Dan Black | |
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 Black withThe Servant live in Rome, 2007 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Daniel Emmett Black[1] |
| Born | (1975-11-16)16 November 1975 (age 49) Newcastle upon Tyne, England |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Labels | |
| Website | www |
Daniel Edward Black (born 16 November 1975) is an English singer-songwriter and vocalist. He was a member ofalternative rock bandthe Servant, before their split in 2007. He is also a vocalist for the Italian British groupPlanet Funk. After releasing his breakthrough song "HYPNTZ", he signed to The:Hours, releasing his first two singles – "Alone" and "Yours" – in 2008. The following year, he released his most commercially successful single to date, "Symphonies".
Black was originally a guitarist inMinty, the former band of the lateLeigh Bowery. He was also a founding member ofMassive Ego, a late addition to theRomo scene,[6] of which Minty had previously been cited as a core band by music magazineMelody Maker.[7] Black was later the lead singer and rhythm guitarist ofalternative rock bandthe Servant. He was a member of the band from their conception in 1998 to their split in 2007.
In 2008, Black released a solo single, "HYPNTZ". The song's lyrics were taken from rapperThe Notorious B.I.G.'s "Hypnotize", while its instrumental sampled a cover of "Starman" by theCity of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra andApple Inc's "Vintage Funk Kit 03".[8] used. The single received positive reviews, with one critic commenting: "It achieves its magic formula in a manner that is both arbitrary and obvious, which is a part of its brilliance. The Umbrella break + Starman soundtrack + a beautiful melodic rendering of a gangsta rap staple: we know exactly what has been done here, and this is why it sounds so good".[9] However, before a planned music video could be shot, The Notorious B.I.G.'s estate informed Black's team of their objection to the use of the "Hypnotize" lyrics. The "HYPNTZ" single was consequently taken out of circulation and the video scrapped.
Black later signed a deal with The:Hours, releasing two singles, "Alone" and "Yours". He gained further popularity in 2009 when his track "U + Me =" was chosen as the UKiTunes Store's "Free Single of the Week". It was later used as the signature tune forBBC Switch'sThe Cut. Signing a deal withA&M, his debut albumUN was released on 13 July 2009.[10] The album was preceded by a single, "Symphonies", which was released after a successful performance atGlastonbury 2009 in theJohn Peel Tent. Black also performed on the Freeze:Freesports on 4 main stage atLondonBattersea Power Station in November that year.[11] Other acts performing at the same event wereFriendly Fires andChase & Status.
"Symphonies" was released as the U.S. iTunes "Single of the Week" for the week of 28 December 2009, and the video was released on iTunes for free for the week of 15 March 2010.UN was released in the United States on 16 February 2010, containing threebonus tracks, including a remix of "Symphonies" with American rapperKid Cudi.[12] "Symphonies" was serviced to Americanalternative formatted radio stations in its original version, peaking at #34 on theBillboardAlternative Songs chart. The "Symphonies" video was nominated forBest Special Effects in a Video andBreakthrough Video at the2010 MTV Video Music Awards, but lost in both categories. Symphonies was also put onto the popular video gameNBA 2K11
"Symphonies" also won the coveted prize "The Christmas Song" in 2010.
Black toured the U.S. and U.K in February 2010, including a showcase performance in March at SXSW 2010 inAustin, Texas.[13] He also performed at Camp nou in 2011, and at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in October 2010, and was captured "photobombing" a number of attendees.
In 2011, he was featured onKaskade's album,Fire and Ice on the track "Ice".
On 31 July 2012, Black released "Raw", a single promoting the newAbsolut flavor ofvodka, Caipiroska. In 2012, Black's production was featured on American record labelGOOD Music'scompilation albumCruel Summer, on the song "Creepers", performed by Kid Cudi.
Black's second studio album was tentatively set for release in 2013 with the original lead single "Hearts" dropping in mid-2013.[14] That same year, Black stated the working title isDo Not Revenge.[14] In February 2017, Dan Black began teasing the release of the album.[15] The album was released on 7 July 2017.
The following songs and albums were written and/or produced by Black for other artists.
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