The First Time With... Series 23 - 2. Paul Epworth

THE FIRST TIME WITH... SERIES 23 - 2. PAUL EPWORTH (320kbs-m4a/133mb/58mins)
BBC Radio 6 Music broadcast: 7th March 2021

Matt Everitt chats in-depth to record producer, musician, label-founder, re-mixer and songwriter Paul Epworth about the pivotal moments and songs that have shaped his life.

Paul's genre-hopping, award-winning career has seen him work with many of the world's biggest artists from Adele to Florence and The Machine, Rihanna to Maximo Park and Bloc Party to Sir Paul McCartney. He has won ‘Producer of the Year’ at the Brit Awards three times, has a clutch of Grammy Awards, and an Oscar for 'Best Original Song' with ‘Skyfall’ the theme to the James Bond film released in 2012.

He first came to prominence in 2004 with a quartet of critically acclaimed releases, including two Mercury Music Prize nominations in 'Silent Alarm' by Bloc Party and 'A Certain Trigger' by Maxïmo Park, the bulk of The Futureheads eponymous debut album (including the hit Kate Bush cover 'Hounds Of Love') and 'Capture/Release' by The Rakes, as well as singles by Babyshambles and The Long Blondes. He also wrote and produced tracks for British rapper Kano and Plan B.

In 2007 his production on the number one debut album 'Made of Bricks' by Kate Nash included a writing credit on the hit single 'Foundations' (for which he was nominated for an Ivor Novello songwriters award). In 2008, Epworth produced much of Sam Sparro's eponymous debut album which entered the UK album charts at number 4 and the Primal Scream single, 'Can't Go Back', along with the title track of their recent album Beautiful Future. Epworth also completed production duties on much of the new Bloc Party record 'Intimacy' and co-wrote and produced Friendly Fires track 'Jump In The Pool'.

Early 2009 saw Epworth co-writing and recording Jack Peñate's critically lauded second album 'Everything Is New' including the singles 'Tonight's Today' and 'Be the One'. He also co-wrote and produced tracks for Florence and the Machine's debut album 'Lungs', including the hit single 'Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)' along with the album tracks such as 'Howl' and 'Cosmic Love'. In February 2009 he won best newcomer at the inaugural Music Producers' Guild Awards. Collaborating with Adele on her album '21' in 2010 the pair co-wrote the worldwide number one single 'Rolling in the Deep'. Sir George Martin's ex tea boy was now one of the most in-demand producers on the planet, and went on to work with Coldplay, The Horrors, U2, James Bay, Jorja Smith and London Grammar, to name a few.

In September last year Paul released his own debut album 'Voyager', a concept album about space inspired by science fiction films. Voyager includes collaborations with Ishmael, Vince Staples, Ty Dolla Sign, Kool Keith and Lianne La Havas.

Florence + The Machine - Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up) [Island]
Pink Floyd - a) Speak To Me b) Breathe [EMI]
Crosby, Stills & Nash - Suite: Judy Blue Eyes [Atlantic]
Wendy Carlos - Theme From A Clockwork Orange (Beethoviana)
Boney M. - Nightflight To Venus
Marvin Gaye - What's Happening Brother [Motown]
John Williams - Star Wars (Main Title) [Sony Classical]
Sparky D Vs. The Playgirls - The Battle [Street Sounds]
Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer [Virgin]
Gang Of Four - I Found That Essence Rare [Mute]
Fugazi - Waiting Room [Dischord]
Fela Kuti - Gentleman [Universal Music]
Arlo Parks - Too Good [Transgressive]
Bloc Party - Banquet (Instrumental)
Bloc Party - Banquet [Wichita]
Florence + The Machine - Howl (Instrumental)
Florence + The Machine - Howl
Adele - Rolling In The Deep (Instrumental)
Adele - Rolling In The Deep [XL Recordings]
Miles Davis - Shhh/Peaceful [Sony Music]
Paul Epworth - Voyager [Sony]
Flying Lotus - Do The Astral Plane [Warp]