Will Sparks

Last updated

Will Sparks
Will Sparks @ Airbeat One 2018.jpg
Will Sparks playing live at the mainstage of Airbeat One Festival 2018
Background information
Birth nameWilliam James Sparks
Born (1993-03-15) 15 March 1993 (age 31)
Melbourne, Australia
Origin Melbourne, Australia
Genres
Occupation Producer, musician
Instrument(s)Ableton Live, guitar, piano
Years active2012–present
Labels

William James "Will" Sparks (born 15 March 1993) is an Australian DJ and music producer from Melbourne, Australia, [1] who is best known for his 2013 single "Bring It Back" with Joel Fletcher and his 2014 single "Ah Yeah So What!" featuring Wiley and Elen Levon.

Contents

He attended Camberwell High School and Caulfield Grammar in Melbourne, but dropped out at the end of year 11 to pursue a musical career. [2] His debut EP, Another Land, was released in Australia and debuted at number 35 in December 2014. [3]

Sparks has toured America, Europe and Asia and played at festivals such as TomorrowWorld, Tomorrowland, Stereosonic and Future Music Festival. [4] [ self-published source? ]

He was named the No. 1 Australian DJ in 2014. [5]

In January 2014, Will Sparks partnered with electronic music lifestyle brand Electric Family to produce a collaboration bracelet for which 100% of the proceeds are donated to Beyond Blue, a company that is working to reduce the impact of anxiety, depression and suicide in the community by raising awareness and understanding, empowering people to seek help, and supporting recovery, management and resilience.

In May 2014, Sparks embarked on a month long European tour. [6] He has continued to tour Europe every year until 2020.

From August until November 2014, Sparks alongside Timmy Trumpet and Joel Fletcher toured North America as part of their Bounce Bus Tour. [7] Following the tour he returned home for a homecoming tour. [8]

In September 2017, the video Spinnin' Records produced for Sparks' song called "Take Me" was discovered to consist almost entirely of footage from award-winning and Oscar-nominated animated short film "Requiem for Romance" [9] [10] Spinnin' Records did not seek permission to use visuals from the creators of the film, including animator Jonathan Ng. While Ng's takedown notice of the YouTube clips of the music video succeeded, Spinnin' Records continued to use images from Ng's video on their website and publicity material. Ng is exploring legal options against Spinnin' Records. Sparks claimed he had no knowledge of the alleged copyright, as he only produced the music for the accompanying video. [11]

DJ Mag Awards

Since 2015, Will Sparks has polled in the DJ Mag Top 100 DJ's poll. [12]

YearPoll Result
201578 [13]
201673 [14]
201783 [15]
201856 [16]
201957 [17]
202058 [18]
202156 [19]
202262 [20]

Sparksmania

In 2018, Will Sparks launched his own festival, Sparksmania. [21] Since the inaugural show, Sparksmania has been held in Adelaide and Brisbane featuring artists Marlo, Joel Fletcher, HP Boyz and Masked Wolf. [22]

On 30 September 2021, Will Sparks announced Sparksmania's first national tour which included shows in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide in January and February 2022. [23] Will Sparks was supported by Melbourne artists Short Round and Eric Sidey as well as Queensland's Yanzo. [24]

On 3 June 2022, Sparksmania was brought to Gothenburg, Sweden for summerburst festival. The first ever international Sparksmania.[ citation needed ]

Discography

Albums

List of albums, with selected chart positions
TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart
positions
AUS
Another Land
  • Released: 5 December 2014 [25]
  • Label: Ultra/Sony (88875054822)
35

Extended plays

List of EPs, with selected chart positions
TitleEP detailsPeak chart
positions
AUS
Nothing More, Nothing Less
  • Released: 9 July 2021 [26]
  • Label: CLUBWRK, Armada (ARMAS2032)

Charted singles

List of charted singles
TitleYearPeak chart positionsCertificationsLabel
AUS
[27]
FRA
[28]
NZ
"Ah Yeah!" [29] 201251Hussle Recordings
"Bring It Back" [30]
(with Joel Fletcher)
201333 Ones To Watch Records
"Catch" [32] 201422 Sony Music Entertainment
"Ah Yeah So What!"
(featuring Wiley and Elen Levon)
411634
  • ARIA: Platinum [33]
Ministry of Sound Australia
"Sick Like That"
(featuring Luciana) [34]
201597137 [35] Ultra Records
"—" denotes an album that did not chart or was not released.

Remixes

TitleYearOriginal artist(s)Label
"Get Free" [36] 2013 Major Lazer
Self-released
"Hello" [37] Stafford Brothers featuring Lil Wayne and Christina Milian
"Blurred Lines" [38] Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharrell Williams
"Afterturn"

(with Matt Watkins) [39]

Chadio
Self-released
"Ode To Oi" [40] TJR
"Canto Della Liberta" [41] 3rd Face
Self-released
"The Darkness" [42] Satoshi Tomiie
"Dynamo" [43] Laidback Luke and Hardwell
"Melbournia" [44] Timmy Trumpet and Chardy
Hussle Recordings
"#Selfie" [45] 2014 The Chainsmokers
"Maps" [46] Maroon 5
Self-released
"Uptown Funk" [47] Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars
"In Control" [48] 2015Yvng Jalapeño featuring Muki
"Be Together" [49] Major Lazer
"Lights Out"

