David Sneddon
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| David Sneddon | |
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 David at HighBarn gig December 2006. Photo by Pauline Keightley
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| Background information | |
| Origin |  Scotland |
| Genre(s) | Pop, Acoustic, Indie |
| Years active | 2003–present |
David Sneddon (born 15 September 1978, in Paisley, Scotland) is a British pop singer-songwriter. He won the first BBC UK series of Fame Academy in 2002. Sneddon released his single 'Stop Living The Lie' which was a number one hit single selling over 250,000 copies, and making it the 12th highest selling single of the year. His debut album, Seven Years - Ten Weeks, released in April 2003, entered the UK Albums Chart at number 5. In 2007 he has been writing for many top names in the music industry. Sneddon hosted an all-sports show 'Keep Off The Grass' on BBC Radio Scotland in June 2007. He is a keen Rangers FC supporter. David released a 5-track EP called "White Noise" in January 2007, which topped the Indiestore charts for 3 months. In January 2008 the EP returned to the top of the charts a year after it's release. [1] He is currently signed to Universal Music as a songwriter, and describes his music as 'melody-driven indie pop' [2].
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[edit] Origins
David Sneddon enjoyed performing in musicals from a young age, and when his parents bought him a piano he discovered he loved 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 huge influence. He studied music at school, won several talent competitions and played lead roles in musicals both at school and at PACE Youth drama. "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.".........?"[3]
After attending The University of Paisley for a year, Sneddon decided to pursue a career in music. He was offered several opportunities, a musical in London, and a part in a young boy band called Arena. He performed in musicals and sang with bands in Scotland for several years. He also 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 was acting Juliet's father. After playing some acoustic nights together at the Tron in Glasgow in 2001, they decided to start a band, and called themselves The Martians.
[edit] Music Career and Achievements
[edit] Performing
Sneddon was performing with The Martians in the summer of 2002, when he decided to enter the BBC Fame Academy show. He made the final stages in London after auditioning in Glasgow, but was not selected for one of the final eleven places. On the first show he came second to Sinéad Quinn in a public vote for the last remaining place. However when another contestant Naomi Roper pulled out due to illness, he was offered her place and entered the program two weeks late. Playing a game of catch up Sneddon went on to win over the public vote on the TV show each week. After performing one of his own songs at the piano "Stop living The Lie" he was made the grade A student that week, and made it through to the final show. David was the academy's most prolific songwriter, writing at least one song a week. He was voted as the most inspirational and original writer by fellow students.
Sneddon won the BBC Fame Academy Final with 3.5 million of the 6 million public votes, competing against Sinéad Quinn and Lemar Obika in December 2002.
He signed to Mercury Records in December 2002, and shot his first video at Abbey Road Studios. David's first single "Stop Living The Lie", which he wrote when he was 17, stayed at #1 in the UK Singles Chart for two weeks in January 2003, and was in the top 40 for nine weeks. David is the only artist from a reality TV show to have a no.1 hit single with a self-written song.
His debut album, "Seven Years Ten Weeks" which refers to David's seven years of struggling and his ten weeks on the TV show, was released in April and entered the UK album chart at #5. The album was produced by Hugh Padgham, and recorded with Elton John's band; it contains all original material written by David, and some co-writes with John Kielty. There was a Scottish album launch, for the release on April 27, when David performed 7 gigs in 10 hours all over Scotland.
Throughout 2003 David 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. David also performed on TV many times, including the BBCs famous 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 [4]
Sneddon left Mercury Records and signed a publishing deal with Universal Music in October 2003. David 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..........?"[3]
David began to focus mainly on his songwriting, sometimes with John Kielty. He returned to performing in 2004 and 2005 as the lead-singer with indie-rock band The Sham. They played a number of gigs in London, Scotland and the North of England, and headlined at the Hogmanay Celebrations in Aberdeen. The Sham included Ed Carlile(drums),Si Jones(guitar), Jake Gosling(keys), John Kielty(guitar) & Jay Mein(bass).
In July 2006 he showcased his new songs in a series of intimate, acoustic gigs with John Kielty in London, Essex and Scotland.
John moved to San Francisco in January 2007 to continue his acting and writing career there. In July 2006 John, along with brothers James and Gerry, The Martians (band), won the "Highland Quest For A New Musical" with "The Sundowe". The musical was produced by Cameron Mackintosh, of Cats and Les Miserables fame and premiered at Eden Court Inverness before touring the Highlands in late 2007 and early 2008.
Sneddon released a 5-track EP called "White Noise" in January 2007. His first recorded work for several years. The 'White Noise’ Ep topped the Indie charts for 3 months – at No.1 for over a month, and then staying at No. 3 for another month. It was recorded in 'one live acoustic take' and has melody-driven piano songs. TRACKS: White Noise, Time, Lady Lullaby, One Old Soul and Wish You Well. [5]
In 2007 Sneddon played occasional acoustic gigs with backing guitarist David Mullins. In August 2007 he performed 3 Sold out show at the Jazz Bar Edinburgh Festival to good reviews. He performs his own acoustic songs and describes his music as 'melody driven'. "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."
In January 2008 Sneddon's 2007 EP "White Noise" returned to the top of the Indie store charts exactly a year after it was released. [6]
[edit] Songwriting
Sneddon co-wrote the international hit “The Message” for UK soul artist Nate James which was released as a single in the UK in 2005, and was also a track on Nate’s debut album “Set The Tone”. It charted in Italy and Japan in 2006.
In October 2003 Sneddon's single, Baby Get Higher, made the UK Singles Chart, and this song has subsequently achieved chart success. In November 2003 the dance label Almighty Records produced an exclusive promo remix, which proved to be hit on the dance floor. The label then recorded a version featuring Belle Lawrence, which has been included on several dance compilation albums. In November 2006 this song was a Singles chart hit for Dutch artist Van Velzen. Sneddon had four songs picked up by other artists worldwide in 2006. Sneddon has been writing with young soul singer Julian Perretta in 2007, who is now signed to Sony BMG and is touring with Mark Ronson.
In 2007 and 2008 Sneddon has been writing and producing in their London studio with guitarist and producer Jay Mein.
- Awards - Nordoff Robins Award for Contribution to music 2003.
- Radio Forth (Forth One) Best Newcomer award 2003.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Album
Seven Years - Ten Weeks (2003) #5 UK
TRACKS:
- "Best Of Order"
- "Time To Fall Down"
- "Stop Living The Lie"
- "All My Life"
- "Follow Me"
- "Don't Let Go"
- "The Bluebird"
- "Lazy"
- "OK"
- "Without You"
- "Neverland"
- "Long Time Coming"
[edit] EP
White Noise (2007) #1 in indiestore.com chart
TRACKS:
- "White Noise"
- "Time"
- "Lady Lullaby"
- "One Old Soul"
- "Wish You Well"
[edit] Singles
- "Stop Living The Lie" (2003) #1 UK
- "Don't Let Go" (2003) #3 UK
- "Best Of Order" (2003) #19 UK
- "Baby Get Higher" (2003) #38 UK
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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