Iain James

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Iain James
Birth nameIain James Farquharson
Born (1980-02-20) 20 February 1980 (age 44)
Bristol, England
Years active2003–present
Formerly of Triple 8
Spouse(s) Kelli Young

Iain James Farquharson (born 20 February 1980), more commonly known as Iain James or Sparx is a British singer, songwriter and vocal producer from Bristol, but based in London. He started as part of the British boyband Triple 8 in 2003 as their lead singer and known as Sparx. He left after the band had two Top 10 hits and was replaced by Stewart Macintosh in 2005.

Contents

He has written a number of songs recorded by a great number of singing artists, plus writing many songs for reality television contestants from UK, Europe and Asia, and on three occasions for Eurovision Song Contest songs, including co-writing the winning song for Azerbaijan "Running Scared" by Ell & Nikki in 2011.

Triple 8

He was the lead singer of UK boy band Triple 8 (888) signed to Polydor records. [1] He was known by his nickname "Sparx". The group had two successful singles: "Knockout" and "Give Me A Reason", which charted at numbers 8 and 9 respectively in the UK Singles Chart. The group parted company with their record label in 2004, leaving their album, Heavy W8, unreleased. Iain James Farquharson left in 2004, to be replaced as lead singer in 2005 by a new member Stewart Macintosh. before breaking up by the end of 2005.

Writing and production

After Triple 8, he concentrated on music writing and production. He has written for artists as diverse as Westlife, Professor Green, [1] Emeli Sandé, Craig David, [1] Taio Cruz, The Vamps, Anne-Marie, and Korean boyband TVXQ (aka Tohoshinki). He has also written for successful acts from reality television competitions, including Little Mix, [2] One Direction, [1] Olly Murs and Leona Lewis.

He co-wrote British number one "Read All About It" by Professor Green featuring Emeli Sandé, as well as Sandé's own version of the song which appears on her two million selling album Our Version of Events , which broke a record set by the Beatles for longest unimpeded spell in the UK top 10.

Very notably, he wrote several songs on the album of Little Mix, the first ever British girlgroup whose album went straight into the top 5 in the US, including the UK Number 1 "Wings" and the critically lauded third place song "DNA".He wrote songs on their second album Salute, which did not match DNA commercially, but was a critical success, and followed its predecessor in charting in the UK top 5 and US top 10 (it would have repeated DNA's fourth placing if compilations were not included in the US albums chart). He wrote the album's song Little Me with Little Mix and TMS. For the group's third album Get Weird; Iain co-wrote the singles "Love Me Like You" and "Hair" feat. Sean Paul. The group's most successful album Glory Days features the single "Shout Out To My Ex", also co-written by James.

He is also a vocal producer and has recorded many artists including Little Mix, Ella Henderson, One Direction and Pixie Lott.

Eurovision

James co-wrote the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 winning song "Running Scared" by Ell & Nikki, [1] [3] who were the first male-female duo to win the song contest since 1963. They were also the first Azeris to win the contest, winning in Düsseldorf in May 2011.

James also co-wrote the Belgian entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 2013, "Love Kills" by Roberto Bellarosa, which placed 12th, and the British entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 2020, "My Last Breath" by James Newman.

Personal life

He is married to Kelli Young, formerly of pop group Liberty X.[ citation needed ]

