Paul Epworth

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Paul Richard Epworth (born 25 July 1974)^[1] is an English record producer, musician, and songwriter. His work with artists include Adele, Florence and the Machine, Rihanna and Maxïmo Park amongst many others. He is a member of the Music Producers Guild and is the founder and owner of the independent record label Wolf Tone, having released music from Glass Animals, Rosie Lowe and The Horrors. He has won 'Producer of the Year' at the BRIT Awards three times, the most recent in 2015.^[2][3]

He has won five Grammy Awards, as well as the Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Skyfall".^[4] He released his debut studio album Voyager in 2020.

Career[]

Lomax[]

From 2002 to 2004, Epworth provided lead vocals and guitar for the band Lomax.^[5] He later remixed two songs from the band's catalogue – "Reiterator" and "Modern Life".

Remixing[]

Epworth is well known for his remix work under the name Phones. He began to gain recognition with this moniker based on his work with Bloc Party's track "Banquet"; he has since provided remix work for New Order, U2, P-Diddy, Goldfrapp, Nine Inch Nails, Simian Mobile Disco, The Streets, Interpol, Tom Vek, Death from Above 1979, Annie, and most recently Coldplay. His debut of original material under the Phones name, "Sharpen the Knives"/"Worryin", was released on French label Kitsuné in November 2006. In 2008 he announced he had killed off the Phones moniker but has said he continues to remix anonymously.

In early 2006, Epworth began making music under another alias, 'Epic Man'. His debut single, "More Is Enough", featured Plan B and was featured on the soundtrack for Need For Speed: Pro Street and was released on Good & Evil Records, a subsidiary of 679 Recordings. He has since returned to his Phones name and there are no known plans to release under Epic Man again.

Production and Writing[]

In 2004–05, Epworth produced a quartet of critically acclaimed releases, including two Mercury Music Prize nominations in Silent Alarm by Bloc Party and A Certain Trigger by Maxïmo Park, the bulk of The Futureheads eponymous debut (including the hit Kate Bush cover "Hounds Of Love"), and Capture/Release by The Rakes as well as singles by Babyshambles and The Long Blondes. He also wrote and produced tracks for British rappers, Kano ("Don't Know Why") and Plan B ("No Good" and "Where You From") This was followed in 2006 by production work on Pieces of the People We Love by The Rapture and the debut album by French band Black Strobe, entitled Burn Your Own Church.

In 2007, Epworth began to contribute more co-writing credits alongside his production. For example, his production on the number one debut album Made of Bricks by Kate Nash included a writing credit on the hit single "Foundations" (for which he was nominated for an Ivor Novello songwriters award.) In 2008, Epworth produced much of Sam Sparro's eponymous debut album which entered the UK album charts at number 4 and the Primal Scream single, "Can't Go Back", along with the title track of their recent album Beautiful Future. Epworth also completed production duties on much of the new Bloc Party record, Intimacy and co-wrote and produced Friendly Fires track "Jump In The Pool".

Early 2009 saw Epworth co-writing and recording Jack Peñate's critically lauded second album Everything Is New including the singles "Tonight's Today" and "Be the One". He also co-wrote and produced tracks for Florence and the Machine's debut album Lungs, including the hit single "Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)" along with the album tracks "Howl", "Cosmic Love", "Hurricane Drunk" and "Blinding". He also worked further with Friendly Fires on a single version of the track "Skeleton Boy" and produced the forthcoming single by The Big Pink, "Stop the World". In February 2009 he won best newcomer at the inaugural Music Producers' Guild Awards. In Spring 2009, Epworth co-produced another single with The Big Pink entitled "Dominos", and a new Friendly Fires single "Kiss of Life".

Summer 2009 brought Epworth his third and fourth Mercury music prize nomination in the shape of Florence and the Machine's Lungs and Friendly Fires' eponymous debut. He also finished album tracks for Norwegian pop artist Annie for her delayed album Don't Stop; wrote the "Zingolo" for Cadbury's "Fair Trade" advert, featuring Ghanaian MC Tinny; and mixed the track "Silva & Grimes" for Holy Fuck's Latin lp. He finished up the year working on new tracks by London MC/Singer Plan B for his number 1 album The Defamation Of Strickland Banks including the top 10 single "Stay Too Long", and tracks for Canadian duo Crystal Castles (including single Celestica), writing with Grammy winner Adele, singer Sky Ferreira and producing a single version of album track "Tonight" with The Big Pink.

