Mark Hill (musician)

Last updated

Mark Hill
Birth nameMark Leslie Hill
Also known asMark Hill, Artful
Born (1972-12-22) 22 December 1972 (age 51)
Cwmbran, Wales
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Years active1990s–present
Labels
  • Fagin Records
  • Centric Records
  • Public Demand Records
  • Workhouse Records
  • FFRR
  • London
  • Sound Proof
  • 60hz Records
Website www.markhillmusic.com

Mark Leslie Hill (born 22 December 1972, Cwmbran) is a Welsh musician, songwriter and record producer. He rose to fame as one half of the Artful Dodger and co-writer and producer of Craig David's multi-platinum debut studio album, Born to Do It . Since he began releasing music in 1997, Hill has achieved four Ivor Novello Awards, a number one album, two number one singles and over 10 million records sales worldwide.

Contents

Early life

Hill got his first guitar at eight years old; he would play along to the radio and immerse himself in songs by artists such as Stevie Wonder and George Benson. Throughout his early years and teens, Hill played the drums in brass bands, rock bands and orchestras, but the plan was to study to become an architect. After persuasion from his music teacher and uncle to also study music (and with the prospect of a seven-year degree becoming less appealing), Hill moved to Southampton to study music at university. After joining a band as a percussionist, he and the bass player from the band decided to go into business together by setting up a recording studio. It was through the brief trading period of the studio that Hill met future latter half of Artful Dodger, Pete Devereux. They produced several speed garage bootlegs, and, while working as DJs, they met Craig David.

Career

Artful Dodger recorded "Re-Rewind (The Crowd Say Bo Selecta)" with Craig David on vocals. It was released by Relentless Records, after signing the track from Public Demand, and it peaked at number two in the UK Singles Chart in 1999. [1]

Artful Dodger continued to create successful tracks following the success of "Re-Rewind", with "Movin' Too Fast" (featuring Romina Johnson), being picked up by Locked on Records and "Woman Trouble" (featuring Craig David and Robbie Craig), being signed up by Pete Tong's FFRR label. This was followed by the debut studio album, It's All About the Stragglers . In 2001, this incarnation of Artful Dodger ended. [2] While working on the Artful Dodger album, Hill started and ran a record label under Universal Records, with Lucian Grainge, known as Sound Proof. [3]

Following the completion of Craig David's Born to Do It , Hill bought a house in Ibiza and set up his own studio there. [3] [4] He started working with David on his second studio album, while living and working as a DJ on the island. [4] Hill retained an interest in developing emerging UK talent and he formed The stiX, a live band, featuring Michelle Escoffery, Lifford and Corinne Bailey Rae. [5]

Hill subsequently took a break from music, getting married, having three children and focussing on other business ventures. Music had become a pastime rather than a career, but he returned to the studio in the late 2000s. By 2011, Hill was back as Artful, releasing new music on his own label, Workhouse Records.[ citation needed ]

On 11 November 2011, Mark together with Ridney, [6] were invited by Matt "Producer Matt" Auckland to join Voice FM, presenting a new two hour dance music show. The Global House Party, [7] (formerly known as the Artful & Ridney Show), airs every Friday across Southampton on 103.9 Voice FM, and syndicated worldwide to 15 stations in six countries. [8] This ended after 300+ episodes on 1 May 2018 after the death of Matt "Producer Matt" Auckland. [9]

Discography

Albums

Singles

All of their subsequent hit singles have also been collaborations:

YearTitleChart positionsAlbum
UK Singles Chart [1]
1997"The Revenge of Popeye"Non-album singles
"Something"
(featuring Craig David)
1998"If You Love Me" – Mark Hill
"The Messenger"
"What You Gonna Do"
(featuring Craig David)
2 It's All About the Stragglers
1999"Movin' Too Fast"
(featuring Romina Johnson)
2
"Re-Rewind (The Crowd Say Bo Selecta)"
(featuring Craig David)
2
2000"Woman Trouble"
(featuring Craig David)
6
"Movin' Too Fast (Remix)"
(featuring Romina Johnson)
2
"Woman Trouble"
(featuring Robbie Craig and Craig David)
6
"Please Don't Turn Me On"
(featuring Lifford)
4
2001"Think About Me"
(featuring Michelle Escoffery)
11
"TwentyFourSeven"
(featuring Melanie Blatt)
6
"It Ain't Enough"
(Dreem Teem, Coco Star vs. Artful Dodger)
20
2002"Ladies"
(featuring General Levy and Roachie)
Non-album singles
2003"Ruff Neck Sound"
(featuring Richie Dan and Sevi G)
2006"Flex"
(featuring Vula)
2011"Could Just Be the Bassline" [10]
(featuring Kal Lavelle)
2012"Do What We Do"
(with Ridney featuring Aaron James Cashell)
"Rhapsody"
(with Ridney)
2013"Architect"
(featuring Cairo)
Unfinished Business EP
"Wasteman"
"He Loves Me"
(featuring Terri Walker)
"Quick"
"Planes, Trains & Migraines"
"Missing You" [11]
(with Ridney featuring Terri Walker, co-written Donae'o)
Non-album single

