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Wayne Wilkins

{{Short description|British record producer and songwriter}}

{{about|British record producer and songwriter|the Young Sheldon character, Coach Wayne Wilkins|Young Sheldon|the DC Comics character|Red Tool}}

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{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Wayne Wilkins

| image =

| caption =

| birth_name = Wayne Andrew Wilkins

| birth_place = Croydon, London, England

| genre = {{Flat list|

| occupation = {{Flat list|

  • Record producer
  • audio engineer
  • songwriter

}}

| years_active = 2000–present

| associated_acts = TYNI, Troy Noka, Contra, Rick Astley, Beyoncé, Cheryl Cole, Natasha Bedingfield, Leona Lewis, Gucci Mane, Wyclef, Westlife

| website = {{URL|waynewilkins.com}}

}}

Wayne Wilkins is a British record producer, songwriter, record engineer and record mixer. He has produced and written for artists such as Rick Astley ("Cry for Help"), Natasha Bedingfield ("These Words", "Single" and "Love Like This"), Beyoncé ("Sweet Dreams"), Cheryl Cole ("Fight For This Love", and "Promise This"), and Jordin Sparks ("Battlefield").{{Cite web | url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/271357-Wayne-Wilkins?sort=year%2Casc&limit=250&type=Credits&subtype=Production&filter_anv=0&page=1 | title=Wayne Wilkins | website=Discogs }}

Early life

Wilkins was born in Croydon, London.{{citation needed|date=September 2018}} He began taking piano lessons at the age of four.{{Cite web |url=http://record.apogeedigital.com/2010/05/where-logic-meets-creativity-recording-stories-from-producer-songwriter-hit-maker-wayne-wilkins/ |title=How to Write a Hit Song {{!}} Home Recording Tips, How To Record, Artist Recording Blogs {{!}} Apogee's Recording Blog |access-date=1 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110320040334/http://record.apogeedigital.com/2010/05/where-logic-meets-creativity-recording-stories-from-producer-songwriter-hit-maker-wayne-wilkins/ |archive-date=20 March 2011 |url-status=dead }} Wilkins earned a scholarship to a music conservatory as a child. Growing up, he played organ at cathedrals and other venues around London.

Wilkins went on to the Royal College of Music in London. Wilkins later graduated with a physics degree from Imperial College. While in college one of Wilkins early jobs was teaching piano. He also interned at Townhouse Studios and Olympic Studios where he received further training in engineering, mixing, and producing.{{Cite web |url=http://servethesong.net/talking-shop-with-grammy-nominated-songwriter-and-producer-wayne-wilkins/ |title=Talking Shop With Grammy-Nominated Songwriter and Producer Wayne Wilkins – Part 1 {{!}} Serve The Song |access-date=1 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110113021206/http://servethesong.net/talking-shop-with-grammy-nominated-songwriter-and-producer-wayne-wilkins/ |archive-date=13 January 2011 |url-status=dead }}

Career

While Wilkins was interning at Olympic Studios he got the opportunity to work for engineer Spike Stent. 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.soundonsound.com/people/secrets-mix-engineers-mark-spike-stent|title=Secrets Of The Mix Engineers: Mark 'Spike' Stent|website=Soundonsound.com|access-date=16 July 2020}} Working for Stent provided Wilkins the opportunity to program for the engineer and work on high-budget recordings. During his tenure with Stent, Wilkins worked with Timbaland, Oasis, Rodney Jerkins, Madonna, and U2. Wilkins worked on the No Doubt Rock Steady album which Wilkins said later afforded him higher-profile work opportunities. 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.

In 2000, Wilkins started working independently. The first band Wilkins produced after going independent was The Corrs.[http://www.thecorrswebsite.com/ The Corrs Official Website]

In May 2004, Natasha Bedingfield released "Single", a song co-written and co-produced by Wilkins.{{webarchive |date=24 September 2009 |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090924015932/http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/Search.aspx |access-date=March 11, 2023}}{{dl|date=March 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://top40-charts.com/news.php?nid=29097&string=Natasha|title=Natasha Bedingfield Scores Grammy Nomination|website=Top40-Charts.com|access-date=16 July 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/single-mt0014033540|title=Single – Natasha Bedingfield {{pipe}} Song Info {{pipe}} AllMusic|access-date=16 July 2020|via=www.allmusic.com}} Natasha Bedingfield followed with "These Words", which was released in August 2004.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/these-words-mt0013948228|title=These Words – Natasha Bedingfield {{pipe}} Song Info {{pipe}} AllMusic|access-date=16 July 2020|via=www.allmusic.com}} Wilkins co-wrote and co-produced another hit for Natasha Bedingfield, "Love Like This", which also featured Sean Kingston.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/love-like-this-mt0006548972|title=Love Like This – Natasha Bedingfield, Sean Kingston {{pipe}} Song Info {{pipe}} AllMusic|access-date=16 July 2020|via=www.allmusic.com}}[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=natasha bedingfield|chart=all}} Natasha Bedingfield Album & Song Chart History {{pipe}} Billboard.com]

