Ayak Thiik
Ayak Thiik (also known as, "Ayak Tracks") is a South Sudanese singer-songwriter and vocal producer.[1][2] She is primarily known for writing hit songs and appearing on vocals for artists like Cee Lo Green, James Morrison ("You Make It Real"), Chip ("Until You Were Gone"), Tinchy Stryder ("Never Leave You and "In My System"), and Dappy ("No Regrets" and "Rockstar"), among others.[2]
Ayak Thiik | |
|---|---|
| Born | Sudan, lives in London |
| Genres | R&B, neo soul, hip hop, EDM, Pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, composer, sudio producer, voice teacher, musical arranger |
| Instruments | Piano, keyboards, sampler, guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Labels | Cinematic_Music_Group Universal Music Group Takeover Roc Nation Sony/ATV BMG Chrysalis UK Warner Music Polydor PB Management Syco Music |
| Associated acts | Pusha T, Skrillex, Little Mix, Cee Lo Green, The Vamps, Lost Frequencies, Tinchy Stryder, dappy, Chip, James Morrison, Cheryl Cole, Talib Kweli, Kylie Minogue, Milk & Sugar, JLS, Nabiha |
Background
Ayak Thiik's love for music was evident at an early age, and she was able to sing long before she was able to talk. Ayak Thiik had signed a record deal with German record label Stereo Wonderland, Polydor, Universal and recorded an album – making her the first Sudanese artist to be signed by a major label worldwide.[2][3] Thiik entered and won the Princes Trust Urban Music Festival's – Unsigned Talent Search, in the United Kingdom. She ultimately won a spot in a line-up which featured Beyoncé, as well as Alicia Keys and a host of top UK artists.[2]
Song writing and vocal production
In 2006, Ayak Thiik wrote and featured on the Cincinnati native hip-hop producer Hi-Tek's second album, 'Hi-Teknology²: The Chip’. The track "Can we Go back" also featured Talib Kweli. Since then she has ventured into the house music world, working with German producers Milk & Sugar. Her dance music collaborations with Milk & Sugar have clocked up two consecutive UK chart toppers at number 1 and 2. Thiik's house music endeavors have taken her as far a field as Brazil, Singapore, Moscow, Russia and Lebanon.[2]
Having spent 18 months working on her song writing, she was offered a deal and signed by Takeover Entertainment. She has penned songs for Kelly Rowland, Mica Paris, Esmée Denters, JLS, Chip, Tinchy Stryder, The Wanted, Alexandra Burke, Lemar and Roc Nation's signed Bridget Kelly, among others.[2]
Her vocals have also appeared on Tinchy Stryder "Never Leave You" – Catch 22 album, "In My System", "Take the World" – Third Strike album, Kylie Minogue's "Everything is beautiful" – Aphrodite album, James Morrison's "You Make It Real – Songs For You Truths For Me album, Cheryl Cole's "Stand up" – 3 Words album, Cee-Lo Green's "Satisfied" – The Lady killer album, among others.[2]
In 2010, Thiik gained her first UK Singles Chart record as co-writer on Chip's "Until You Were Gone" featuring Esmée Denters. This went into the UK singles charts as at No. 3. She also co-wrote Tinchy Stryder's No. 10 hit "In My System", on which she also appeared on vocals but not the music video.[2]
Solo career
Ayak Thiik recorded and released a studio album entitled, Voices in My Head.[3] Her list of musical achievements continues. Ayak Thiik was featured on Liberty Bell Jolly Good TV Sky Arts 'Song Book' show by chance, after coming to the rescue of her hero and arguably the most successful songwriter of current generation Diane Warren who wrote the hits "Un-Break My Heart" (1996) by Toni Braxton, "How Do I Live Without You" (1997) by LeAnn Rimes, "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing (1998) by Aerosmith, and for many other artists.[2] Taken aback by Ayak Thiik's voice, Diane Warren has begun writing songs for Ayak Thiik and is determined to make her a star in her own right.[2] A documentary chronicling this will be filmed by the same production team.[2]
