Johnny McDaid

Johnny McDaid
Background information
Born (1976-07-24) July 24, 1976
Derry, Northern Ireland
Genres Indie rock, alternative rock, pop, dance
Occupation(s) Musician, producer, songwriter
Instruments Guitar, piano, vocals
Years active 1994–present
Labels Vandit, Universal
Associated acts Snow Patrol, Vega4, Paul van Dyk, Ed Sheeran

John "Johnny" McDaid (born July 24, 1976)[1] is an Northern Irish songwriter, musician, producer, and recording artist from Derry.[2]

Early life

One of six children of John (died 2011) and Pauline McDaid,[1] Johnny McDaid attended St Bridgid's Primary School,[3] Carnhill,[1] and St Columb's College.[1]

Career

McDaid was the singer and songwriter of the band Vega4, whose second album You and Others was produced by Jacknife Lee. Its first single, "Life Is Beautiful", was featured on the US Contemporary Radio Charts Top 40 for 12 weeks in 2007, and was the song used for the theatrical trailer of My Sister's Keeper. In 2009, McDaid was the first person to sign to Snow Patrol's publishing company, Polar Patrol Publishing.[4]

McDaid went on to play guitar and piano and sing backing vocals in the alternative rock band Snow Patrol.

McDaid's songs have been featured on many television shows, including Grey's Anatomy, One Tree Hill, The Hills, Pushing Daisies, Defying Gravity, and has been used for many HBO network season campaigns, among others. His songs have also been used on various advertising campaigns including: Land Rover, Jeep, and RTÉ, and in feature films, including Into the Blue, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and Sex Drive. McDaid produced the "Snow Patrol Remix" of U2's "Unknown Caller" in January 2010.

McDaid also has a studio, Fieldwork Music, in North London where he writes, produces and mixes with and for various artists and songwriters. He has used Fieldwork as a project name for song releases, including the single "This Is Not The End", which featured in a trailer for the film Edge of Tomorrow.[5]

In 2012, Example released his album The Evolution of Man. The debut single "Say Nothing", co-written with McDaid was released in September 2012, debuting at number two on the UK Official Charts.[6] The song was received positively overall and became the best selling song from the album. Digital Spy rated it four stars, calling it "an electronic anthem that's ready to take over the airwaves" and commenting that it "maintains a sense of depth, proving that despite his questionable celebrity jibes his talent still comes out on top."[7]

Collaborations

Known to work with styles of music from dance and pop to acoustic singer songwriters, McDaid has written and produced tracks for Ed Sheeran, Harry Styles, Carina Round, Ingrid Michaelson, Gary Go, Example, and Rosi Golan. He has also worked with Iain Archer, Declan O'Rourke, Tonio K, and Freelance Hellraiser. He wrote and produced the title track for the movie House of Fools, which was directed by Academy Award-nominated director Eva Isaksen, and has written and produced records for Sony BMG, Universal Music Group, EMI, PIAS Recordings, Mushroom Records, and Capitol Records.

McDaid worked with Paul Van Dyk, resulting in "Time of Our Lives", the number one club chart single from the Grammy Award-nominated album Reflections. He also wrote and performed the number one club chart hit "Home" for Paul van Dyk. The single was awarded Best Track at the 2009 Trance Awards. McDaid has performed with Paul van Dyk at selected shows.

In January 2013, McDaid and Gary Lightbody performed at the "Sons & Daughters" concert in Derry, McDaid's hometown, to mark the opening of the city's UK City of Culture year.[8] In early 2013, McDaid moved to Nashville, Tennessee with singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran to work with him on his second album. Sheeran and McDaid are close friends and later moved to Los Angeles together to continue working on Sheeran's sophomore record.[9] In November 2013, Sheeran posted a picture of himself and McDaid on Instagram stating that they had been making the record together for two years and that it was now complete.[10]

Personal life

McDaid began dating former Friends actress Courteney Cox in late 2013.[11] The couple announced their engagement on 26 June 2014.[12]

He has a tattoo on his left arm reading "Nuair is gá dom filleadh abaile, is tú mo réalt eolais" ("When I need to get home you're my guiding light"), an Irish translation of the song "Guiding Light" by fellow Irishman Foy Vance. Ed Sheeran and Vance both have the same tattoo. The song was written for Johnny's late father, John McDaid, Sr., who died in July 2011. "Guiding Light" was recorded with Sheeran featuring on vocals, and McDaid on vocals and piano.[13][14]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Devlin, Patricia (4 August 2014). "Courteney Cox is a 'wee pet' - Johnny McDaid's mum gives seal of approval after engaged stars visit Derry". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 4 December 2015. ...mum-of-six Pauline told how singer Ed Sheeran joined the family and Courteney for a party in their home last weekend to mark Johnny’s 38th birthday ... [on] July 24.
  2. ↑ "Johnny's on Patrol after taking Berlin". Derry Journal. Northern Ireland. 20 November 2009. Archived from the original on 11 October 2015. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
  3. ↑ Hutcheon, Erin (2 June 2015). "Picture Special: St Brigid’s P.S. celebrate 40 years". Derry Journal (Northern Ireland). Archived from the original on 2 August 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  4. ↑ "Who are we?". Polar Patrol Publishing. Archived from the original on 9 February 2015. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
  5. ↑ "Snow Patrol – Facebook". 14 December 2013. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  6. ↑ "Example UK Official Chart Entries". Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  7. ↑ "Example: 'Say Nothing' – Single review". Digital Spy. 12 September 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  8. ↑ "Sons And Daughters". Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  9. ↑ "Ed Sheeran Answers Questions". 1051 The Buzz. 9 April 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
  10. ↑ "Ed Sheeran & Johnny McDaid". Instagram.
  11. ↑ "Courtney Cox dating Snow Patrol rocker Johnny McDaid as couple look loved-up on Christmas date". The Mirror. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
  12. ↑ "I’m engaged to him!". Courteney Cox verified Twitter page. 26 June 2014. Archived from the original on 5 July 2014.
  13. ↑ "Interview With Foy Vance". groundsounds. 10 September 2013. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
  14. ↑ "Interview With Foy Vance & Ed Sheeran". The Independent. 9 August 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2013.

Sources

External links

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