Blonde were an English deep house production duo from Bristol, consisting of Jacob Manson and Adam Englefield.New Noise Blonde, Wonderland Magazine, Retrieved 21 November 2014. The group were signed to Parlophone.Blonde sign with Parlophone , Parlophone.co.uk, retrieved 21 November 2014.
Musical career Blonde premiered the track "It's You" via Englefield's dance music YouTube channel Eton Messy in July 2013. In May 2014, Blonde released their debut single "Foolish", which features vocals from Ryan Ashley. In July 2014, they released their second single "Higher Ground", which features vocals from Charli Taft. They came to prominence in the UK after BBC Radio 1 playlisted their single "I Loved You", which the station named their track of the day in October 2014BBC Radio One Twitter feed, retrieved 22 November 2014.BBC Radio 1 playlist, BBC, retrieved 22 November 2014. and was heavily praised by Radio 1 DJ Greg James on his dance anthems programme.BBC Radio One's Dance Anthems Friday 17 October Music Playlist, BBC, retrieved 21 November 2014. "I Loved You", which features reggae and pop singer Melissa Steel, and received favourable coverage in Clash and Heat magazines.Blonde's Bonfire Night Bangers, Clash Magazine, retrieved 21 November 2014, Sarah's Shiny New Thing : Blonde - I Loved You, Heat Magazine. Retrieved 21 November 2014 The song entered the UK Singles Chart at number seven and the Scottish Singles Chart at number ten.
Blonde released a fourth single, "All Cried Out", featuring vocals from Glee actor Alex Newell; it reached number four in the UK. The duo's fifth single, "Feel Good (It's Alright)", features Karen Harding.
When it came into 2016, they collaborated with returning record producer and star to the music industry Craig David on the song "Nothing Like This". It was part of David's collaborative period which included artists such as Big Narstie, Katy B and Kaytranada and is also a single off of his sixth studio album, entitled Following My Intuition.
Blonde also featured as well as co-written Imani Williams's debut single, entitled "Don't Need No Money", alongside rising house record producer and DJ Sigala. Together, they took part in first ever major featured project as independent musicians. Imani got the inspiration of the track after she exploded into the music industry with Sigala on his 2016 single "Say You Do", alongside drum and bass music producer DJ Fresh.
They also co-wrote the Rudimental and Ed Sheeran song "Lay It All on Me" with Johnny Harris and James Newman. The song was originally conceived in a session between Blonde, Harris and Newman before being pitched to Rudimental. Ed Sheeran was later brought in on the track and re-wrote the break of the song.
Discography Singles As lead artist Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album UKPeaks in the UK: All except noted: "Don't Need No Money": UK Dance AUTAustriancharts.at – Blonde feat. Melissa Steel – I Loved You Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 11 February 2015. BEL(FL)Ultratop.be – Blonde feat. Melissa Steel – I Loved You Ultratop 50. Retrieved 11 February 2015. GEROfficialcharts.de – Blonde feat. Melissa Steel – I Loved You GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 9 February 2015. IRE SCOArchive Chart: 2014-12-13 Scottish Singles Top 40. Retrieved 7 December 2014. SWISwisscharts.com – Blonde feat. Melissa Steel – I Loved You Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 8 February 2015. "Foolish"(featuring Ryan Ashley) 2014 — — — 82 — — — — rowspan="5" "Higher Ground"(featuring Charli Taft) — — — — — — — — "I Loved You"(featuring Melissa Steel) 7 5 60 31 25 65 10 56 BPI: Platinum "All Cried Out"(featuring Alex Newell) 2015 4 1 — 59 — 74 4 — BPI: 2× Platinum "Feel Good (It's Alright)"(featuring Karen Harding) 76 19 — 99 — — 50 — "Nothing Like This"(with Craig David) 2016 15 5 — 94 — 34 10 — BPI: Platinum Following My Intuition "Just for One Night"(featuring Astrid S) 2017 — — — — — — — — rowspan="3" "Me, Myself & I"(featuring Bryn Christopher) 2018 — — — — — — — — "Good Life"(with Elderbrook) 2023 — — — — — — — — "—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released.