Discography

YearTitleArtistAlbumCredits
2007 Officially Yours Craig David Trust Me Co-Writer
2008You're My Idol Donnie Klang Just A Rolling Stone Co-Writer
Wrong Number TVXQ MIROTIC - The 4th AlbumCo-Writer
2010Did I? Diagram Of The Heart N/ACo-Writer
2011Build You A HouseTimothy JamesMake It HappenCo-Writer
The Sound Of Swing ft. Aloe Blacc The Kenneth Bager Experience The Sound Of...Co-Writer
Fell In Love With A Song Blush Make You BlushCo-Writer
Second Last Chance The Overtones Good Ol' Fashioned Love (Platinum Edition)Co-Writer
Running Scared Ell & Nikki N/ACo-Writer
Na Na Na One Direction Up All Night Co-Writer
Read All About It feat. Emeli Sandé Professor Green At Your Inconvenience Co-Writer
World In Our Hands Taio Cruz Ty.O Co-Writer
Hush Little Baby feat. Ed Sheeran Wretch 32 Black & White Co-Writer
Walking On Water Matt Cardle Letters Co-Writer
2012 Wings Little Mix DNA Co-Writer / Backing Vocals
DNA
Going Nowhere
Make You Believe
Madhouse
Stereo Soldier
Always Be TogetherVocal Producer
Read All About It (Part III) Emeli Sandé Our Version Of Events Co-Writer
Hand On Heart Olly Murs Right Place Right Time Co-Writer
Overtime feat. Ghetts Clement Marfo & The Frontline N/ACo-Writer / Backing Vocals
Champion
I Need You feat. Jagga TMS N/ACo-Writer / Backing Vocals
2013Heartless A*M*E N/ACo-Writer
Beethoven Union J Union J Co-Writer / Backing Vocals
Stereotype Samsaya Bombay CallingCo-Writer
Summer Rain Chris Medina What Are Words Co-Writer
Little Me Little Mix Salute Co-Writer / Backing Vocals
Competition
A Different Beat
See Me Now
They Just Don't Know You
Mr LoverboyVocal Producer
Love Kills Roberto Bellarosa Ma Voie Co-Writer
Just The Way You Love Me Shane Filan You & Me Co-Writer
One More Sleep Leona Lewis Christmas, With Love Co-Writer
Going Under Michael Paynter Weary LoveCo-Writer
2014Nothing Without You Olly Murs Never Been Better Co-Writer
The First Time Ella Henderson Chapter One Vocal Producer
Give Your Heart Away
2015Left OutLEGENDN/ACo-Writer
She Ain't Me Sinead Harnett N/ACo-Writer
Cry For Help HomeTown HomeTown Co-Writer
Me 4 U OMI Me 4 U Co-Writer
TroubleMajor MyjahTroubleCo-Writer
Start Again Ben Haenow Ben Haenow Co-Writer
Breakfast Fleur East Love, Sax and Flashbacks Co-Writer
Love Me Like You Little Mix Get Weird Co-Writer
The Fall Markus Feehily Fire Co-Writer / Backing Vocals
2016Gets No Better (2.0) feat. Serayah Empire Cast Empire: Original Soundtrack Season 2 Co-Writer
Hair feat. Sean Paul Little Mix Get Weird Co-Writer
Shout Out To My Ex Glory Days Co-Writer
Beep BeepCo-Writer / Backing Vocals
Good Things Come To Those Who Wait Nathan Sykes Unfinished Business Co-Writer / Backing Vocals
Hurt Anymore Samantha Jade & Cyrus TBACo-Writer
2017 Unpredictable Olly Murs & Louisa Johnson 24 HRS Co-Writer / Backing Vocals
Giants Lights Skin & Earth Co-Writer
Heavy Anne-Marie Speak Your Mind Co-Writer
The Thing About Love Matt Terry Trouble Co-Writer / Backing Vocals
2018Start Over Again New Hope Club Non Album SingleCo-Writer
Monday Blues Exo-CBX Blooming Days Co-Writer
Just My Type The Vamps Night & Day (Day Edition) Co-Writer / Backing Vocals
Friends Why Don't We 8 Letters Co-Writer / Backing Vocals
Take Your Love Olly Murs You Know I Know Co-Writer
여기 있을게 (Smile On My Face) Exo Don't Mess Up My Tempo Co-Writer
2019Girl Rak-Su TBACo-Writer
2020Small Talk Louise Heavy Love Co-Writer
Give You UpCo-Writer / Backing Vocals
Father's SonDeclan J DonovanHomesickCo-Writer
Habit Louis Tomlinson Walls Co-Writer
VibeMullallyNon Album SingleCo-Writer
My Last Breath James Newman The Things We DoCo-Writer / Backing Vocals
Look What We've Done New Rules Non Album SingleCo-Writer
After The Night Before Molly Hocking TBACo-Writer
Christmas Prayer Paloma Faith & Gregory Porter Infinite Things Co-Writer
2021Feels Like Love Syn Cole ft. MIYA MIYANon Album SingleCo-Writer
Vibe Matt Hunter Non Album SingleCo-Writer
Superstar SHINee Non Album SingleCo-Writer
Can't Stop Writing Songs About You Kylie Minogue and Gloria Gaynor Disco: Guest List Edition Co-Writer
Kiss Me It's Christmas Leona Lewis & Ne-Yo Christmas, With Love Always Co-Writer
Day One JLS 2.0 Co-Writer / Vocal Producer / Backing Vocals
Tango
PostcardVocal Producer
Priceless
Changed
Audition
Love Immortal
Glow
Nothing Without U
Secrets Monsta X The Dreaming Co-Writer
Woman Leigh-Anne Pinnock Boxing Day (Soundtrack)Co-Writer
2022Happy Josef Salvat IslandsCo-Writer
1, 2, 7 (Time Stops) NCT 127 2 Baddies - The 4th Album Co-Writer
Pasta New Rules Go The DistanceCo-Writer
Seat At The Table The Vamps Non Album SingleCo-Writer
Love Me Hard Sugababes The Lost Tapes Co-Writer
No Regrets
I'm Alright
2023Single Lou Elliotte TBACo-Writer
Put Your Hands Up Marvin Humes Non Album SingleCo-Writer
The Birds Bank & Ranx feat. Zach ZoyaNon Album SingleCo-Writer
I Am Now United The Musical: Welcome To The Night Of Your Life Co-Writer
When The Rain Comes Sugababes TBACo-Writer
Can't Say Goodbye KEY Good & Great - The 2nd Mini Album Co-Writer
2024DowntimeTyler LewisTBACo-Writer

With Triple 8

YearSingleChart positions
UK
2003"Knockout"
8
"Give Me a Reason"
9

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "UK is Eurovision winner after all". M Magazine (Performing Rights Society). 19 May 2011.
  2. "Little Mix are making "magic" today". Popjustice. 20 April 2012. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
  3. "Ell/Nikki – Running Scared". Eurovision official website. Retrieved 6 June 2012.