William Wiik Larsen
William Wiik Larsen is a Norwegian record producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist based in Los Angeles, California. He has crafted several global and US hits and have sold over 30 million singles since 2014. With notable records like "Am I Wrong" for Nico & Vinz ,"H.O.L.Y." for Florida Georgia Line, "Stay" for Kygo, "Play That Song" for Train and "Darkside" for Alan Walker)
William Wiik Larsen | |
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Background information | |
Also known as | Will IDAP, Nasty Kutt |
Born | Oslo, Norway | September 15, 1986
Genres | Pop, Hip hop, Country music, Rock music, Electronic dance music |
Occupation(s) | Record producer & Songwriter |
Years active | 2005–present |
Labels | IDAP Music |
Associated acts | Train, Nico & Vinz, Kygo, Florida Georgia Line, Maty Noyes, Akon, Method Man & Redman, Jessie J, Stargate |
Early life
Larsen was born in Oslo, Norway. His father was a professional musician and his mother a singer. Growing up in a musical family, he was exposed to instruments, drum machines, keyboards and turntables from an early age .[1] At the age of 6 he started playing the drums in the school band. He later moved on to study drums and percussion at the Norwegian Academy of Music (Norges Musikkhøyskole) at the age of 10.
DJ & artist career
At age 14, Larsen started touring and competing in several DJ competitions under the aka Nasty kutt, among them the DMC National DJ Championships which he won 2005 and 2006, to go on to represent Norway in the World finals (DMC World DJ Championships[2]).
In 2004, Larsen joined music-collective and record label Pass It Records, where he released the official mixtape Homework the same year. During his time at Pass It Records he would DJ for several of the Norway's more prominent urban acts. In 2005 retired from DJing and went on to focus on music production.
In 2011, IDAP Music in collaboration with Universal Music, launched the single Min Ting at VG-lista Topp 20. The single featured rappers like Norwegian Vinni from Paperboys, Yosef from Madcon, Lars Vaular og OnklP, and Swedish rappers Timbuktu & Promoe.[3]
Music production & songwriting career
In 2008, Larsen and his longtime business partner and manager Julian Alexander, launched the production and publishing company IDAP Music and started taking on more international projects.
In the years to come, Larsen worked in the Scandinavian music industry as an urban/pop producer with 21 IFPI[4] (International Federation of the Phonographic Industry) Certifications, 5 of them being multi-platinum.
In 2009, he had his first major US placement with the song City Lights featuring Bun B from Method Man and Redman's album Blackout 2. The Def Jam/Universal release debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard 200 album chart.[5] The same year Larsen started his collaboration with Envy (now known as Nico & Vinz).
In 2013 Larsen relocated to Los Angeles and signed a worldwide Joint Venture deal with IDAP Music & BMG Chrysalis.
Bands and artists
The collaboration between Larsen and Nico & Vinz started in 2009. Their first single One Song,produced and co written by Larsen, became their breakthrough in Norway,[6] and charted at #19 on the Norwegian billboard and received massive airplay. The music video for the song also won a Norwegian Grammy for video of the year. Larsen and Nico & Vinz reconnected in 2011, and together with Larsen they created the sound for the follow-up album Black Star Elephant. Including "Am I Wrong",[7] and topped the iTunes charts in over 40 countries. The album was recorded in Oslo, Botswana and Los Angeles. Larsen produced and co wrote 10 songs on their international album Blackstar Elephant.
Larsen produced/co wrote 6 songs on Train (band)'s 10th album A Girl, a Bottle, a Boat working closely with singer Patrick Monahan including platinum single Play That Song (Train song) . The songs were written and recorded in Los Angeles and Seattle
Larsen co wrote the bands 4x platinum single H.O.L.Y. alongside songwriters Busbee and Nate Cyphert, winning BMI Country song of the year among other certifications.
Larsen produced and co wrote Kygo's hit single Stay (Kygo song) along with dj Kygo and singer Maty Noyes, landing them 5 gold and 1 double platinum certification. The song also charted as one of the most streamed 100 songs on Spotify in 2016 . He also co wrote and produced Noyes debut single In My Mind (Maty Noyes song) on Republic Records.
