Ayak Thiik | |
---|---|
Born | Khartoum, Sudan |
Genres | R&B, neo soul, hip hop, EDM, pop |
Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, composer, studio producer, voice teacher, musical arranger |
Instrument(s) | Piano, keyboards, sampler, guitar, vocals |
Years active | 1998–present |
Labels | Cinematic Music Group Universal Music Group Takeover Roc Nation Sony/ATV BMG Chrysalis UK Warner Music Polydor PB Management Syco Music |
Ayak Thiik (also known as, "Ayak Tracks") is a South Sudanese singer-songwriter and vocal producer. [1] [2] She is primarily known for writing hit songs and appearing on vocals for artists like Diana Ross, Cee Lo Green, James Morrison ("You Make It Real"), Chip ("Until You Were Gone"), Tinchy Stryder ("Never Leave You and "In My System"), and Dappy ("No Regrets" and "Rockstar"), among others. [2]
Ayak Thiik's love for music was evident at an early age, and she was able to sing long before she was able to talk. Ayak Thiik had signed a record deal with German record label Stereo Wonderland, Polydor, Universal and recorded an album – making her the first Sudanese artist to be signed by a major label worldwide. [2] [3] Thiik entered and won the Princes Trust Urban Music Festival's – Unsigned Talent Search, in the United Kingdom. She ultimately won a spot in a line-up which featured Beyoncé, as well as Alicia Keys and a host of top UK artists. [2]
In 2006, Ayak Thiik wrote and featured on the Cincinnati native hip-hop producer Hi-Tek's second album, ' Hi-Teknology²: The Chip ’. The track "Can we Go back" also featured Talib Kweli. Since then she has ventured into the house music world, working with German producers Milk & Sugar. Her dance music collaborations with Milk & Sugar have clocked up two consecutive UK chart toppers at number 1 and 2. Thiik's house music endeavors have taken her to Brazil, Singapore, Moscow, Russia and Lebanon. [2]
Having spent 18 months working on her songwriting, she was offered a deal and signed by Takeover Entertainment. She has penned songs for Kelly Rowland, Mica Paris, Esmée Denters, JLS, Chip, Tinchy Stryder, The Wanted, Alexandra Burke, Lemar and Roc Nation's signed Bridget Kelly, among others. [2]
Her vocals have also appeared on Tinchy Stryder's "Never Leave You" – Catch 22 album, "In My System", "Take the World" – Third Strike album, Kylie Minogue's "Everything is beautiful" – Aphrodite album, James Morrison's "You Make It Real – Songs For You Truths For Me album, Cheryl Cole's "Stand up" – 3 Words album, Cee-Lo Green's "Satisfied" – The Lady killer album, among others. [2]
In 2010, Thiik gained her first UK Singles Chart record as co-writer on Chip's "Until You Were Gone" featuring Esmée Denters. This went into the UK singles charts as at No. 3. She also co-wrote Tinchy Stryder's No. 10 hit "In My System", on which she also appeared on vocals but not the music video. [2]
Ayak Thiik recorded and released a studio album entitled, Voices in My Head. [3] Her list of musical achievements continues. Ayak Thiik was featured on Liberty Bell Jolly Good TV Sky Arts 'Song Book' show by chance, after coming to the rescue of her hero and arguably the most successful songwriter of current generation Diane Warren who wrote the hits "Un-Break My Heart" (1996) by Toni Braxton, "How Do I Live Without You" (1997) by LeAnn Rimes, "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing (1998) by Aerosmith, and for many other artists. [2] Taken aback by Ayak Thiik's voice, Diane Warren has begun writing songs for Ayak Thiik and is determined to make her a star in her own right. [2] A documentary chronicling this will be filmed by the same production team. [2]
Amelle Sousa Berrabah, also known as Amelle, is a British singer and rapper. She is best known for being a former member of the girl group the Sugababes, replacing founding member Mutya Buena, who left the group in December 2005. She achieved a solo number one single in 2009 when she collaborated with Tinchy Stryder on their single "Never Leave You", which made her the only member of the Sugababes to achieve a number-one single outside of the group.
Esmée Denters is a Dutch singer and YouTuber. Denters started promoting herself as a musician online in 2006, covering songs by artists including Justin Timberlake and Natasha Bedingfield. Denters was signed by Timberlake as the first artist to his label Tennman Records. In May 2009, she released her debut studio album, Outta Here, and toured the United States with Timberlake. After the label dropped her, Denters moved to London, where she competed in BBC One's The Voice UK.
