Brian West

Brian West (born March 12, 1971) is a Canadian record producer, songwriter, and musician. Formerly of the production team Track and Field, he is best known for his work with Nelly Furtado, Maroon 5, Awolnation, K'naan, and Bono. He co-produced Andy Grammer's single "Honey, I'm Good" with Steve Greenberg and Nolan Sipe. His most recent release, "Salted Wound," sung by Sia, is on the Fifty Shades of Grey soundtrack. West has been nominated for an Academy Award, two Grammy Awards and has won seven Juno Awards. West is a guitarist for the Canadian band The Philosopher Kings.

Life and career West began his career as the lead guitarist for Toronto-based band The Philosopher Kings in 1994. After achieving some commercial success in the late 1990s and winning a Canadian Juno Award with the group, he began to produce music for other artists, partnering up with Kings lead singer Gerald Eaton to produce Nelly Furtado's debut album, Whoa, Nelly! The project garnered a Grammy nomination for West's production and a win for Furtado, as well as several Juno Awards. Working as a production duo under the name Track and Field, together West and Eaton co-wrote and co-produced Furtado's follow-up album Folklore and two albums with Somali Canadian rapper K'Naan, landing themselves several more Junos. Before long, West branched off into solo production, now producing and writing alongside such notable artists as Maroon 5, Awolnation, K'Naan, Nakia, and Bono.

His work has been featured on soundtracks for a number of films, including Fifty Shades of Grey, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, 20 Feet from Stardom, The Italian Job, Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay, and Brokedown Palace, among others.

Selected discography Year

Label

Bryan Ellis The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones soundtrack; forthcoming album Producer, writer, engineer, musician ("Strange Days" on film soundtrack; "Days of the Summer") Universal Republic Nakia Drown In The Crimson Tide Producer, writer, musician ("Walking On A Slant") Something Music Judith Hill 20 Feet from Stardom soundtrack Producer, writer, engineer, musician ("Desperation") Columbia Records

Maroon 5 Overexposed Producer, writer, musician ("Man Who Never Lied") A&M/Octone Judith Hill Spike Lee's Red Hook Summer soundtrack Producer, writer, engineer, musician ("Desperation") 40 Acres and a Mule Musicworks K'Naan Country, God or the Girl Producer, writer, engineer, musician ("Bulletproof Pride" featuring Bono, "Simple," "70 Excuses") 2002 – Producer of the Year, Non-Classical: Nominated 2006 – Rap Recording of the Year (K'Naan, The Dusty Foot Philosopher): Won 2004 – Single of the Year (Nelly Furtado, "Powerless (Say What You Want)"): Won 2001 – Best Producer: Won 2001 – Best Single (Nelly Furtado, "I'm Like a Bird"): Won

SOCAN Awards 2010 – SOCAN Award for No. 1 song (K'Naan, "Take a Minute"): Won