Introduction
Brian West (born March 12, 1971) is a Canadian record producer, songwriter, and musician. Formerly of the production team Track and Field as well as Canadian band The Philosopher Kings, 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. He is based in Los Angeles. West has been nominated for an Academy Award, two Grammy Awards and has won seven Juno Awards.
Life and career
West began his career as the lead guitarist for Toronto-based band The Philosopher Kings in 1994. After achieving some commercial success in the late 1990s and winning a Canadian Juno Award with the group, 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! 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. 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: Salted Wound sung by Sia, 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") | Universal Republic |
| Nakia | Drown In The Crimson Tide | Producer, writer, musician ("Walking On A Slant") | 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") | 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") | A&M/Octone | |
| 2011 | Paper Tongues | Paper Tongues | Producer, writer, engineer, musician (“Ride To California,” “Trinity,” “Get Higher,” “For the People,” “Love Like You”) | A&M/Octone |
| Marlon Roudette | Matter Fixed | Producer, writer, engineer, musician ("Storyline") | 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") | Red Bull Records | |
| Darren Hayes (singer of Savage Garden) | Secret Codes and Battleships | Producer, writer, engineer, musician (“Cruel Cruel World,” “Explode,” “Tiny Little Flashlights”) | ||
| 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) | 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) | 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) | Sony BMG |
| Esthero | Wikked Lil' Grrrls | Producer, writer, engineer, musician ("O.G. Bitch," "Junglebook" featuring Andre 3000) | 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) | 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") | Dreamworks |
| 1997 | Philosopher Kings | Famous, Rich and Beautiful | Member, musician, writer (13 tracks) | Sony BMG Canada |
| 1994 | Philosopher Kings | Philosopher Kings | Member, musician, writer (12 tracks) | Sony BMG Canada |
Awards and nominations
Grammy Awards
- 2013 – Best Pop Vocal Album (Maroon 5, Overexposed): Nominated
- 2002 – Producer of the Year, Non-Classical: Nominated
Latin Grammy Awards
- 2010 – Best Female Pop Vocal Album (Nelly Furtado, Mi Plan): Won
Juno Awards
- 2010 – Artist of the Year (K'Naan): Won
- 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
- 2001 – Best Producer: Won
- 2001 – Best Single (Nelly Furtado, "I'm Like a Bird"): Won
- 2001 – Best New Solo Artist (Nelly Furtado): Won
- 1996 – Best New Group (The Philosopher Kings): Won
SOCAN Awards
- 2010 – SOCAN Award for No. 1 song (K'Naan, "Take a Minute"): Won
- "Grammy nominees 2013". Archived from the original on 2012-02-01. Retrieved 2013-01-10.
- "Juno Awards: 2010 Artist of the Year". Retrieved 2013-01-10.
- "Juno Awards: 2004 Single of the Year". Retrieved 2013-01-10.
- ^ "2001 Juno Awards". Retrieved 2013-01-10.
- "1996 Juno Awards". Retrieved 2010-01-13.
- "SOCAN honours K'naan with two SOCAN No. 1 Song Awards". SOCAN.ca. 2010-09-29. Retrieved 2010-01-13.