Selected production and writing credits
| Date | Artist | Song | Album | Label | SW/P | Album/Record chart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Hi-Tek | "Can We Go Back" | Hi-Teknology²: The Chip | Babygrande Records | SW | US Billboard 200: 38 |
| 2008 | James Morrison | "You Make It Real" | Songs for You, Truths for Me | Polydor Records | P | UK Singles Chart: 7
US Billboard 200: 49 |
| 2009 | Tinchy Stryder | "Never Leave You" | Catch 22 | Takeover | P | Euro Hot 100 Singles: 5
|
| Tata Young | "Ready For Love" | Ready for Love | Sony Music Thailand | SW | Thai Albums Chart: 1 | |
| Cheryl Cole | "Stand Up" | 3 Words | Fascination Records | P | Euro Top 100 Albums: 7
| |
| JLS | "Private" | JLS | Epic Records | SW | Irish Albums Chart: 1
| |
| 2010 | Chip | "Until You Were Gone" | I Am Chipmunk | Jive Records | SW | UK Singles Chart: 3
|
| Kylie Minogue | " Everything is Beautiful" | Aphrodite | Parlophone | P | Australian Alb. Chart: 2
US Billboard 200: 19 | |
| Tinchy Stryder | "In My System" | Third Strike | Takeover | SW/P | UK Singles Chart: 10 | |
| Tinchy Stryder | "Take the World" | SW | N/A | |||
| Cee Lo Green | "Satisfied" | The Lady Killer | Elektra Records | P | US Billboard 200: 9 | |
| 2011 | Dappy | "No Regrets" | Bad Intentions | Takeover | SW | UK Singles Chart: 1 |
| 2012 | Dappy | "Rockstar" | SW | UK Singles Chart: 2 | ||
| Marcus Collins | "It's Time" | Marcus Collins | RCA Records | SW | Scottish Alb. Chart: 8 | |
| 2012 | Misha B | "Do You Think of me?" | TBA | Relentless Records | SW | UK Singles Chart: 9 |
| Dappy | "Yin Yang" | Bad Intentions | Takeover | SW | UK Albums Chart: 6 | |
| 2013 | Little Mix | "A Different Beat" | Salute | Syco | SW | Australian Alb. Chart: 4 |
| 2014 | The Vamps | "Last Night" | Meet the Vamps | Mercury Records | SW | UK Singles Chart: 2 UK Albums Chart: 2 |
| Yogi featuring Pusha T | "Burial" | Burial EP | OWSLA | SW/P | TBA | |
| Perplexus (duo) featuring Charlie Brown (singer) | "Put you on" | Sonus | SW/P | |||
| Robin Stjernberg | "Body Language" | Lionheart Music Group | SW | Swedish Singles Chart: 1 | ||
| 2015 | The Prototypes | "Under" | City of Gold | Viper Recordings | SW/ P | UK Dance Chart: 22 |
| 2015 | Skrillex & Yogi featuring Pusha T, Moody Good & TrollPhace | "Burial" | OWSLA | SW/P | ||
| 2016 | Nabiha | "Weapon" | Sony Music | SW | ||
| Lali | "Boomerang" | Soy | Sony Music Argentina | SW | Argentine Albums (CAPIF): 1 | |
| Lost Frequencies | "Dance with Me" | Less Is More | Armada Music | SW | ||
| 2017 | Nabiha | "Young" | Sony Music | SW | ||
| KStewart | "Sex 4 breakfast" | Warner Bros. Records | SW | |||
| Nano Omar | "Hold On" | Warner Music Sweden | SW | Swedish Singles Chart: 3 | ||
| Melody Day (band) | Kiss on the Lips | LOEN Entertainment | SW | |||
| Hot Source ft Ayak | "Patience" | Island Records | SW | |||
| Paris and Simo ft Karen Harding | "Come as you are" | INgrooves | SW | |||
| 2018 | Wilkinson ft Sub Focus | "Take it up" | RAM Records | SW/P | ||
| Hardwell & Wildstylez ft Kifi | "Shine a light" | Revealed Recordings | SW | |||
| Claire Richards | "7 Billion" | "My Wildest Dreams" | Sony Music | SW |
References
- "Ayak Thiik". discogs. n.d.
- Janet Dibbs (n.d.). "Music Industry's Best Kept Secret – Creating No. 1 hits is her past time… DS reveals Ms Thiik". divascribe.com.
- "Voices in My Head – Album by Ayak Thiik". iTunes Store.
- "Ayak Thiik – Credits". AllMusic. n.d.