Gabrielle Aplin
Gabrielle Aplin | |
---|---|
Gabrielle Aplin at Bestival Festival, Isle of Wight 2015 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Gabrielle Ann Aplin |
Born |
[1] Sutton Benger, Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom | 10 October 1992
Origin | Sutton Benger, Wiltshire |
Genres | Folk, indie folk, indie rock |
Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, guitarist, pianist |
Instruments | Guitar, piano. |
Years active | 2008–present |
Labels | Never Fade, Parlophone, BA1 Records, Warner Bros |
Website |
gabrielleaplin |
Gabrielle Ann Aplin (born 10 October 1992) is an English singer-songwriter.[2] Aplin came to public attention after she gained a large online following by posting acoustic covers of songs on her YouTube channel.
In February 2012, Aplin signed a recording deal with Parlophone and began recording her début album. She gained mainstream attention the following November, when she was selected to record the soundtrack for a John Lewis television commercial with a cover of Frankie Goes to Hollywood's "The Power of Love", which charted at number 1 on the UK Singles Chart in December 2012.[3] Her début album English Rain, was released in May 2013 to positive reviews. It debuted and peaked at number two on the UK album chart and led to several more singles: "Please Don't Say You Love Me", "Panic Cord", "Home" and "Salvation". English Rain has since been certified Gold in the UK, selling over 100,000 copies.
Aplin's second album, Light Up the Dark, featuring the singles "Light Up the Dark" and "Sweet Nothing", was released on 18 September 2015.[4]
Biography
Early life and career beginnings (1992–2010)
Aplin grew up in the small village of Sutton Benger,[2] near Chippenham. She is the elder of two children. When she was 11 years old, her parents bought her first guitar.[5] Aplin has stated that her music was influenced by listening to the Joni Mitchell and Bruce Springsteen collections of her parents during her childhood.[6] She is also a fan of the singer-songwriters Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen, as well as the rock band The National.[5]
Aplin went on to study music at the City of Bath College,[2] participating in the college's in-house label BA1 Records.[7]
Aplin's first release was the 5-track Acoustic EP, which she self-released on her own label Never Fade Records on 13 September 2010. It reached the top 25 in the UK iTunes album chart.
Never Fade, Home, and BBC Introducing (2011–12)
Aplin's second EP, Never Fade, was released on 9 May 2011. In this EP, she expanded her sound, showcasing a more folk rock sound and playing all the instruments herself.[8] In April 2011, Aplin was invited to perform for BBC Introducing at Maida Vale Studios, where she played 3 tracks from Never Fade and a cover of the Coldplay song, "Fix You",[2] which is currently the most viewed video on the BBC Introducing YouTube channel.[9]
Aplin released her third EP, Home, on 12 February 2012, again on Never Fade Records.[10] She described this release as "the most honest thing I've ever written and recorded."[11] The lead track "Home" was featured on the iTunes Store as "single of the week" and was also Aplin's first track to be played on BBC Radio 1.
English Rain (2012–2014)
On 29 February 2012, Aplin announced that she had signed a deal with Parlophone Records.[12] Her first major label single "Please Don't Say You Love Me" was set for release on 10 February 2013.[13][14]
Later that year, Aplin was confirmed as the soundtrack to the John Lewis 2012 Christmas television advertisement, covering Frankie Goes to Hollywood's "The Power of Love".[15] In an interview, she said, "I was worried people might hate me because they were so attached to the original single. But I've since been in touch with Holly Johnson, and he said some lovely things about my take on his song."[6]
On 12 December 2012, Aplin announced that the title of her début album would be English Rain. The album's release date was later confirmed as 13 May 2013.[16] On its release, English Rain charted at number two on both the UK album charts, selling over 35,000 copies. It reached number 11 in Ireland, number 10 in Australia, and number 39 in New Zealand.[17] English Rain went on to gain international success and gave Aplin two Australian number ones.
In 2013, Aplin announced that her record label, Never Fade Records which was originally launched in 2010 so that Aplin could release her own music, would now represent other musicians. Her first signings were Welsh folk-jazz singer Hannah Grace, who had previously supported Aplin on tour, and indie folk artist Saint Raymond.[18] Never Fade Records' first release since Aplin's own Home EP in February 2012, was Saint Raymond's Escapade EP, released on 22 April 2013. Saint Raymond has since been released from Never Fade Records to allow him to sign a deal with Asylum, part of the Atlantic Records group.[19]
In 2014, Aplin released her English Rain EP in the United States. This EP was released on 6 May and features five songs from her début album, as well as a cover of Canadian singer Joni Mitchell's A Case of You.[20]
Light Up the Dark (2015–2016)
In May 2015, Aplin announced her second studio album, Light Up the Dark. The album announcement also featured the release of the title track's music video.[21] The video for the second single from Light Up the Dark, "Sweet Nothing", was released on 6 August 2015.
Aplin has appeared in fashion spreads for magazines such as Vogue and GQ. In September 2015, it was revealed that she had signed a modelling deal with Select modelling agency, although she stated in an interview, "It’s not like I want to go and be a model or anything. They’ll only ever book me to do something that reflects me and fits my music."[22]
In 2016 Aplin began to gain popularity in Brazil when her song Home (Gabrielle Aplin song) was used in the popular soap opera Totalmente Demais.[23] Aplin visited Brazil in May 2016 to make a cameo appearance in the final episode of the soap. Following her appearance and a live performance on Domingão do Faustão 'Home' reached number 1 on the Brazilian iTunes chart, marking Aplin's fourth number 1 single worldwide.[24]
On 26 June 2016, Aplin played on Glastonbury Festival at the Acoustic stage and then at BBC Introducing stage.[25]
Miss You – EP (Late 2016 – present)
On 9 November 2016, Aplin released Miss You. The song has been described as a departure from her previously guitar-driven sound on Light Up the Dark,[26] and the production as being much less 'bare bones' than her previous efforts.[27] The song is the first single from Aplin's Miss You – EP.