In February 2010, Epworth won both the Brit Award and the Music Producers' Guild Award for Producer Of The Year and also won Music Week's Producer of the Year Award in April.

Early 2010 saw Epworth deliver tracks for London band Chapel Club's forthcoming LP and begin work on both Friendly Fires' and Florence and the Machine's second LPs. He also signed a solo deal with Columbia Records, with no album forthcoming until 2019.^[6] Epworth added his production hand to Primary 1's album, including lead single "Princess".^[7] Summer 2010 saw him provide production on two versions of Cee Lo Green's cover of Band of Horses' "No One's Gonna Love You", and for the single "It's OK".

Late 2010 and early 2011 saw the release of the acclaimed Epworth co-written and produced worldwide number one single "Rolling in the Deep" from Adele's 21. The album features three Epworth co-writes with Adele, which he produced "I'll Be Waiting", while "He Won't Go" was produced by Rick Rubin. Summer 2011 saw Epworth producing The Big Pink's Future This^[8] and the critically acclaimed Ceremonials by Florence and the Machine.

On 12 February 2012 at the 54th Grammy Awards, he won four Grammy Awards for Producer of the Year, Album of the Year (Adele's 21), and Song of the Year and Record of the Year (for "Rolling in the Deep").

In 2013, Epworth and Adele received the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song at the 70th Golden Globe Awards for the song "Skyfall".^[9] Epworth and Adele also received the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 85th Academy Awards for "Skyfall".^[4]

In late 2015, Adele released her third album 25, which features two tracks co-written and produced by Epworth, "I Miss You" and "Sweetest Devotion". 25 won for Album of the Year at the 59th Grammy Awards.

In 2016, Epworth produced two tracks for The Stone Roses, "All for One" and "Beautiful Thing", which he also mixed. He served as executive producer on the Glass Animals album How to Be a Human Being, which was released on his record label Wolf Tone. Paul also co-wrote and produced the Usher track "Chains" featuring Nas and Bibi Bourelly.

On 30th August 2019 he released the first track from a brand new upcoming project to be released via Columbia Records.^[6]

In September 2020, Epworth released his debut studio album Voyager.^[10] Voyager draws on Epworth’s love of house and cosmic disco, influenced by and channelled through a heavy filter of 70s sci fi.^[6]

In the same month, Epworth gave an interview to NME in which he talks extensively about his relationship with Adele.^[11]

The Church Studios[]

In October 2013, Epworth bought The Church Studios, a recording studio in Crouch End, North London. The studio had previously been owned by David A. Stewart in the 1980s and '90s, and was used to record music by Eurythmics, Bob Dylan and Radiohead, among others. David Gray then owned the studio until Epworth took over in 2013. The Church studios has three working commercial studios, all refurbished by the Walters-Storyk Design Group and Miloco builds. Epworth had a 72-Channel Vintage EMI Neve Console installed in studio 1, and a Solid State Logic console installed in studio 2. Since Epworth's ownership of the Church Studios, notable artists such as Mumford and Sons, U2, Adele, Frank Ocean and London Grammar have recorded there.

