220 Kid
Birth nameWilliam Edward Graydon
Also known as
  • Willie the Kid
  • William Edward
Born (1989-05-08) 8 May 1989 (age 34)
Oxfordshire, England, UK
OriginLondon[1]
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Record producer
  • DJ
Years active2019–present
Labels

William Edward Graydon[1] (born 8 May 1989[1]), known professionally as 220 Kid (pronounced "two-twenty kid"[6] and stylised in all caps[7]), is an English record producer, DJ and remix artist.[7] On the UK Singles Chart, his collaboration "Don't Need Love" with Gracey peaked at number 9 in 2020,[8] while his remix of Nathan Evans' "Wellerman" with Billen Ted reached the top spot in 2021.[9][10] He is based in Highbury, London.[1]

Early life

William Edward Graydon was born on 8 May 1989 in Oxfordshire.[1] His father Ken, former music manager for Bee Gees member Robin Gibb,[11] named Graydon after seeing a number plate ending in WEG from a hospital window.[1] He grew up in Thame and attended Magdalen College School,[12] going on to study at the University of Exeter, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in biosciences followed by a master's degree in sustainable development.[1][13] Following the George Floyd protests in 2020, he set up a three-year scholarship for a high-achieving BAME student studying at his alma mater.[13] He has dyslexia.[14] He has a sister named Charlie working in the healthcare industry.[15]

220 Kid's stage name originated from a charity effort where he ran 220 miles (350 km), a distance corresponding to nine marathons, over seven days.[7] The run was completed in 2013 on the Isle of Man in honour of Gibb and supported three medical charities.[11] After moving to London, he initially used the stage name "Willie the Kid" (named after the cowboy) without realising it was already the name of an existing artist.[4] He previously had jobs working for marketing company CPM Group,[16] as a model in Singapore,[17] as a carpenter,[18] and at a Tesco grocery store.[4]

Career

Prior to embarking on a solo career, Graydon went by the name "William Edward" and was a member of pop duo OMYO—an acronym for "Our Music Your Opinion"[12]—alongside Tom McCorkell while living in Thame.[4][16][19] The pair met on New Year's Eve in 2014 at the James Figg pub in Thame and made a bet to write a song together.[12][16] They wrote a few songs over the span of several days, including "Lady", which was used in an advert by clothing retailer New Look.[12][20] After being dropped by a major record label, they formed their own independent one; their debut single "Days with You" was released on Two Six Records in 2017, with its music video shot in New York City.[16][21] Their first gig was supporting Drake at the Wireless Festival and their debut album was planned for September 2017.[22][23]

Graydon's first song as a solo artist under the moniker "220 Kid" was "Lights" in 2018, which was a shift from OMYO's urban pop to electronic music.[24] Follow-up singles "Pleasure to Love You" and "Let Me Stay" both featured vocalist Chilli Chilton.[25] 220 Kid signed with Polydor Records in 2019.[19] His debut single with the label was "Don't Need Love", a collaboration with English singer Gracey, which was released in December 2019.[4][26] The song went on to reach the top ten of the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number nine in July 2020, and received a nomination for British Single at the 2021 Brit Awards.[8][27] His follow-up single, "Too Many Nights" with Northern Irish singer JC Stewart, was released in September 2020,[28] peaking at number 74 in the UK.[29] He lists the Bee Gees, Timbaland, and Motown artists as a few of his musical influences.[3][26]

Discography

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
UK
 AUT
[30] 		IRL
[31]
"Lights"[32]
(featuring Remy) 		2018 — — — Non-album singles
"Pleasure to Love You"[33]
(featuring Chilli Chilton) 		— — —
"Let Me Stay"[34]
(featuring Chilli Chilton) 		2019 — — —
"Don't Need Love"
(with Gracey) 		9
[8]		 — 9 The Art of Closure
"Too Many Nights"[36]
(with JC Stewart) 		2020 74
[29]		 — 56 Non-album singles
"Wellerman"
(Nathan Evans, 220 Kid and Billen Ted) 		2021 1
[10]		 1 2
[38]
"Unconditional"[41]
(with Dillon Francis featuring Bryn Christopher) 		— — — Happy Machine
"Stupid Feelings"
(with LANY) 		— — — Non-album single
"I'll Take You Down"[42]
(featuring Chilli Chilton) 		— — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released.

Remixes

List of remixes, showing year released
Title Year Artist
"1984"[43] 2019 Alexander Wood
"Honest"[44] 2020 San Holo featuring Broods
"Better Off Without You"[45] Becky Hill and Shift K3Y
"Boyfriend"[46] Mabel
"I Need You to Hate Me"[47] JC Stewart
"To Be Young"[48] Anne-Marie featuring Doja Cat
"Holiday"[49] Little Mix
"The Business"[50] Tiësto
"Deal with It"[51] 2021 Ashnikko featuring Kelis
"Summer 91 (Looking Back)"[52] Noizu
"Lost"[53] Jake Bugg
"Chemical"[54] MK

