Daniel Wilson is an American singer, songwriter and record producer from Ypsilanti, Michigan, United States. His debut EP, Young Rubbish, was released in 2014 by the London-based record label Zap Records, and featured production credits by Sam Billen and Ryan Pinkston. His latest EP release, Boy Who Cried Thunder, was released in November 2014 also on Zap Records. In 2016, he contributed with The Weeknd in co-writing and producing "Sidewalks", featuring vocals from Kendrick Lamar, which appears in his third album, entitled Starboy. In 2020, he released the single Near Me, which he co-wrote and produced with Andrew Horowitz and Elliot Jacobson. He has also worked with notable artists, producers and musicians such as Miguel, Twin Shadow, Joe Goddard, ZHU, DJ Dahi, Leo Abrahams among many others.
Biography Growing up "on a diet of gospel, Christian music, musicals and '90s MTV", Daniel Wilson started his musical trajectory at the age of 13 in a gospel choir. His first solo compositions came to life in 2008 using his mother's old tape recorder and, eventually, switching to cheap computer software. The artist was signed by London-based music label Zap Records in 2013.
Music Wilson's music can be described as a sort of "indie-ish synthetic R&B, in parts electronic and ecclesiastic", while his particular crooning skills grant him a "rare, elastic falsetto". Musical influences range from Michael and Janet Jackson, Prince, Mariah Carey, and gospel music, and his music can be compared to those recorded by acts including Blood Orange, Bloc Party, and TV on the Radio.
Discography
EPs Young Rubbish (2014), Zap Records Boy Who Cried Thunder (2014), Zap Records Sinner of The Week (2016), Zap Records
Songwriting and production discography Title Year Artist(s) Album Credits Written with: Produced with: "Home" 2016 Aurora All My Demons GreetingMe as a Friend Co-writer Thomas Hull - "Sidewalks" The Weeknd Starboy Co-writer/Additional producer Abel Tesfaye, Martin McKinney, Robert John Richardson, Kendrick Lamar Duckworth, Ali Shaheed Jones-Muhammad Doc McKinney, Bobby Raps, Ali Shaheed Muhammad "Home" 2017 Joe Goddard Electric Lines Co-writer/Featured artist Joseph Goddard, Gerald Kent - "Ouch" Phlake Weird Invitations Co-writer Jonathan Elkær, Mads Bo Iversen, Gisli Gislason - "Gone" Jonathan Elkær, Mads Bo Inversen, Alina Baraz - "IKEA Episodes" Jonathan Elkær, Mads Bo Iversen, Gisli Gislason, Scott Effman - "A Weird Invitation" Jonathan Elkær, Mads Bo Iversen - "The Rascal" Jonathan Elkær, Mads Bo Iversen - "I Don't Wanna Die Sane" Jonathan Elkær, Mads Bo Iversen, Alina Baraz - "Brush" Jonathan Elkær, Mads Bo Iversen, Gisli Gislason, JP Saxe, Robin Hannibal - "maybeDOTcom" Jonathan Elkær, Mads Bo Iversen - "Kerosome" Jonathan Elkær, Mads Bo Iversen, Gisli Gislason - "Winnebago" 2018 Gryffin Featured artist/Co-writer Daniel Griffith, Luke Niccoli, Justin Raisen, Jeremih Raisen - "Guilty Love" Zhu Ringos Desert Co-writer Steven Zhu, Mitch Bell - "Burn Babylon" Featured artist/Co-writer Steven Zhu, Mitch Bell, Kezmandi McDonald, Aron Leibowitz - "Paper Dreams" Jamie N Commons rowspan="2" Co-writer Jamie N Commons, Samuel de Jong - "G.A.L." Touch Sensitive Featured artist/Co-writer Michael Di Francesco, Ivan More, Angela Winbush, Margaret Rogers, Greg Kurstin - "Sanctuary"2019 Joji Nectar Co-writerJustin Raisen, Luke Niccoli, George Miller - "Run" 2020Justin Parker, George Miller - "High Hopes"George Miller, Omar Apollo, Caloway, Bēkon - "Afterthought"George Miller, Stella Bennett, Isaac Sleator -
References