Discography[]

Studio albums[]

• Voyager (2020)

Singles[]

(as Phones)[]

• 2006: "Sharpen the Knives / Worryin'"

(as Epic Man)[]

• 2006: "More Is Enough" (feat. Plan B)

(as Paul Epworth)[]

• 2019: "Voyager" b/w "Voyager 2" (feat. Matty)
• 2020: "Love Galaxy" (feat. Jay Electronica, Lil Silva, and Dave Bayley)^[12]

Songwriting and production credits[]

Title	Year	Artist	Album	Songwriter	Producer
					Primary	Secondary	Additional	Vocal
"Banquet"	2004	Bloc Party	Bloc Party EP		Y
"Little Thoughts"			Little Thoughts EP		Y
"Tulips"					Y
"Le Garage"		The Futureheads	The Futureheads		Y
"Robot"					Y
"Decent Days and Nights"					Y
"Meantime"					Y
"Danger of the Water"					Y
"Carnival Kids"					Y
"He Knows"					Y
"Stupid and Shallow"					Y
"Hounds of Love"					Y
"Man Ray"					Y
"The Coast Is Always Changing"		Maxïmo Park	A Certain Trigger		Y
"Storm & Stress"		Bloc Party	Little Thoughts EP		Y
"Helicopter"					Y
"Skeleton"					Y
"So Here We Are"	2005		Silent Alarm		Y
"Positive Tension"					Y
"Like Eating Glass"					Y
"Blue Light"					Y
"She's Hearing Voices"					Y
"This Modern Love"					Y
"Pioneers"					Y
"Price of Glass"					Y
"Luno"					Y
"Plans"					Y
"Compliments"					Y
"Two More Years"					Y
"Apply Some Pressure"		Maxïmo Park	A Certain Trigger		Y
"Graffiti"					Y
"Signal and Sign"					Y
"Postcard of a Painting"					Y
"Going Missing"					Y
"I Want You to Stay"					Y
"Limassol"					Y
"The Night I Lost My Mind"					Y
"Once, A Glimpse"					Y
"Now I'm All Over the Shop"					Y
"Acrobat"					Y
"Kiss You Better"					Y
"I Don't Know Why"		Kano	Home Sweet Home		Y
"Hero"		Bloc Party	Non-album single		Y
"Where Ya From?"	2006	Plan B	Who Needs Actions When You Got Words	Y		Y
"No Good"				Y	Y
"Get Myself Into It"		The Rapture	Pieces of the People We Love		Y
"Don Gon Do It"					Y
"First Gear"					Y
"The Devil"					Y
"Whoo! Alright-Yeah... Uh Huh"					Y
"Down for So Long"					Y
"The Sound"					Y
"Live in Sunshine"					Y
"Shooting Star"					Y
"On and On"					Y
"Turn It Up"		Alesha Dixon	Fired Up	Y	Y
"Foundations"	2007	Kate Nash	Made of Bricks	Y	Y
"Brenn Di Ega Kjerke"		Black Strobe	Burn Your Own Church		Y
"Shining Bright Star"					Y
"Girl Next Door"					Y
"Blood Shot Eyes"					Y
"Now What You Need"					Y
"I'm a Man"					Y
"Lady 13"					Y
"You Should Be"					Y
"Buzz Buzz Buzz"					Y
"Last Club on Earth"					Y
"Crave for Speed"					Y
"Play"		Kate Nash	Made of Bricks		Y
"Mouthwash"					Y
"Dickhead"					Y
"Birds"					Y
"We Get On"					Y
"Mariella"					Y
"Shit Song"					Y
"Pumpkin Soup"				Y	Y
"Skeleton Song"					Y
"Nicest Thing"					Y
"Merry Happy"					Y
"A is for Asthma"					Y
"Little Red"					Y
"Stitching Leggings"					Y
"Navy Taxi"					Y
"Habanera"					Y
"Mercury"	2008	Bloc Party	Intimacy		Y
"Ares"					Y
"Halo"					Y
"Biko"					Y
"Trojan Horse"					Y
"Signs"					Y
"One Month Off"					Y
"Zephyrus"					Y
"Talons"					Y
"Better than Heaven"					Y
"Ion Square"					Y
"Letter to My Son"					Y
"Your Visits are Getting Shorter"					Y