Wilkins co-wrote and co-produced the 2008 single "Energy" with members of The Runaways, Sam Watters, Rico Love, and Louis Biancaniello.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/keri-hilson-mn0000664272|title=Keri Hilson {{pipe}} Biography, Albums, Streaming Links|website=AllMusic|access-date=16 July 2020}} Wilkins also co-wrote "We Break the Dawn" alongside Solange Knowles and Andrew Frampton for Michelle Williams's third album, Unexpected. He was also involved in creating the remix for the same song. In June 2008, Shontelle's "T-Shirt" was released. It was co-written by Wilkins.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/t-shirt-mt0019467683|title=T-Shirt – Shontelle {{pipe}} Song Info {{pipe}} AllMusic|access-date=16 July 2020|via=www.allmusic.com}} In November 2008, Beyoncé released her album, I Am... Sasha Fierce, which included Wilkins's production and co-written single "Sweet Dreams".{{Cite web |url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&title=I+Am+Sasha+Fierce&format=album&go=Search&perPage=50&artist=Beyonc%C3%A9 |title=RIAA – Recording Industry Association of America |website=Recording Industry Association of America |access-date=23 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105133924/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS |archive-date=5 January 2016 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}{{Cite web |url= http://www.grammy.com/nominees?year=2009&genre=All |title=Nominees And Winners {{pipe}} GRAMMY.com |access-date=1 May 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101206065013/http://www.grammy.com/nominees?year=2009&genre=All |archive-date= 6 December 2010 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all |date= 2017-04-30 }}[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=beyoncé|chart=all}} I Am...Sasha Fierce – Beyoncé {{pipe}} Billboard.com]

In 2009, he worked with Irish pop band Westlife on the track "Sound of a Broken Heart" included in their Where We Are album. Cheryl Cole released the single "Fight For This Love" in October 2009, taken from her album 3 Words.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/fight-for-this-love-mt0035409882|title=Fight for This Love – Cheryl {{pipe}} Song Info {{pipe}} AllMusic|access-date=16 July 2020|via=www.allmusic.com}} In July 2014, Cheryl Cole released the single "Crazy Stupid Love" from her fourth studio album. Wilkins co-wrote and co-produced the song, which also features British rapper Tinie Tempah.

Songwriting and gears

Wilkins has stated that he prefers to start with chord progressions as opposed to lyrics. He has said he attempts to be a "vessel" in which music flows out of him naturally. He prefers writing and producing together.{{Cite web|url=https://www.modernbeats.com/hit-talk/wayne-wilkins-keepin-it-simple/|title=Wayne Wilkins: Keepin' it Simple|access-date=16 July 2020}} He says that he tends to write simple lyrics and chords.{{Cite web |url=http://servethesong.net/talking-shop-with-grammy-nominated-songwriter-and-producer-wayne-wilkins-part-2/ |title=Talking Shop With Grammy-Nominated Songwriter and Producer Wayne Wilkins – Part 2 {{!}} Serve The Song |access-date=1 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110827013215/http://servethesong.net/talking-shop-with-grammy-nominated-songwriter-and-producer-wayne-wilkins-part-2/ |archive-date=27 August 2011 |url-status=dead }}

Early in his career, Wilkins worked under mixing engineer Mark "Spike" Stent of EMI. Wilkins usually records an artist by moving to their place with portable gear. Wilkins's gear generally consists of an Apple Logic, a MacBook Pro, and an Apogee Symphony Mobile System.

Singles

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
rowspan="2"| Year

! rowspan="2"| Single

! colspan="9"|Chart positions

! rowspan="2"| Album

style="font-size:smaller;"

! style="width:45px;"| AUS

! style="width:45px;"| FR

! style="width:45px;"| GER

! style="width:45px;"| IRE

! style="width:45px;"| UK

! style="width:45px;"| US Hot 100

! style="width:45px;"| US
R&B

! style="width:45px;"| US
Pop

! style="width:45px;"| US
Dance

|2001

| style="text-align:left;"| "Would You Be Happier?" (The Corrs)

| 47

| 61

| 81

| 26

| 14

| –

| –

| –

| –

| style="text-align:left;"| Best of The Corrs

rowspan="2"|2004

| style="text-align:left;"| "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield)

| 78

| –

| –

| 7

| 3

| 57

| –

| 38

| –

| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="3"| Unwritten

style="text-align:left;"| "These Words" (Natasha Bedingfield)

| 5

| 19

| 2

| 1

| 1

| 17

| –

| 9

| 35

|2005

| style="text-align:left;"| "I Bruise Easily" (Natasha Bedingfield)

