Brian Kennedy (record producer)

Last updated

Brian Kennedy Seals
Brian Kennedy - Color Profile.jpg
Born (1983-08-08) August 8, 1983 (age 40)
Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Other namesBrian Kennedy, BK
Musical career
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Songwriter
  • producer
  • composer
  • multi-instrumentalist
Labels Universal Music Publishing Group
Website briankennedy.me

Brian Kennedy Seals is an American songwriter, producer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist, best known for co-writing and producing pop hit singles "Disturbia", "Forever", "Don't Wake Me Up", and "Mr. Know It All", as well as hit R&B singles "If This Isn't Love", "What It Is (Block Boy)", and "No Time for It". [1] [2]

Contents

Career

Music industry beginnings

Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Seals was a classically trained piano prodigy, and became an accomplished pianist by the age of 8, writing his own songs and performing in the Kansas City Boys' Choir. He would create jazz, contemporary, and Christmas albums from his compositions. [3] Seals relocated to Los Angeles in 2004 at the age of 20, beginning as a session player for Diane Warren, the Underdogs, and Babyface. [3] He would eventually catch his big break in 2006, when he produced and co-wrote “My Love” on Ciara’s sophomore album, Ciara: The Evolution , securing a publishing deal. [4]

Further songwriting success

His placement on Ciara's album was soon followed by chart-topping single "Disturbia" for the repackage of Rihanna's 2007 album Good Girl Gone Bad , and chart-topper "Forever" for Chris Brown's repackage of 2007 album Exclusive . [4] [5] Seals would continue to work with both Brown and Fenty, resulting in numerous future album placements on their projects, co-written demos for inclusion on the projects of other artists, as well as co-written songs worked on in collaboration with other artists (such as Joe Jonas' "See No More" ). [6] Seals participated in initial sessions for Usher's 2008 album Here I Stand , and a contribution of his ("Angel") was even tipped in various publications to be the emotional centerpiece of the project by participating writers, but the album changed direction and his contributions did not make the final cut. [7] Seals would then begin work on R&B singer Brandy Norwood's comeback album Human as executive producer, but would be later replaced by notable Norwood collaborator Rodney Jerkins after their long-awaited creative reunion. [8] [9] Seals would still contribute two songs to the album, and built a lasting writing relationship with then-unknown New Orleans songwriter Christopher "Frank Ocean" Breaux, who together co-wrote bonus track "Locket (Lost In Love)". Breaux and Seals would collaborate frequently for the next several years alongside several other producers, creating a pre-debut album, unofficial compilation/mixtape for Breaux titled The Lonny Breaux Collection, composed of completed songs, rough demos, and songs written for other artists. In 2009, Seals contributed five songs to Disney star Corbin Bleu's second album Speed of Light . [10] [11] Seals would further solidify his place in the music industry with "If This Isn't Love" for Jennifer Hudson's eponymous debut album, "It's Over" and additional album tracks for Jesse McCartney album Departure , "This Time" for American Idol contestant Pia Toscano, as well as top-ten lead single "Mr. Know It All" for Kelly Clarkson's 2011 album Stronger . [12] [13] [14] [15] These initial contributions would earn Seals his first three Grammy awards (Winner's certificates for production participation on Grammy-winning albums) and first three ASCAP Awards. [16] [4] [17]

2012-2020: Additional Grammy success, "Don't Wake Me Up", and "No Time for It"

In 2012, Seals would reunite with Brown and contribute "Don't Wake Me Up" to his fifth album Fortune . [18] Co-produced by William Orbit and originally pitched to pop artist Madonna (who was unable to record the song in time), the song would reach the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 and chart internationally. [19] A copyright infringement suit for the song against Brown, Orbit, Kennedy, and Sony Music Entertainment by UK songwriter Nayeri Gregor aka Nayri (who created a song of the same name in 2009 and pitched it to several parties involved) was settled in 2016. [20] Seals' contribution to Fenty album Unapologetic earned him further Grammy recognition during the 2014 awards season from the R&B wing of the Recording Academy. In 2016, Seals would co-write and produce lead single "No Time for It" to Fantasia's fifth album The Definition Of... , with her declaring in a Vogue interview that the song "set the atmosphere" amidst a period of upheaval in which she had recently scrapped a more jazz-flavored album concept for something that better mixed "contemporary" and "soul". [21] Described as a label-chosen song in which "the wormy synth melody and bass line might appear on a crossover rap hit made by a popular and radio-friendly producer like DJ Mustard", the song would later reach the top 10 of the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart. [21] In 2017, Seals was spotted in a recording studio with Lady Gaga alongside fellow songwriter Dallas Davidson to work on songs for potential inclusion on a follow-up project to 2016 album Joanne , but the songs never came to fruition. [22] [23]

2021-Present

Seals recently sold a portion of his catalog to music management and IP firm Hipgnosis Songs Fund for an undisclosed sum, with subsidiary Hipgnosis Songs Capital assuming ownership of the catalog in a 2023 purchase deal. [24]

Personal life

In 2017, at the age of 33 following a urinalysis test to determine the origin of high blood pressure, doctors discovered that Seals was experiencing kidney problems. A biopsy showed he had FSGS, or focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a relatively common form of kidney disease which decreases the kidney's ability to properly filter blood as the filters are damaged/scarred. [25] Coupled with an improved diet and blood pressure-lowering medications, Seals subsequently received a kidney transplant from his brother Kevin, who had moved to Los Angeles to be his manager. Seals continues to be an advocate for frequent blood-pressure check-ups and early avoidance of hypertension in the African-American community. [25]