"Tonight's Today"	2009	Jack Peñate	Everything Is New	Y	Y
"Be the One"				Y	Y
"Pull My Heart Away"				Y	Y
"Everything is New"				Y	Y
"So Near"					Y
"Every Glance"				Y	Y
"Give Yourself Away"				Y	Y
"Let's All Die"					Y
"Body Down"					Y
"Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)"		Florence + the Machine	Lungs	Y	Y
"Howl"				Y	Y
"Cosmic Love"					Y
"Hurricane Drunk"							Y
"Blinding"				Y	Y
"Stay Too Long"	2010	Plan B	The Defamation of Strickland Banks		Y
"Writing's on the Wall"					Y
"Welcome to Hell"					Y
"Prayin'"					Y
"Celestica"		Crystal Castles	II				Y
"I Am Made of Chalk"								Y
"It's OK"		CeeLo Green	The Lady Killer			Y
"No One's Gonna Love You"					Y
"Heavy in Your Arms"		Florence + the Machine	The Twilight Saga: Eclipse OST	Y	Y
"Rolling in the Deep"		Adele	21	Y	Y
"He Won't Go"	2011			Y
"I'll Be Waiting"				Y	Y
"Live Those Days Tonight"		Friendly Fires	Pala	Y	Y
"Blue Cassette"							Y
"Hurting"							Y
"Show Me Lights"					Y
"Chimes"					Y
"Call It What You Want"		Foster the People	Torches		Y
"I Would Do Anything for You"					Y
"Life on the Nickel"				Y	Y
"Sorry 4 the Wait"		Lil Wayne	Sorry 4 the Wait		Y
"What the Water Gave Me"		Florence + the Machine	Ceremonials		Y
"Shake It Out"				Y	Y
"Only If for a Night"				Y	Y
"Never Let Me Go"				Y	Y
"Breaking Down"					Y
"Lover to Lover"					Y
"No Light, No Light"					Y
"Seven Devils"				Y	Y
"Heartlines"				Y	Y
"Spectrum (Say My Name)"				Y	Y
"All This and Heaven Too"					Y
"Leave My Body"				Y	Y
"Strangeness and Charm"				Y	Y
"Bedroom Hymns"					Y
"Ruby"	2012	Foster the People	Non-album single		Y
"Skyfall"		Adele	Non-album single	Y	Y
"Natalie"		Bruno Mars	Unorthodox Jukebox	Y		Y
"Save Us"	2013	Paul McCartney	New	Y	Y
"Queenie Eye"				Y	Y
"Road"				Y	Y
"God's Help"		Louis Mattrs	Beachy Head EP		Y
"Coming of Age"	2014	Foster the People	Supermodel	Y	Y
"Pseudologia Fantastica"				Y	Y
"Magic"		Coldplay	Ghost Stories		Y
"Best Friend"		Foster the People	Supermodel		Y
"Are You What You Want to Be?"					Y
"Ask Yourself"					Y
"Nevermind"				Y	Y
"The Angelic Welcome of Mr. Jones"					Y
"A Beginner's Guide to Destroying the Moon"				Y	Y
"Goats in Trees"				Y	Y
"The Truth"					Y
"Fire Escape"					Y
"Cassius Clay's Pearly Whites"				Y	Y
"Midnight"		Coldplay	Ghost Stories		Y
"A Sky Full of Stars"					Y
"Falling Star"		The Horrors	Luminous	Y
"Always in My Head"		Coldplay	Ghost Stories		Y
"Ink"					Y
"True Love"					Y
"Another's Arms"					Y
"Oceans"					Y
"O"					Y
"All Your Friends"					Y
"Ghost Story"					Y
"O (Reprise)"					Y
"Black Beauty"		Lana Del Rey	Ultraviolence		Y
"Pendulum"		FKA twigs	LP1	Y	Y
"Shoot Love"		Maroon 5	V	Y			Y
"The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)"		U2	Songs of Innocence		Y
"California (There is No End to Love)"					Y
"Iris (Hold Me Close)"					Y
"Volcano"							Y
"Cedarwood Road"					Y
"Water Came Down"		Rosie Lowe	non-album single		Y
"Yellow Flicker Beat"		Lorde	The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Pt. 1 OST		Y