| –

| –

| 46

| 17

| 12

| –

| –

| –

| –

rowspan="2"|2007

| style="text-align:left;"| "I Wanna Have Your Babies" (Natasha Bedingfield)

| 50

| –

| 39

| 8

| 7

| –

| –

| –

| –

| style="text-align:left;"| NB

style="text-align:left;"| "Love Like This" (Natasha Bedingfield ft. Sean Kingston)

| 77

| –

| 33

| 34

| 20

| 11

| –

| –

| 1

| style="text-align:left;"| Pocketful of Sunshine

rowspan="3"|2008

| style="text-align:left;"| "We Break the Dawn" (Michelle Williams)

| –

| –

| –

| –

| 47

| –

| –

| –

| 4

| style="text-align:left;"| Unexpected

style="text-align:left;"| "Energy" (Keri Hilson)

| 55

| –

| –

| –

| 43

| 78

| 21

| 72

| –

| style="text-align:left;"| In a Perfect World...

style="text-align:left;"| "T-Shirt" (Shontelle)

| –

| –

| –

| 26

| 6

| 36

| –

| –

| 1

| style="text-align:left;"| Shontelligence

rowspan="6"|2009

| style="text-align:left;"| "Battlefield" (Jordin Sparks)

| 4

| –

| 40

| 9

| 11

| 10

| –

| 6

| –

| style="text-align:left;"| Battlefield

style="text-align:left;"| "Sweet Dreams" (Beyoncé)

| 2

| –

| 8

| 4

| 5

| 10

| 48

| 2

| 1

| style="text-align:left;"| I Am... Sasha Fierce

style="text-align:left;"| "Touch My Hand" (David Archuleta)

| –

| –

| –

| –

| –

| –

| –

| –

| –

| style="text-align:left;"| David Archuleta

style="text-align:left;"| "Battle Cry" (Shontelle)

| –

| –

| –

| –

| 61

| –

| –

| –

| –

| style="text-align:left;"| Shontelligence

style="text-align:left;"| "Fight for This Love" (Cheryl Cole)

| 54

| 7

| 4

| 1

| 1

| –

| –

| –

| –

| style="text-align:left;"| 3 Words

style="text-align:left;"| "No More" (Cassie Davis)

| 90

| –

| –

| –

| –

| –

| –

| –

| –

| style="text-align:left;"| Differently

rowspan="2"|2010

| style="text-align:left;"| "Strip Me" (Natasha Bedingfield)

| –

| –

| –

| –

| –

| 91

| –

| –

| –

| style="text-align:left;"| Strip Me

style="text-align:left;"| "Promise This" (Cheryl Cole)

| 78

| –

| –

| 1

| 1

| –

| –

| –

| –

| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| Messy Little Raindrops

|2011

| style="text-align:left;"| "The Flood" (Cheryl Cole)

| –

| –

| –

| 26

| 18

| –

| –

| –

| –

|2014

| style="text-align:left;"| "Crazy Stupid Love" (Cheryl Cole ft. Tinie Tempah)

| 43

| 172

| –

| 1

| 1

| –

| –

| –

| –

| style="text-align:left;"| Only Human

|2019

| style="text-align:left;"| "Racing Cars" (Ruti Olajugbagbe)

| -

| -

| –

| -

| 49

| –

| –

| –

| –

| style="text-align:left;"| Racing Cars

Awards and nominations

  • 2005 BMI London Award for "These Words"{{Cite web |url=http://repertoire.bmi.com/writer.asp?page=1&blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&fromrow=1&torow=25&affiliation=PRS&cae=294529627&keyID=1055999&keyname=WILKINS+WAYNE+ANDREW&querytype=WriterID |title=BMI {{!}} Repertoire Search |access-date=1 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160124134738/http://repertoire.bmi.com/writer.asp?page=1&blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&fromrow=1&torow=25&affiliation=PRS&cae=294529627&keyID=1055999&keyname=WILKINS+WAYNE+ANDREW&querytype=WriterID |archive-date=24 January 2016 |url-status=dead }}
  • 2006 BMI London Award for "Single"
  • 2007 BMI London Award for "Love Like This"
  • 2008 BMI Pop Award for "Love Like This"
  • 2008 BMI London Award for "T-Shirt"
  • 2009 BMI Pop Award for "Battlefield"
  • 2010 BMI London Award for "Battlefield"
  • 2010 BMI London Award for "Sweet Dreams"

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilkins, Wayne}}

Category:Living people

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Alumni of Imperial College London

Category:Alumni of the Royal College of Music

Category:British Asian musicians

Category:English record producers

Category:English male songwriters

Category:English people of Indian descent

Category:Mixing engineers

Category:Musicians from the London Borough of Croydon