Liam Howe
| Liam Howe | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | The Zip |
| Born | 1974 (age 39–40) |
| Origin | Hartlepool, England |
| Genres | Electronica, Dance, Pop and indie pop |
| Occupations | Producer, mixer and programmer |
| Instruments | Synthesizer, guitar, bass, programming, string arrangement |
| Years active | 1991-present |
| Labels | One Little Indian, Columbia |
| Associated acts | Sneaker Pimps |
Liam Coverdale Howe (born 1974, Elwick, Hartlepool, United Kingdom) is a London based record producer, musician and songwriter.
Musical beginnings
In 1992, he formed the dance act F.R.I.S.K. with fellow northerner and childhood friend Chris Corner, and released the white label The Soul Of Indiscretion EP. The act was subsequently signed to Clean Up Records, a subsidiary of One Little Indian Records.
Whilst studying fine art at Reading University, Howe formed the production company Line of Flight with Corner and other art students Joe Wilson and David Westlake. They released The World as a Cone EP under this title in 1993. Line of Flight produced many of the acts on Clean Up Records, and contributed numerous remixes to the 1990s dance scene.
Sneaker Pimps
Wanting a bigger audience, Howe and Corner began writing for a more song based project. Ian Pickering, a lifelong friend of Howe's joined the writing team as a lyricist. With an album of material written, singer Kelli Dayton (who had been introduced to Howe and Corner through Derek Birkett of One Little Indian) was invited to sing, and the band Sneaker Pimps was formed. The debut album Becoming X was recorded in Howe's father's house in Elwick; a small village on the outskirts of Hartlepool. Howe and Corner produced the record under the 'Line of Flight' umbrella, with contributions from producers Jim Abbiss and Flood (producer).
Howe also played keyboards with Sneaker Pimps, throughout their worldwide promotion of their three albums to date.
Howe, along with Corner and Pickering, received an ASCAP songwriting award for the Song 6 Underground.
Branching out
Through the success of Sneaker Pimps, Howe's writing and production skills gained international recognition with hits such as "6 Underground" and "Spin Spin Sugar", which led to collaborations with Marilyn Manson, Placebo, Echo & the Bunnymen, Natalie Imbruglia, Nerina Pallot, and Emilíana Torrini.
Howe and Wilson formed the band Ultrafox in 2001, with the German twins, Claudia and Connie Holzer. Ice Skating was released on User Friendly Records.
Although Howe, Corner and Pickering have written a fourth Sneaker Pimps album, it remains unrecorded. Corner relocated to Berlin with the success of his solo project IAMX, whilst Howe stayed in the UK to further his writing/production career. The pair have recently reunited, with Howe contributing synthesiser and recorder parts to the fifth IAMX album, The Unified Field.
Production and writing with other artists
Since Sneaker Pimps, Howe has written for, produced and developed a whole host of respected artists including Lana Del Rey, Ellie Goulding, Marina and the Diamonds, Tom Vek, Jessie Ware, Mikky Ekko, Adele, Twigs, The Good Natured, Professor Green and Paul Buchanan of The Blue Nile.
In 2008 and 2009, Howe worked extensively on the Marina and the Diamonds debut album The Family Jewels co-writing and/or producing the majority of tracks. The album entered the UK charts on its week of release at #5. He also worked with Diamandis on her follow up album, Electra Heart. The album entered the UK charts on its week of release at #1.
In 2010 Howe produced CocknBullKid's debut album Adulthood on Island Records, including the co-writes 'Yellow' and 'The Hoarder' with Hannah Robinson, and 'Mexico' with Gonzales. Also in 2010 the track 'Little Dreams' was released on the Ellie Goulding reissue Bright Lights. The song was co-written and produced by Howe.
In the summer of 2010 Howe, along with others, produced Tom Vek's much anticipated second album Leisure Seizure.
In 2011 Howe wrote several songs with Lana Del Rey and other collaborators such as Guy Chambers for her debut album Born to Die. The track Lolita, written with Hannah Robinson features on the record. Also in 2011 Howe has contributed writing and production to The Good Natured's soon to be debut release on Parlophone and Marina and the Diamonds follow up record, Electra Heart.
Howe Co-produced Twigs first EP in late 2012, contributing to her yet to be released 2013 debut LP. 2012 also saw collaborations with Foxes, Fallulah, Jessie Ware, St Lou Lou, Mikky Ekko, Hannah Peel and Charlene Soraia.
Producer/songwriter discography
- 2014: Foxes - Glorious - Sign Of The Times
- "Night Glo"
- 2012: Marina and the Diamonds - Electra Heart - 679 Recordings
- "Teen Idle"
- "Fear and Loathing"
- "Buy The Stars" (Deluxe track)
- "E.V.O.L" (Valentine's Day track)
- 2010: Marina and the Diamonds - The Family Jewels - 679 Recordings
- "Are You Satisfied?"
- "Shampain"
- "I Am Not A Robot"
- "Mowgli's Road"
- "Obsessions
- "The Outsider"
- "Hermit the Frog"
- "Rootless"
- "Numb"
- "Guilty"
- "Seventeen"
- 2010: Ellie Goulding - Lights - Polydor Records
- "Little Dreams" (Bright Lights reissue)
Pictures
Howe's compositions have appeared in many films, most notably The Saint, Danny Boyle's A Life Less Ordinary and Alfonso Cuarón's Y tu mamá también. In 2009, he composed the soundtrack to the Sundance multi award winning film Obselidia, using an orchestra of obsolete instruments. Howe has directed music videos for both Sneaker Pimps, and the electronic act, Motor. As a visual artist, Howe has exhibited installations in galleries such as London's Institute of Contemporary Arts and the CCA Glasgow.
Solo career
Howe is signed as a solo artist to Columbia Records. It is unknown exactly what the project name is, however he has previously released material under the name 'The Zip'. The record is believed to be a 'producers' record, whereby he has invited collaborators to contribute performances. Collaborations with Alan Vega, Neneh Cherry, Paul Buchanan, and Corner are expected for release in 2013.