 – Best Producer: Won[12]
- 2001 – Best Single (Nelly Furtado, "I'm Like a Bird"): Won[12]
- 2001 – Best New Solo Artist (Nelly Furtado): Won[12]
- 1996 – Best New Group (The Philosopher Kings): Won[13]
- 2010 – SOCAN Award for No. 1 song (K'Naan, "Take a Minute"): Won[14]
References
- "Complete list of Grammy nominations". The Seattle Times. January 4, 2002. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
- "The Philosopher Kings biography". Retrieved January 10, 2013.
- Canadian Press (February 1, 1996). "Juno nominees reflect success of female singers". The Globe and Mail. pp. D2.
- Christie, Rod (January 1, 2004). "Producer perspective: Brian West". Archived from the original on November 5, 2013. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
- Barclay, Michael (2003) "Furtado shocks skeptics; Folklore proves Nelly deserved Juno; she's not just a spunky flash in the pan", Daily Mercury, December 18, 2003, p. F6
- "The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones soundtrack on Barnes & Noble". Retrieved August 24, 2013.
- "Nakia readies 'Down in the Crimson Tide' EP for March 5 release". Retrieved February 1, 2013.
- "Brian West on AllMusic.com". Retrieved January 10, 2013.
- "Grammy nominees 2013". Archived from the original on February 1, 2012. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
- "Juno Awards: 2010 Artist of the Year". Retrieved January 10, 2013.
- "Juno Awards: 2004 Single of the Year". Retrieved January 10, 2013.
- Juno Awards of 2001
- Juno Awards of 1996
- "SOCAN honours K'naan with two SOCAN No. 1 Song Awards". SOCAN.ca. September 29, 2010. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved January 13, 2010.