Eric Appapoulay

Last updated

Eric Appapoulay
Born (1971-12-21) 21 December 1971 (age 52)
London, England
Genres Reggae, seggae, sega, afro beat, funk, fusion, rock, blues, country, pop
Occupation(s)Record producer, songwriter, musician, remixer
Instrument(s)guitar, bass, drums and percussion, piano, keyboards
Years active1998–present
Labels679/Atlantic, V2 Records
Website thesanctuarystudio.co.uk

Eric Appapoulay (born 21 December 1971) is a British singer, songwriter, [1] [2] composer, arranger, programmer, multi-instrumentalist and guitarist. Appapoulay has been the guitar player for Neneh Cherry, the musical director for Daniel Bedingfield, the bassist for both Plan B and Nitin Sawhney, and the performing artist on the debut album Faith is Trust. Appapoulay is also currently the guitarist with Yusuf Islam. [3] [4] He is the co-owner of The Sanctuary Recording Studio in London, and member of SMV known for their work on the 2010 award-winning Plan B album, The Defamation of Strickland Banks . [5] [6]

Contents

History

Appapoulay was born in East London to Mauritian parents. He has two siblings named Maryse Appapoulay and Caroline Appapoulay. He began playing (sega) traditional music from Mauritius at age eight alongside reggae, calypso, soca and high life. He studied classical guitar privately, inspired by John Williams. He listened to flamenco guitar, Paco de Lucia, also blues, rock and country, and artists such as B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana, Kelly Joe Phelps and Mark Knopfler. Much later jazz/fusion influences from George Benson, Earl Klugh, Larry Carlton, Robin Ford, Pat Metheny, Bireli Lagrene and Scott Henderson. [7] [8] [9]

Career

Production

He was a composer with Lounge Productions in the UK. [4] In 2006, he set up The Sanctuary Recording Studio with partner David McEwan. [10]

With a career in the music industry for over 25 years he has worked with many artists that include: Yusuf, Neneh Cherry, Daniel & Natasha Bedingfield, Craig David, Keri Hilson, Jason Derulo, Lionel Richie, Don Blackman, Beverley Knight, Lucie Silvas, Nitin Sawhney, MPHO, Patrice Bart-Williams, Terri Walker, Nate James, Tackhead, Anette Peacock, Ola, New Sector Movements, Liquid Biskit, Zen Badism, Jhelisa Anderson, Glen Scott, Wisechildren, Colin Emmanuel, Jimmy Dawkins, DJ Pogo, Mc Ty, Jonzi D, Manifest, Wunmi, Kojo Antwi, Vikter Duplait, Eska Mtungwasi, Marcina Arnold, Natalie Williams, Julie Dexter. [7] [8] [9] [11]

Appapoulay was the touring Guitarist for Neneh Cherry in 1992, Musical director for New Sector Movements in 1997, Bass player for Nitin Sawhney between 1998–2000, Musical director for Daniel Bedingfield's band between 2000–2006, Co-writer of the song "Do Ya" with Lionel Richie for his 2004 album 'Just For You', touring Guitarist for Natasha Bedingfield in 2007 and Craig David between 2007–2008. He toured with Patrice between 2008–2010 and Yusuf since 2008 and undertook a tour of Europe in May 2011 with Yusuf (aka Cat Stevens) as a guitarist and lead vocalist.

He also produced tracks for British MC/Singer Plan B for his number 1 award-winning album The Defamation of Strickland Banks , including the top 10 single "She Said". He was the bass player for 90% of the Plan B's album alongside Jodi Milner, and also did backing vocals, piano and additional guitars. [11] [12] [13] The bulk of the material on The Defamation of Strickland Banks was recorded by Eric Appapoulay and co-owner David McEwan at their own studio in South London, The Sanctuary Recording Studio. Partly because they were simultaneously working on its hip-hop counterpart. [5]

Making of the album

Prominent in both The Sanctuary Recording Studio and on The Defamation of Strickland Banks is Appapoulay's upright piano. Ben Drew explained that "Because of how old it is, and some things are slightly out of tune, it reminded me of those old hip-hop records where the sampled piano does sound a little but gritty," "That's why I loved it. It looks great and it's got a proper resonance." [5]

In a SOS interview, Appapoulay described their process during recording sessions: "It was just Ben and myself and Richard and Tom. We would be in the room together, Ben’d be on his acoustic guitar in that little doorway bit with his mic, setting down the guides. I had guitar in the Fender Twin, drums just clean, and then the bass I put through the LA2A, because I love the way it warms it up. Then we were using the bass amp as well, because we had the whole band in one room — the control room was in the drum room that you see now — so we were jamming like in a rehearsal. It had a band feeling, like Motown, where they just used to sit in one room and record together. That was the idea with this place, I wanted the whole band to feel like it was a gig scenario, playing as a band." [5]