Kwasi Esono Danquah III, known by his stage name Tinchy Stryder, is a British rapper, singer, songwriter, entrepreneur and investor.
"Where's Your Love" is a song by Craig David from his album Greatest Hits. It features vocals from rapper Tinchy Stryder and singer Rita Ora. It was made available for digital download only, on 10 November 2008 in both Ireland and the United Kingdom. The record is known for the chorus that has been used on various other underground UK garage tracks, Craig David is thought to be paying homage to the genre that made him a star. The song debuted at number 58 on the UK Singles Chart.
"Number 1" is a song by British rapper Tinchy Stryder featuring vocals from Dappy of N-Dubz and co-written by Dappy, James Lavelle and Fraser T. Smith, who produced the track, for Stryder's second studio album, Catch 22. The song was released as a single on 20 April 2009 from Stryder's studio album Catch 22 and a remix was later included on N-Dubz's second studio album, Against All Odds.
The discography of Tinchy Stryder, a recording artist whose real name is Kwasi Danquah, consists of four studio albums, one compilation album, one collaboration album, five extended plays, four mixtapes, 17 singles, five singles as a featured artist, and ten collaborations. Danquah has sold over 22.2 million digital singles worldwide. Danquah performed under the stage name Stryder from 1997 to 2006, and has performed under the stage name Tinchy Stryder since 2006.
Catch 22 is the second full-length solo studio album by recording artist Tinchy Stryder. After three successful singles leading up to the album, the album was then released on 17 August 2009. The album is produced and co-written by award-winning producer and songwriter Fraser T Smith, whose previous credits include James Morrison, Craig David and Kano.
"I Got Soul" is a 2009 charity single by charity group War Child UK, recorded by Young Soul Rebels. It was released on 19 October 2009. It is a cover of The Killers' "All These Things That I've Done". A spokesman for War Child UK said, "We're using the track, based on the hook line 'I Got Soul, But I’m Not A Soldier' to draw attention to the 300,000 children who sadly are."
"Game Over" is a song by Tinchy Stryder, released as a promotional single from his third studio album Third Strike. The song features vocals from Example, Giggs, Devlin, Chipmunk, Professor Green and Tinie Tempah, who each have their own verse. It was released on 15 November 2010 via digital download. An official remix featuring Ghetts, Slix, Griminal, Dot Rotten, Fuda Guy, Wretch 32, Roachee, Maxsta & Tinchy Stryder, can be found with a video on YouTube.
"Until You Were Gone" is Chipmunk's sixth single and features Dutch singer Esmée Denters. The track is the first single from the platinum edition of I Am Chipmunk. The single was recorded in January 2010 with producer, Fraser T Smith, and songwriter Ayak Thiik. On 19 April 2010, BBC Radio 1Xtra DJ MistaJam announced on his Twitter that he would play "Until You Were Gone" for the first time on the radio, and later premiered it on the radio. Chipmunk revealed that he wrote this song about a girl called Carys Hughes.
"Never Leave You" is a song by British rapper Tinchy Stryder, released as the fourth single from his second studio album, Catch 22 as a digital download on 2 August 2009 and then as a CD single on 3 August 2009. The song was written by Stryder with lyrics by Taio Cruz and features guest vocals by Amelle, a former member of British girl group the Sugababes. It received airplay on radio stations in the UK including BBC 1Xtra. "Never Leave You" has also reached "The A-List" on the BBC Radio 1 playlist. The music video was released on Stryder's official website on 24 June 2009.
"In My System" is a single by recording artist Tinchy Stryder. It was the first single from his third studio album Third Strike. It was released on 8 August 2010 as a digital download and on 9 August 2010 as a CD single. The single features uncredited vocals from co-writer Ayak Thiik.
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Third Strike is the third solo studio album by recording artist Tinchy Stryder, and his second studio album with Universal Island Records. It was released on 15 November 2010. Prior to the release of Third Strike, Stryder featured on the grime collective Roll Deep's first compilation album, Street Anthems, which was released on 19 October 2009. Third Strike was preceded by a free downloadable extended play (EP), III EP.
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"Take the World" is a promotional single released by rapper Tinchy Stryder from this third studio album, Third Strike. The song was co-written by Takeover Entertainment singer-songwriter Ayak Thiik, and produced by TMS who also produced the promotional single Gangsta?. It features vocals from Roc Nation recording artist Bridget Kelly. British singer Cherri V performs Kelly's part when the song is performed live. Prior to the song being recorded, Bridget Kelly had in the past regularly filled in for Alicia Keys when performing the song Empire State of Mind with Jay-Z.
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