Selected songwriting and production credits

TitleYearArtistAlbum
"My Love"2006 Ciara Ciara: The Evolution
"How We Do It" Mario Vazquez Mario Vazquez
"Fallen Angel"2007 Chris Brown Exclusive
"Disturbia"2008 Rihanna Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded
"Forever" Chris Brown Exclusive: The Forever Edition
"Obsessed" BoA BoA
"Lie" (featuring St. Lunatics) Nelly Brass Knuckles
"Fall" Brandy Human
"Locket (Locked in Love)"
"I Fell" Noel Gourdin After My Time
"It's Over" Jesse McCartney Departure
"Runnin'"
"If This Isn't Love" Jennifer Hudson Jennifer Hudson
"My Heart"
"Lights, Camera, Action" A New Kids on the Block The Block
"Fire Bomb"2009 Rihanna Rated R
"The Last Song"
"Crash & Burn" Jesse McCartney Departure: Recharged Edition
"Speed of Light" Corbin Bleu Speed of Light
"Paralyzed"
"Fear of Flying"
"Rock 2 It"
"My Everything"
"They Don't Know" Alexandra Burke Overcome
"Control" BoA BoA: Deluxe
"I'll Go" Chris Brown Graffiti
"Pass Out" (featuring Eva Simons)
"Avalanche" Marié Digby Breathing Underwater
"Overboard" (featuring Livvi Franc)
"Daydreaming" Kid Sister Ultraviolet
"Masquerade" Backstreet Boys This Is Us
"The Difference" Westlife Where We Are
"Easy" (With Natasha Bedingfield)2010 Rascal Flatts Nothing Like This
"Nobody's Singin' to Me" Jake Zyrus Charice
"See No More"2011 Joe Jonas Fastlife
"Should've Kissed You" Chris Brown F.A.M.E.
"All About You"
"Get Out My Head" Keke Palmer Awaken
"All Over Again" Big Time Rush Elevate
"Mr. Know It All" Kelly Clarkson Stronger
"Get It Over With"2012 Rihanna Unapologetic
"Meet Ya" Rita Ora Ora
"Holla At The DJ" Coco Jones Made Of
"Don't Wake Me Up" Chris Brown Fortune
"Party Hard / Cadillac (Interlude" (featuring Sevyn Streeter)
"Stuck on Stupid"
"Guns and Roses"2013 Jay Sean Neon
"Business"2014 Teyana Taylor VII
"Partners In Crime Part Three"2015 The Internet Ego Death
"Smells Like Fire" CeeLo Green Heart Blanche
"Close To You"2016 Rihanna Anti
"No Time for It" Fantasia The Definition Of...
"Ivy"2017 Mabel Ivy to Roses
"Gravity"2018 Daughtry Cage to Rattle
"Smile On My Face" Exo Don't Mess Up My Tempo
"Party Of One"2020 Jessica Simpson Open Book: A Memoir
"Here We Go... Again" (featuring Tyler the Creator)2022 The Weeknd Dawn FM
"What It Is (Block Boy)" (solo or featuring Kodak Black)2023 Doechii

Notes

A. A "Lights, Camera, Action" also appears as a bonus track on the 2008 Pussycat Dolls reissue album Doll Domination: International Edition .

Demos

The following is a list of well-known demos and outtakes produced by Seals that have been discussed in various publications, shopped around to various artists, or have surfaced on blogs, mixtapes, and various music streaming channels:

Brandy

Britney Spears

Chris Brown

Frank Ocean

Jordin Sparks

Kelly Rowland

The Backstreet Boys

The Pussycat Dolls

Trey Songz

Usher

Awards and nominations

YearCeremonyAwardResultRef
2009 51st Annual Grammy Awards Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Recording ("Disturbia")Nominated [26]
Grammy Award for Best R&B Album ( Jennifer Hudson ) A Won
ASCAP Pop Awards Most Performed Songs ("Forever")Won [16] [27]
Most Performed Songs ("Disturbia")Won [16] [27]
ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Awards Most Performed Songs ("If This Isn't Love")Won
2012 54th Annual Grammy Awards Grammy Award for Best R&B Album ( F.A.M.E. ) A Won
2013 55th Annual Grammy Awards Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album ( Stronger ) B Won
Grammy Award for Best Urban Contemporary Album ( Fortune )Nominated
ASCAP Pop Awards Most Performed Songs ("Don't Wake Me Up")Won [28]
2014 56th Annual Grammy Awards Grammy Award for Best Urban Contemporary Album ( Unapologetic ) C Won
2016 58th Annual Grammy Awards Grammy Award for Best Urban Contemporary Album ( Ego Death )Nominated
2017 59th Annual Grammy Awards Grammy Award for Best Urban Contemporary Album ( Anti )Nominated

Notes

A. A Winning producers in this category with less than a 50% album contribution are awarded with a Winner's Certificate.
B. B Winning producers in this category with less than a 50% album contribution are awarded with a Winner's Certificate.
C. C Winning producers in this category with less than a 50% album contribution are awarded with a Winner's Certificate.

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References

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