Selected discography
Year | Artist | Album | Song | Credit |
---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | Scotty Sire | Single | "Words" | Producer & Writer |
2019 | Strawhatz | Single | "POWER UP!" | Producer & Writer |
2019 | Strawhatz | Single | "Drop The Beat" | Producer & Writer |
2019 | Running Lights | Single | "Into U" | Producer & Writer |
2019 | American Authors | Single | "Champion" (feat. Beau Young Prince) | Producer & Writer |
2019 | Skip Marley | Single | "Thats Not True" feat Damian Marley | Producer & Writer |
2019 | Running Lights | Single | "Not In Love" | Producer & Writer |
2019 | Running Lights | Single | "Speechless" | Producer & Writer |
2019 | Madcon | Single | "Callin You" | Producer & Writer |
2018 | Alan Walker | Single | "Darkside" | Writer |
2018 | Maty Noyes | Love Songs From A Lolita EP | "Boys Like you" | Producer |
2018 | AJ Mitchell | Hopeful EP | "High Like You" | Producer & Writer |
2018 | Train | Single | "Call Me Sir" feat Cam (singer) & Travie McCoy | Producer & Writer |
2017 | Jessie Reyez | Kiddo | "Gatekeeper" | Producer & Writer |
2017 | Train | a girl a bottle a boat | "You Better Believe" | Producer & Writer |
2017 | Train | a girl a bottle a boat | "Lost and Found" | Producer & Writer |
2017 | Train | a girl a bottle a boat | "Valentine" | Producer & Writer |
2016 | Train | a girl a bottle a boat | "Working Girl" | Producer & Writer |
2016 | Train | a girl a bottle a boat | "Lottery" | Producer & Writer |
2016 | Keke Palmer | Single | "Figure You Out" | Producer & Writer |
2016 | Maty Noyes | Single | "In My Mind" | Producer & Writer |
2016 | Nano | Single | "Day I'm Gone" | Producer & Writer |
2016 | Kevin Hart | Single | "Give It Back" feat Akon | Producer & Writer |
2016 | Train | Single | "Play That Song" | Producer & Writer |
2016 | Tish Hyman | "Dedicated to" | "Lesbehonest" | Producer |
2016 | Tish Hyman | "Dedicated to" | "Absolutely" | Producer & Writer |
2016 | Tish Hyman | "Dedicated to" | "Dreams" Feat Ty Dolla Sign & Fabolous | Producer |
2016 | Tish Hyman | "Dedicated to" | "4 Letter Word" | Producer & Writer |
2016 | Broiler | Single | "Daydream" | Producer & Writer |
2016 | Florida Georgia Line | Single | "H.O.L.Y." | Writer |
2016 | Broiler | Single | "Money" Feat Bekuh BOOM" | Producer & Writer |
2015 | Tish Hyman | "Dedicated to" | "Home For Christmas" | Producer & Writer |
2015 | Kygo | Single | "Stay" Feat Maty Noyes" | Producer & Writer |
2015 | Nano | Single | "Perfect Melody" | Producer & Writer |
2015 | Broiler | Single | "Fly By Night" Feat Tish Hyman" | Producer & Writer |
2015 | Nano | Single | "Lion" | Producer & Writer |
2015 | Tish Hyman | "Dedicated to" | "Subway Art" | Producer |
2014 | Nico & Vinz | "The Good Lie" Movie Soundtrack | "Find A Way" feat. Emmanuel Jal | Producer & Writer |
2014 | Jessie J | Sweet Talker | "Personal" | Producer & Writer |
2014 | Nico & Vinz | Black Star Elephant | "Am I Wrong" | Producer & Writer[6] |
2014 | Nico & Vinz | Black Star Elephant | "Know What I'm Not" | Producer & Writer |
2014 | Nico & Vinz | Black Star Elephant | "Miracles" | Producer & Writer |
2014 | Nico & Vinz | Black Star Elephant | "My Melody" Feat Ntirelang Berman | Producer & Writer |
2014 | Nico & Vinz | Black Star Elephant | "Another Day" | Producer & Writer |
2014 | Nico & Vinz | Black Star Elephant | "People" | Producer & Writer |
2014 | Nico & Vinz | Black Star Elephant | "Imagine" | Producer & Writer |
2014 | Nico & Vinz | Black Star Elephant | "Homeless" Feat Ntirelang Berman | Producer & Writer |
2014 | Nico & Vinz | Black Star Elephant | "When The Day Comes" | Producer & Writer |
2013 | Dirt Nasty | Palatial | "Bang Her" feat. Too $hort | Producer |
2013 | Dirt Nasty | Palatial | "Threesome" | Producer & Writer |
2012 | Angel Haze | Reservation | "CHI (Need To Know)" | Producer |
2012 | Three Loco | Three Loco EP | "Beer" | Producer |
2012 | Three Loco | Three Loco EP | "Make Em Wait" | Producer |
2012 | Envy | The Magic Soup And The Bittersweet Faces | "One Song" | |
2010 | Madcon | Contraband | "Walk Out The Door" | Producer & Writer |
2010 | Madcon | Contraband | "City Lights" feat. Bun B | Producer & Writer |
2009 | Method Man & Redman | Blackout! 2 | "City Lights" feat. Bun B | Producer |
2008 | Karpe Diem | Fire Vegger | "Krølla 50'lapp y'all" | Producer |
Scandinavian awards and nominations
Year | Award | Category | Song/Album | Artist |
---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | NRJ Radio Awards | Most Played Song of the Year | “Kjører på” | Madcon |
2011 | MTV Europe Music Awards | Norwegian Album of the Year | “Back to business” | Erik & Kriss |
2011 | Swedish Grammy Awards | Best Hip Hop/Soul Album of the Year[8] | “Sagolandet” | Timbuktu |
2011 | Norwegian Grammy Awards | Video of the Year[6] | “One Song” | Envy |
2010 | Norwegian Grammy Awards | Best Hip Hop album | “Helt om natten, helt om dagen” | Lars Vaular |
2010 | MTV Europe Music Awards | Norwegian Album of the Year | “Aldri solgt en løgn” | Karpe Diem |
2008 | Norwegian Grammy Awards | Best Hip Hop album | “Fire Vegger” | Karpe Diem |
2006 | MTV Europe Music Awards | Norwegian Album of the Year | “It is what it is” | el Axel |
References
- "Nasty Kutt". discogs.com. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- DMCWorld.com, Dan @. "DMC World DJ Championships". dmcdjchamps.com. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- "Hiphoptoppmøte på VG-lista-showet på Rådhusplassen". vg.no. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- "About — IFPI — Representing the recording industry worldwide". ifpi.org. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- "Eminem's 'Relapse' Tops Billboard 200". billboard.com. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- http://www.nobelpeaceprizeconcert.org/artists/envy/
- "Nico & Vinz Don't Care What You Think About 'Am I Wrong?'". mtv.com. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- "Timbuktu wins at the Swedish Grammis - Bad Taste Empire". badtasteempire.com. 15 February 2012. Retrieved 18 April 2017.