"Do They Know It's Christmas?"		Various artists	Non-album single		Y
"How'd You Like It"		Rosie Lowe			Y
"Citizen Zombie"	2015	The Pop Group	Citizen Zombie		Y
"Mad Truth"					Y
"Nowhere Girl"					Y
"Shadow Child"					Y
"The Immaculate Deception"					Y
"S.O.P.H.I.A."					Y
"Box 9"					Y
"Nations"					Y
"St. Outrageous"					Y
"Age of Miracles"					Y
"Echelon"					Y
"Mother"		Florence + the Machine	How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful	Y	Y
"Unstoppable"		Lianne La Havas	Blood	Y	Y
"Chains" (featuring Nas and Bibi Bourelly)		Usher	Non-album single	Y	Y
"I Miss You"		Adele	25	Y	Y
"Sweetest Devotion"				Y	Y
"We Can Hurt Together (Hurt with Me)"	2016	Sia	Non-album single	Y	Y
"Goodnight Gotham"		Rihanna	Anti	Y
"Dominos"		Peter Bjorn and John	Breakin' Point		Y
"Beautiful Thing"		The Stone Roses	Non-album single		Y
"A Long Goodbye"		Peter Bjorn and John	Breakin' Point		Y
"Nostalgic Intellect"					Y
"Hard Sleep"					Y
"Need U" (with Priyanka Chopra)		Usher	Hard II Love	Y	Y
"Rooting for You"	2017	London Grammar	Truth Is a Beautiful Thing		Y
"Smoke of Dreams"		Thurston Moore	Rock n Roll Consciousness		Y
"Truth Is a Beautiful Thing"		London Grammar	Truth Is a Beautiful Thing		Y
"Oh Woman Oh Man"					Y
"Exalted"		Thurston Moore	Rock n Roll Consciousness		Y
"Cusp"					Y
"Turn On"					Y
"Aphrodite"					Y
"Cease Fire"					Y
"Mx Liberty"					Y
"Letter to Falon"		Jay Electronica	Act II: Patents of Nobility (The Turn)		Y
"Hell to the Liars"		London Grammar	Truth Is a Beautiful Thing		Y
"Non Believer"				Y	Y
"Bones of Ribbon"					Y
"Different Breeds"					Y
"Control"				Y	Y
"May the Best"					Y
"Machine"		The Horrors	V		Y
"Something to Remember Me By"					Y
"Weighed Down"					Y
"Hologram"					Y
"Press Enter to Exit"					Y
"Ghost"					Y
"Point of No Reply"					Y
"Gathering"					Y
"World Below"					Y
"It's a Good Life"					Y
"Fire Escape"				Y
"Water Drop"				Y
"13 (There is a Light)"		U2	Songs of Experience		Y
"Ordinary Love"					Y
"Let Me Down" (featuring Stormzy)	2018	Jorja Smith	Non-album single		Y
"Wild Love"		James Bay	Electric Light				Y
"Pink Lemonade"							Y
"Us"							Y
"Wasted on Each Other"							Y
"In My Head"							Y
"Just for Tonight"							Y
"Wanderlust"						Y
"I Found You"						Y
"Stand Up"				Y		Y
"Fade Out"							Y
"Slide"							Y
"Young Hearts in the Dark"							Y
"Invoice"		Serpentwithfeet	Soil	Y	Y
"Tearing Down the Walls"		Elias	Entwined	Y	Y
"Love Hurts"					Y
"No Deeper Can We Fall"				Y	Y
"Don't Let Me Wait"				Y	Y
"Gold"				Y	Y
"The Entwined"					Y
"Arrested" (featuring Norma Jean Martine)		Love Thy Brother	Noon-album single	Y
"Nostalgia"		Jacob Banks	Village	Y	Y
"Guiding Light"		Mumford & Sons	Delta		Y
"If I Say"					Y
"42"					Y
"Woman"					Y
"Beloved"					Y
"The Wild"					Y
"October Skies"					Y
"Slip Away"					Y
"Rose of Sharon"					Y
"Picture You"					Y
"Darkness Visible"					Y
"Wild Heart"					Y
"Forever"					Y
"Delta"					Y

Remixes[]

Awards and nominations[]

References[]

External links[]

• Official website
• Paul Epworth at AllMusic