In February 2017, Aplin parted ways with Parlophone Records to focus on releasing material via her own independent record label, Never Fade Records. Her new material is based on recent events in world politics.[28]
Aplin announced her single Waking Up Slow on August 8th 2017. It was released the following day along with the pre-order for her newest EP Avalon which features four songs including Waking Up Slow. The EP will be released on September 15.
Discography
- English Rain (2013)
- Light Up the Dark (2015)
Television and film
- Her songs have been featured heavily in the X Factor U.K
- Her version of the song "The Power of Love" was featured in an episode of Reign.
- Her song "Start of Time" was featured in "Alpha Pact", episode 11 of season 3 of MTV's Teen Wolf.
- Her song "Salvation" was featured in an advertisement for the sixth season of X Factor Australia.
- Salvation also featured in the first full length trailer for the 5th Series of British television drama Downton Abbey as well as the individual episode advertisements on ITV.
- Her song "Through the Ages" was featured in the 2014 "Kuroshitsuji" live action film in Japan.
- An acoustic version of her song "Please Don't Say You Love Me" was featured in Hollyoaks on 19 April 2013.
- Her song "Salvation" was featured in "Yellow Ledbetter", the second episode of season 6 of The CW's The Vampire Diaries.
- Her version of the song "The Power of Love" was also featured in "Black Hole Sun", the fourth episode of season 6 of The CW's The Vampire Diaries.
- Her version of the song "The Power of Love" was featured in the advert/trailer for TV series Resurrection.
- Her song "Alive" was featured in "Stay", episode 14 of season 6 of The CW's The Vampire Diaries.
- Her song "Salvation" was featured in the trailer for Age of Adaline.
- Her song "Salvation" was featured in the English language trailer for The Little Prince.
- Her song "Home" was featured in the trailer for Brooklyn.
- Her song "Home" was featured in the soundtrack of Brazilian telenovela Totalmente Demais.
- Her song "Home" was featured in an episode of Wentworth.
- Her song "Home" was featured in an episode of Homes Under the Hammer.
- Her song "Home" was featured in an advertisement for CBBC 'Original British Drama' (2013)
References
- ↑ "Gabrielle Aplin – Biography". BBC Music.
- 1 2 3 4 "Wiltshire singer's big radio opportunity". BBC News. 19 April 2011.
- ↑ "Power of Love cover claims number one spot". BBC News. 9 December 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
- ↑ "Gabrielle Aplin – ‘Light Up The Dark’". Universal Music Publishing. 18 September 2015. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
- 1 2 Thomas-Corr, Johanna (13 November 2012). "Gabrielle Aplin: the jingle belle who rocks the John Lewis Christmas ad". London Evening Standard. London. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
- 1 2 Thrills, Adrian (16 November 2012). "Gabrielle Aplin, the folk singer behind the festive soundtrack for John Lewis, gets the thumbs-up from Frankie Goes To Hollywood". Mail Online. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
- ↑ "Gabrielle Aplin to support Gotye on European tour". City of Bath College. 2012. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
- ↑ "Gabrielle Aplin: Never Fade". Bath Chronicle. 21 December 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
- ↑ Davies, Lynda (26 March 2012). "Tip of the Week: Gabrielle Aplin – Home". BBC Introducing Blog. BBC. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
- ↑ "Home EP – Gabrielle Aplin". AWAL. 9 January 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
- ↑ "Gabrielle Aplin – Out On My Own (Home EP now available on iTunes)". YouTube. 1 August 2012. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
- ↑ "Bath singer Gabrielle Aplin signs recording deal". Bath Chronicle. 6 March 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
- ↑ "Gabrielle Aplin covers Frankie Goes To Hollywood classic". South Wales Argus. 16 November 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
- ↑ Steve Holden (17 April 2012). "Introducing... Gabrielle Aplin". Newsbeat. BBC. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
- ↑ "Gabrielle Aplin: The Power of a Christmas John Lewis advert?". The Independent. 8 November 2012. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
- ↑ Artwork English Rain – Deluxe Edition
- ↑ "Gabrielle Aplin Reacts to Chart Success". BBC Newsbeat. 20 May 2013.
- ↑ Tina Hart (25 February 2013). "Parlophone's Gabrielle Aplin launches own label". Music Week. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
- ↑ "Nottingham musician Saint Raymond signs major label deal". Nottingham Post.
- ↑ "A Case Of Her: Gabrielle Aplin To Release "English Rain" EP - Drfunkenberry.com". drfunkenberry.com.
- ↑ "Gabrielle Aplin: Singer-Songwriter Announces New Album 'Light Up The Dark'". Inveterate. 18 May 2015. Archived from the original on 20 May 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
- ↑ "Listen to Gabrielle Aplin's Light Up the Dark – exclusive album stream". Telegraph. 16 September 2015. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
- ↑ "Gabrielle Aplin estreia no Brasil embalada pelo sucesso de ‘Home’, em ‘Totalmente Demais’". Globo.com – 27 May 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
- ↑ "Domingão do Faustão". Globo.com – 22nd-May, 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
- ↑ "Glastonbury Line-Up 2016". Glastonbury Festival – 22nd–26th June, 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ↑ "Miss You Nylon Premiere". Nylon Magazine. Nylon. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
- ↑ "Gabrielle Aplin Switches It Up With "Miss You"". Idolator. Idolator. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
- ↑ http://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-news/gabrielle-aplin-there-s-so-much-to-write-about-now-i-m-independent-a3456456.html