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Phelan, Bobby (8 January 2021). "#AtHome with PAUSE: 220 KID". pausemag.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  2. ^ "Culture Clash: 220 Kid". Clash. 18 September 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Meet 220 Kid". Hunger Magazine. 23 December 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e Phillips, Aimee (18 August 2020). "Dial 220 KID For A Dance Party". Notion. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  5. ^ Byatt, Luke (1 July 2020). "Creative Conversations 013: 220 Kid Breaks Down Chart Doinating Single, Don't Need Love". Futuremag Music. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  6. ^ VOTE 220 KID FOR MTV PUSH (Promotional video). MTV. 14 January 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021 – via YouTube.
  7. ^ a b c "220 KID Tells Us The Heroic Reason Behind His Name". MTV. 14 January 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  8. ^ a b c "220 KID & GRACEY | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  9. ^ Copsey, Rob (19 March 2021). "Nathan Evans' Wellerman hits Number 1 on Official Singles Chart: "We made it!"". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Nathan Evans, 220 Kid & Billen Ted | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  11. ^ a b "Man runs 220 miles in memory of Bee Gee Robin Gibb". BBC News. 19 August 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  12. ^ a b c d Phillips, Jessica (18 July 2016). "VIDEO: Oxford man's debut single to be used for New Look's autumn/winter campaign". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  13. ^ a b "Floella Benjamin and Black Lives Matters protests inspires musician 220 Kid to set up new scholarship for BAME students". University of Exeter. 27 August 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  14. ^ "220 Kid: Questions + Answers". Arcminute. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  15. ^ Graydon, William [@220kid] (20 November 2018). "🔥🔥That look you give when". Retrieved 23 March 2021 – via Instagram.
  16. ^ a b c d "Bet in pub leads duo to global success". Bucks Herald. 4 July 2017. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  17. ^ Barnes, Kelsey (7 December 2020). "220 KID". 1883 Magazine. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  18. ^ Honorato, Mariana V. (26 February 2020). "INTERVIEW: 220 KID; The Rising London-Based Producer". Peachy Magazine. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  19. ^ a b Hunt, Danni (28 December 2019). "Hot For 2020". BBC Hereford & Worcester. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  20. ^ "My Journey: OMYO". AWAL. 1 December 2017. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  21. ^ Murray, Robin (8 May 2017). "Premiere: OMYO - 'Days With You'". Clash. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  22. ^ Marston, Andrew (10 September 2016). "Andrew Marston introduces OMYO (Weobley)". BBC Hereford & Worcester. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  23. ^ Gold, Johnson (9 March 2017). "Up & Coming In Music: Ryan de La Cruz, Mugun, Puzzle & OMYO". pausemag.co.uk. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  24. ^ Lin, Vivian (26 November 2018). "220 KID turns on the "Lights" with dreamy track featuring Remy [Video]". Earmilk. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  25. ^ Keith, James (19 March 2021). "Premiere: 220 Kid Teams Up With Chilli Chilton To Create Break-Up Banger "Let Me Stay"". Complex UK. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  26. ^ a b "Introducing Music's Rising Triple-Threat 220 KID". Spindle Magazine. 5 February 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  27. ^ "2021 British Single announced!". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  28. ^ Hawkridge, James (4 December 2020). "220 KID ON THE BLOCK". TMRW Magazine. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  29. ^ a b "220 KID & JC STEWART | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  30. ^ "Austria Top 40 - Singles" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  31. ^ "Discography 220 KID". irish-charts.com. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  32. ^ "Lights - Single by 220 KID". Spotify. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  33. ^ "Pleasure to love you - Single by 220 KID". Spotify. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  34. ^ "Let Me Stay - Single by 220 KID". Spotify. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  35. ^ "British certifications". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  36. ^ Corner, Lewis (18 September 2020). "220 Kid is creating a dance floor where everyone can be themselves". Gay Times. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  37. ^ "British certifications – 220 Kid & Jc Stewart – Too Many Nights". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  38. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. 19 March 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  39. ^ "British certifications – Nathan Evans/220Kid/Billen Ted". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  40. ^ "Gold & Platin" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  41. ^ Weisband, Sami (4 June 2021). "Dillon Francis shines optimistic light on first original track of 2021, 'Unconditional'". Dancing Astronaut. Archived from the original on 6 June 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  42. ^ "I'll Take You Down (feat. Chilli Chilton) – Single by 220 KID on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  43. ^ "1984 (220 Kid Remix and More) - Single by Alexander Wood on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  44. ^ "Honest (Remixes) [feat. Broods] - Single by San Holo on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  45. ^ "Better off without You (Remixes) - Single by Becky Hill & Shift K3Y on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  46. ^ "Boyfriend (Remixes) - EP by Mabel on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  47. ^ "I Need You To Hate Me (220 KID Remix) - Single by JC Stewart on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  48. ^ "To Be Young (feat. Doja Cat) [220 KID Remix] - Single by Anne-Marie on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  49. ^ "Holiday (220 KID Remix) - Single by Little Mix on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  50. ^ "The Business (220 KID Remix) - Single by Tiësto on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  51. ^ "Deal With It (feat. Kelis) [Remixes] - Single by Ashnikko on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  52. ^ "Summer 91 (Looking Back) (220 KID Remix) - Single by Noizu on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  53. ^ "Lost (220 KID Remix) - Single by Jake Bugg on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  54. ^ "Chemical (220 Kid Remix) - Single by MK on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 25 June 2021.

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