After the album's completion it shot to the top of the European charts, won several awards in 2010, [14] and is nominated for February 2011's Brit Award for two awards including the MasterCard British Album of the Year. [15]

Discography

Vocals

Instruments and performance

Writing and arrangement

Featuring and presenting

Production

Related Research Articles

<i>Fresh Cream</i> 1966 studio album by Cream

Fresh Cream is the debut studio album by the British rock band Cream, consisting of bassist Jack Bruce, guitarist Eric Clapton and drummer Ginger Baker. The album was released in the UK on 9 December 1966, as the first LP on the Reaction Records label, owned by producer Robert Stigwood. It was released in both mono and stereo versions, at the same time as the release of the single "I Feel Free". The album peaked at No. 6 on the UK Albums Chart. The album was released in a slightly different form in January 1967 by Atco Records in the US, also in mono and stereo versions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Joe White</span> American singer-songwriter and musician (1943–2018)

Tony Joe White, nicknamed the Swamp Fox, was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist, best known for his 1969 hit "Polk Salad Annie" and for "Rainy Night in Georgia", which he wrote but which was first made popular by Brook Benton in 1970. He also wrote "Steamy Windows" and "Undercover Agent for the Blues", both hits for Tina Turner in 1989; those two songs came by way of Turner's producer at the time, Mark Knopfler, who was a friend of White. "Polk Salad Annie" was also recorded by Joe Dassin, Elvis Presley, Joe Bonamassa and Tom Jones.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pat Travers</span> Canadian rock musician (born 1954)

Patrick Henry Travers is a Canadian rock guitarist, singer and songwriter who began his recording career in the mid-1970s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nitin Sawhney</span> British musician

Nitin Sawhney is a British musician, producer and composer. A recipient of the Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement award in 2017, among multiple international awards throughout his career. Sawhney's work combines Asian and other worldwide influences with elements of electronica and often explores themes such as multiculturalism, politics, and spirituality. Sawhney is also active in the promotion of arts and cultural matters, is chair of the PRS Foundation, sits on the board of trustees of theatre company Complicité, and is a patron of numerous film festivals, venues, and educational institutions. In 2021 he was an ambassador for the Royal Albert Hall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plan B (musician)</span> British musician and actor

Benjamin Paul Ballance-Drew, better known by his stage name Plan B, is an English rapper, singer, songwriter, actor and filmmaker. He first emerged as a rapper, releasing his debut album, Who Needs Actions When You Got Words, in 2006. His second studio album, The Defamation of Strickland Banks (2010), was a soul and R&B album, and debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart. He has also collaborated with other artists such as Chase & Status, most notably on the 2009 top ten single "End Credits".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">If You're Not the One</span> 2002 single by Daniel Bedingfield

"If You're Not the One" is a song by New Zealand-British singer Daniel Bedingfield. It was released on 25 November 2002 as the third single from his debut studio album, Gotta Get Thru This (2002). The single entered the top 20 on the majority of charts that it appeared on, including becoming a number-one hit on the UK Singles Chart and reaching number 15 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wrap My Words Around You</span> 2005 single by Daniel Bedingfield

"Wrap My Words Around You" is the second single from New Zealand-British singer Daniel Bedingfield's second studio album, Second First Impression (2004). It peaked at number 12 on the UK Singles Chart and number 30 on the Irish and Swiss charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacob Golden</span> American singer

Jacob Golden is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist from Portland, Oregon. After the dissolution of his former band, Birthday, in 2000 he has worked as a solo artist and collaborated with different electronica musicians and producers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stay Too Long</span> 2010 single by Plan B

"Stay Too Long" is the first single from British musician Plan B's second album The Defamation of Strickland Banks. The single was released on 8 January 2010. Drum and bass group Pendulum also produced a remix, their first in three years, which was used as runway-soundtrack for the 2010 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. The Pendulum remix was also used on the video game Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit, and a short version is used on the video game The Sims 3: Pets trailer. The song was also used in part of episode two of the sixth series of Doctor Who Confidential. The song was also used in The Inbetweeners Movie. BBC also use this as their theme for tennis.