(with Joel Fletcher) [50]

2016 360
Self-released
"I'm in Control" [51] AlunaGeorge featuring Popcaan
"Mo Bounce" [52] 2017 Iggy Azalea
"Stand Together" [53] Toneshifterz featuring CAYO
Big & Dirty Recordings
"Leave The Lights On" [54] 2018 Meiko
Clubwrk / Teamwrk Records
"Back In The Game" [55]
"Anything More" [56] 2019 Steve Aoki featuring Era Istrefi
Liberator Music
"Song I Sing" [57] 2020 Armin van Buuren and Haliene
Armada Music
"Little Things" [58] Louis The Child featuring Quinn XCII and Chelsea Cutler
"Devotion 2020" [59] Bingo Players, Felguk, and Fafaq
Musical Freedom

Awards and nominations

APRA Awards

The APRA Awards are presented annually from 1982 by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), "honouring composers and songwriters". They commenced in 1982. [60]

YearNominee / workAwardResultRef.
2014 "Bring it Back" (Will Sparks & Joel Fletcher)Dance Work of the YearNominated [61]

Music Victoria Awards

The Music Victoria Awards are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2006.

YearNominee / workAwardResultRef.
2014 Will SparksBest Electronic ActNominated [62] [63]

See also

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References

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  2. Sydney Morning Herald (2013). Sparks flies to LA on the rhythm of Melbourne Bounce. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
  3. "WILL SPARKS - ANOTHER LAND (ALBUM)". www.australian-charts.com. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  4. "Will Sparks Bio". willsparks.com.au. Archived from the original on 6 January 2015. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  5. "Will Sparks". stereosonic.com.au. Archived from the original on 6 January 2015.
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  7. "Will Sparks, Joel Fletcher and Timmy Trumpet join forces for US tour". itm.junkee.com. Archived from the original on 7 August 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
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  10. Zahed, Ramin (7 January 2014). "Jonathan Ng Discusses His 'Requiem for Romance'".
  11. "Here's What Animator Jonathan Ng Did When His Film Was Lifted By EDM Artist Will Sparks". Cartoon Brew. 2 October 2017.
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  21. "Lucky Ent, Bourne Recordings & Crown Melbourne Presents Sparks Mania". Moshtix. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
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  29. Ah Yeah , retrieved 10 September 2021
  30. Bring It Back by Will Sparks & Joel Fletcher , retrieved 10 September 2021
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  33. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2015 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  34. "iTunes Music – Sick Like That – Single by Will Sparks ft. Luciana". iTunes Store. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
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  36. Major Lazer - Get Free [feat. Amber of Dirty Projectors] (Will Sparks Remix) Download in description. , retrieved 10 September 2021
  37. Stafford Brothers Ft. Lil Wayne & Christina Milan - Hello (Will Sparks Remix) , retrieved 31 August 2021
  38. Blurred Lines (feat. T.I. & Pharrell) [Will Sparks Remix] by Robin Thicke, January 2013, retrieved 31 August 2021
  39. Chadio - Afterturn (Will Sparks & Matt Watkins Remix) Download in description. , retrieved 10 September 2021
  40. Ode to Oi (Will Sparks Remix) by TJR, January 2013, retrieved 10 September 2021
  41. 3rd Face - Canto Della Liberta (Will Sparks Remix) , retrieved 10 September 2021
  42. Satoshi Tomii - The Darkness (Will Sparks Remix) , retrieved 10 September 2021
  43. Dynamo (Will Sparks Remix) by Laidback Luke & Hardwell, 18 June 2013, retrieved 10 September 2021
  44. Melbournia (Will Sparks Edit) by Timmy Trumpet & Chardy, 28 June 2013, retrieved 31 August 2021
  45. #SELFIE (Will Sparks Remix) by The Chainsmokers, 17 June 2014, retrieved 31 August 2021
  46. Maroon 5 - Maps (Will Sparks Remix)*FREE DOWNLOAD* , retrieved 31 August 2021
  47. Uptown Funk (feat. Bruno Mars) [Will Sparks Remix] by Mark Ronson, 13 April 2015, retrieved 31 August 2021
  48. In Control (feat. Muki) [Will Sparks Remix] by Yvng Jalapeño, 27 November 2015, retrieved 10 September 2021
  49. Major Lazer - Be Together (feat. Wild Belle) [Will Sparks Remix] , retrieved 31 August 2021
  50. 360 - Lights Out (Will Sparks & Joel Fletcher Remix) [FREE DOWNLOAD] , retrieved 10 September 2021
  51. AlunaGeorge - I'm In Control Ft. Popcaan (Will Sparks Chill Remix)[FREE DOWNLOAD] , retrieved 10 September 2021
  52. M0 Bounce (Will Sparks Remix) , retrieved 31 August 2021
  53. Stand Together (Will Sparks Remix) [feat. CAYO] - Single by Toneshifterz & Will Sparks, 14 July 2017, retrieved 10 September 2021
  54. Leave the Lights On (Will Sparks Remix) by Meiko, 8 January 2018, retrieved 31 August 2021
  55. Back In the Game (Will Sparks Remix) by Meiko & Will Sparks, 28 February 2020, retrieved 31 August 2021
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