Related Research Articles

Artful Dodger was originally a UK garage duo featuring songwriters and producers Mark Hill and Pete Devereux. They achieved notoriety in the 1990s and early 2000s, releasing seven consecutive singles all of which charted in the United Kingdom Top 20. During this period, the then-unknown Craig David was featured on the track "Re-Rewind". The single launched David's career, landing at #2 in the UK singles chart. Hill and Devereux won numerous accolades, including the 2000 UK Producers of the Year and Ivor Novello recognition for their songwriting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Craig David</span> British singer (born 1981)

Craig Ashley David is a British singer and songwriter who rose to fame in 1999, featuring on the single "Re-Rewind" by Artful Dodger. David's debut studio album, Born to Do It, was released in 2000, after which he has released a further five studio albums and worked with a variety of artists such as Sting, Tinchy Stryder, Big Narstie, Kano and Jay Sean. David has 20 UK top 40 singles, and seven UK top 40 albums, selling over 15 million records worldwide as a solo artist.

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<i>Born to Do It</i> 2000 studio album by Craig David

Born to Do It is the debut studio album by English singer Craig David, released in the United Kingdom on 14 August 2000 by Wildstar Records and in the United States later in 2001 by Atlantic Records. Following exposure from his work with British group Damage, David began performing vocals for garage duo Artful Dodger. During this time, Wildstar Records became aware of David, offering him a development deal before offering an album contract. The recording for the album began in 1999 before David had acquired a record contract, the recording lasted until 2000 and was composed by David himself and Mark Hill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TwentyFourSeven (song)</span> 2001 single by Artful Dodger featuring Melanie Blatt

"TwentyFourSeven" is a song by UK garage duo Artful Dodger. The first version of the song is included on their debut studio album It's All About the Stragglers (2000), and features a singer named Nicole. The single version features All Saints member Melanie Blatt and was released on 3 September 2001, peaking at number six on the UK Singles Chart. Since it was recorded just before the split of All Saints, it was decided to include this song on the group's All Hits album as well.

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"Fill Me In" is the debut solo single of British singer Craig David. It was released on 3 April 2000 as the lead single from his debut studio album, Born to Do It (2000). The song debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart on 9 April 2000. "Fill Me In" was then released in the United States on 22 May 2001 and peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100. According to the Official Charts Company, it was the 10th-best-selling single of 2000 in the UK, having sold 573,000 copies.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 30. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  2. Paul Ridney, "Re-Rewind Artful Dodger feat. Craig David [Secrets of a Dance Hit with Ridney]". SoundCloud . Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  3. 1 2 Sam, "Mark Hill/Artful Dodger [Producer]". Speakhertz.com. 24 April 2019. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  4. 1 2 Mya Joel, "Artful At Ballyhoo and Interview with Mark Hill". The UpComing. 9 May 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  5. "Best of records of the week issues 1–100" (PDF). Hit Sheet. No. 100. 27 July 2007. pp. 18–19. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  6. "RIDNEY – DJ, Producer & Remixer | James Talk & Ridney". Ridney.tv. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  7. "djbook Resources and Information". Djbook.co. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  8. "103.9 Voice FM – New site coming soon". Voicefmradio.co.uk. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  9. Daily Echo (13 May 2018). "Unity 101 Community Radio and Voice FM Southampton DJ Matt Auckland has died at the age of 40" . Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  10. "Artful – Could Just Be The Bassline (Feat. Kal Lavelle) Official Video". YouTube. 7 September 2011. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  11. "Artful & Ridney ft. Terri Walker – Missing You (Ridney Re-work)". YouTube. 6 February 2013. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2013.