<i>The Defamation of Strickland Banks</i> 2010 studio album by Plan B

The Defamation of Strickland Banks is the second studio album from English singer and rapper Plan B. It was released on 12 April 2010 by 679 Recordings. The album is a departure from the sound heard on Plan B's debut album Who Needs Actions When You Got Words, providing a showcase for the rapper's singing. A concept album, the it narrates the fictitious tale of Strickland Banks, a sharp-suited British soul singer who finds fame with bitter-sweet love songs like the album's opener "Love Goes Down", only to have it slip through his fingers when sent to prison for a crime he did not commit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">She Said (Plan B song)</span> 2010 single by Plan B

"She Said" is the second single from British musician Plan B's second album The Defamation of Strickland Banks — a concept album whose songs tell the fictitious tale of a sharp-suited British soul singer who finds fame with bitter-sweet love songs, but then loses everything when he ends up in prison for a crime he didn't commit. The single was released as a digital download and on CD single on 24 February 2010. "She Said" was the sixteenth best selling British single of 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Bedingfield discography</span>

English-New Zealand singer Daniel Bedingfield has released two studio albums, seventeen singles and two EPs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Recluse (Plan B song)</span> 2010 single by Plan B

"The Recluse" is the fourth single from Plan B's second album The Defamation of Strickland Banks. The single was released on 4 October 2010. "The Recluse" has been labeled as "one of his best singles to date" by critics, "neatly marrying poignancy and aggression into a 4-minute-long track with a surplus of scaling strings and his voice showing more desperation for release than ever before." This song was covered by George Michael during his "Symphonica" tour.

David McEwan is an Australian Sound Designer,record producer, engineer, composer, and a member of the band The Safires. He is the co-owner of The Sanctuary Recording Studio in London and is best known for his work on the award-winning Plan B album The Defamation of Strickland Banks. He has also had long time production connections with musician Nitin Sawhney. David McEwan is also the son of the Australian actor Colin McEwan.

The Sanctuary is a recording studio in Battersea, London founded by David McEwan and Eric Appapoulay in 2006. It is best known as the facility at which Plan B created his 2010 award winning album The Defamation of Strickland Banks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hard Times (Plan B song)</span> 2011 single by Plan B featuring Elton John and Paloma Faith

"Hard Times" is the seventh single from British rapper and songwriter Plan B's second studio album, The Defamation of Strickland Banks. On 19 May 2011, it was released as a digital download, featuring newly recorded vocal parts by Elton John and Paloma Faith, recorded as a charity single with all the proceeds benefiting victims of the 2010 Pakistan floods and 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.

Kwame Yeboah is a Ghanaian musician, guitarist, keyboardist, producer, recording- engineer and multi-instrumentalist. Originally from a village in Western Ghana, his love for music led him all around the world working with international artists and back to his home country where he operated his recording studio, Mixstation until early 2017 and is gaining reputation with bands under his name and supervision such as his band Ohia b3y3 ya.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eska (singer)</span> British singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist (born 1971)

Eska Mtungwazi, known professionally as Eska, is a London-born British singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Following her inaugural release as a solo artist with her 2013 Gatekeeper EP, her eponymous debut album, ESKA, was released on 27 April 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Mondesir</span>

Michael Mondesir is an English jazz bass guitarist, and composer. He is one of the most in demand jazz bass players in Europe, touring regularly with drummer Billy Cobham, Cream (band) drummer Ginger Baker and James Brown musical director Pee Wee Ellis. He is credited as bass player on over twenty major name jazz albums.

<i>King of a Land</i> 2023 studio album by Yusuf / Cat Stevens

King of a Land is the seventeenth studio album from British singer-songwriter Yusuf / Cat Stevens, released on 16 June 2023 by BMG Rights Management / Dark Horse Records. The recording featured children's music and religious music influences, and received positive reviews from critics.

References

  1. ↑ "SHE SAID Lyrics - PLAN B | eLyrics.net". Elyrics.net. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  2. ↑ "California Chronicles". Archived from the original on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
  3. ↑ "Yusuf, Royal Albert Hall, London". The Independent . 14 December 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  4. 1 2 Archived 15 August 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Plan B". Soundonsound.com. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  6. ↑ "Plan B (4) – She Said (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  7. 1 2 "Eric Appapoulay". Thesanctuarystudio.co.uk. 21 December 1971. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  8. 1 2 "Bargain Hunt". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  9. 1 2 "Beyond Jazz News". Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
  10. ↑ "About". Thesanctuarystudio.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  11. 1 2 "Eric Appapoulay Discography at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  12. ↑ "Recording "She Said" by Plan B – Relationships". MusicBrainz.org. 22 February 1999. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  13. ↑ "Plan B (4) – She Said (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  14. ↑ "Yahoo News". News.yahoo.com. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  15. ↑ "Brit Award Nominees". Archived from the original on 16 January 2011. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.