Under the "Eton Messy" label TitleYearAlbum "Talk To You" 2012 rowspan="4" "Be Mine"2013 "It's You" "Cast A Spell"(with Pianoman) 2015
As featured artist Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album UK AUS "Give Me Your Love": AUT IRE ITA NLD NZ SCO SWE SWI "Don't Need No Money"(Imani Williams featuring Sigala and Blonde) 2016 67 — — 77 — — — 49 — — "—" denotes single that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Songwriting and production credits Title Year Artist(s) Album ContributedMember(s) Credits Written with Produced with "Real" 2015 Brayton Bowman The Update EP Jacob Manson Co-writer/Producer Brayton Bowman, Uzoechi Emenike, Ryan Campbell MNEK "Lay It All on Me" Rudimental We the Generation Jacob Manson, Adam Englefield Co-writer Amir Izadkhah, Piers Aggett, Kesi Dryden, James Newman, Edward Sheeran, Gavin Slate, Leon "DJ Locksmith" Rolle, Lasse Petersen, Maxwell McElligott, Jonathan Harris, James Luke Wood - "Don't Need No Money" 2016 Imani Williams Jacob Manson Featured artist/Co-writer/Producer Imani Williams, Bruce Fielder, Patrizia Helander, Hampus Lindvall Sigala, TROSS "Don't Ask" 2017 Matt Terry Trouble Co-writer Matthew Terry, Duck Blackwell, Andrew Jackson - "Somebody Like Me" 2018 Craig David The Time is Now Co-writer/Producer Craig David, Che Grant - "Answerphone" Banx & Ranx Co-writer Zacharie Raymond, Yannick Rastogi, Ella McMahon, Shakka Philip, Guystone Menga - "Used to Love You" Anne-Marie Speak Your Mind Producer - Fraser T Smith, LostBoy, Jennifer Decilveo "Hooked" Why Don't We 8 Letters Co-writer/Producer Philip Plested - "Just My Type" The Vamps Night & Day (Day Edition) Connor Ball, Tristan Evans, James McVey, Bradford Simpson, Alexander James, Iain Farquharson, James Abrahart, Philip Plested, Tobias Tripp, Dale Anthoni - "Talk Later" Connor Ball, Tristan Evans, James McVey, Bradford Simpson, Richard Boardman, Pablo Bowman, Sarah Blanchard Bradford Simpson "Loyal" Paloma Faith The Architect: ZeitgeistEdition Paloma Faith, Jamie Miller, Max Wolfgang Chris Loco "Getaway" Syn Cole Co-writer Rene Pais, Nicholas Gale, Gina Kushka, Edward Drewett - "Lotta Love" 2019 Jack & Jack A Good Friend Is Nice Co-writer/Producer Andrew Jackson, Adam Argyle Jussifer "I Don't Belong in This Club" Why Don't We Zak Zilesnick, Maxwell Wolfgang, Benjamin Haggerty - "The Road" Leo Kalyan rowspan="4" Kashif Siddiqui, Uzoechi Emenike Leo Kalyan "Brixton" Jelani Blackman Jelani Blackman - "Too Hot" Jason Derulo Jason Desrouleaux - "Long Way to Go" Four of Diamonds Amy Allen, Scott Friedman - "F It Up" Jason Derulo 2Sides (Side 1) Jason Desreuloux, Johnny Mitchell, Rosina Russell - "Talk About Us" Jason Desreuloux, Johnny Mitchell, Rosina Russell, Stephanie Allen - "Modern Anxiety" Josef Salvat rowspan="2" Producer - Josef Salvat, Rich Cooper, Banx & Ranx "Alone" - Josef Salvat, Rich Cooper "Houdini" 2020 KSI Dissimulation Co-writer/Producer Olajide Olatunji, Brandon Scott, Dennis Odunwo, Emmanuel Isong, AJ AJ
References