Eg White

Francis Anthony "Eg" White (born 22 November 1966) is a British musician, songwriter and producer. He started his career in the cowpunk band Yip Yip Coyote in the 1980s and then formed Brother Beyond with his brother, David White, in the late 1980s.In 1990, Eg White recorded the pop album 24 Years of Hunger, and then in 1992 he produced the debut, self-titled album by Kinky Machine.

Eg White
Birth nameFrancis Anthony White
Born (1966-11-22) 22 November 1966 (age 57)
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • songwriter
  • producer
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active1984-present

He turned to songwriting in 1997, winning the Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically in 2004. In 2008 White worked with Adele on three tracks. In 2009 White was awarded his second Ivor Novello Award for 'Songwriter of the Year'[1] and in 2010 he had a second UK number 1 with the Diana Vickers single "Once", a song he wrote with Cathy Dennis.[2] White started his own record label in 2009. In 2024, White won his third Ivor Novello award.[3]

Career

Eg White started his career in the band Yip Yip Coyote and then formed Brother Beyond[4] with his brother, David White, in the late 1980s, leaving the latter when they became involved with the songwriting team of Stock, Aitken and Waterman, just prior to their chart successes.

In 1990, Eg White collaborated with London model and BMX champion Alice Temple to record the pop album 24 Years of Hunger, which was released in 1991 under the name Eg and Alice and failed to chart.[5] Lack of commercial success did not deter the taste-makers, however, and 24 Years of Hunger was described by Allmusic as "one of the finest, most refined and fully realized recordings of the era, employing a much more sophisticated and romantic style than anything else out of England at the time".[6]

In 1992, White produced the debut, self-titled album by Kinky Machine,[7] then disappeared from the music industry until 1996 when he released his debut solo album Turn Me On, I'm a Rocket Man,[8] which was unsuccessful.[8]

He turned to songwriting in 1997, providing instrumentation for the sessions of Suggs' solo album The Three Pyramids Club, but it was in 1999 that his career began to take off as a songwriter, musician and producer. His collaborative relationship with Alice Temple continued, the results of which can be heard on her solo debut album Hang Over. He also worked with Icelandic-Italian singer Emiliana Torrini on her debut album Love in the Time of Science and produced British singer-songwriter Mark Abis' album Changing Inside.[citation needed]

White's song "Leave Right Now" was recorded by Will Young in 2003, and reached number 1 in the UK Singles Chart. In recognition, White won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically in 2004. He has since enjoyed chart success with acts including Duffy, James Morrison and Joss Stone.[citation needed]

In 2008, White worked with Adele on three tracks which appeared on her first album 19, including the second single "Chasing Pavements".[9]

In 2009, White was awarded his second Ivor Novello Award for 'Songwriter of the Year',[10] and in 2010 he had a second UK number 1 with the Diana Vickers single "Once", a song he wrote with Cathy Dennis.[2] Also in 2010, White reprised his collaborative role with Adele, and with her wrote "Take It All", which appears on her number one album 21.[citation needed]

White started his own record label imprint, Spilt Milk Records, in 2009 – making Lauren Pritchard its first signing, and then signing an exclusive license deal with Island Records to release the album Wasted in Jackson in 2010. The album features collaborations with White, Ed Harcourt and Marcus Mumford (of the band Mumford & Sons). He signed a recording contract with Parlophone Records and released a second album entitled Adventure Man on 18 May 2009.[citation needed]

In 2024, White won his third Ivor Novello award (this time for "Best Song Musically and Lyrically", his second in that category), alongside Jonny Lattimer and Victoria Canal, for Canal's song 'Black Swan'.[3]

White has worked with Adele, Kylie Minogue, Lennon Stella, Natalie Imbruglia, Florence and the Machine, Dua Lipa, Tom Odell, Sam Smith, Will Young, James Morrison, Linkin Park, Pink, Joss Stone, Matt Cardle, Maverick Sabre and Rebecca Ferguson.[citation needed]

Songwriting and production

TitleYearArtistAlbumSongwriterProducer
PrimarySecondaryAdditionalVocal
"Last Train"1984Yip Yip CoyoteNon-album single Y
"I Should Have Lied"1986Brother BeyondGet Even Y
"Say Hello"1990BreathePeace of Mind Y
"I Hear You're Doing Fine" Y
"Will the Circle Be Unbroken?" Y
"Got to Get By" Y
"Shockaholic"1993Kinky MachineKinky Machine Y
"Candy Deceit" Y
"Monkey on a String" Y
"Glitter Bullets" Y
"Clever?" Y
"Sister Magpie" Y
"Blue Polythene" Y
"10 Second Bionic Man"1994Bent Y
"Cut It Down" Y
"Gooseberry Fool" Y
"Dolly Mixture Kid" Y
"Nosebleed" Y
"Lounge Dummy" Y
"Pissing in the Snow" Y
"Alsatians" Y
"Wet Cigarettes" Y
"Christopher" Y
"Chemical Lobby" Y
"Last Song" Y
"Chained"1998Richie SamboraUndiscovered Soul Y
"Same Again"SuggsNon-album single Y
"Dead Things"1999Emiliana TorriniLove in the Time of Science Y
"To Be Free" Y
"Unemployed in Summertime" Y
"Easy" Y
"Fingertips" Y
"Tuna Fish" Y
"Sea People" Y Y
"Nothing Else on Her Mind"2001Slippry FeetFreak Time Viewing Y
"You Might Be Wrong"Nicole RussoThrough Your Eyes Y Y
"Slowly Walk Away" Y
"Better Day" Y Y
"How D'ya Think She'd Feel About It" Y Y
"Through My Eyes" Y Y
"Stride On" Y
"Don't Wanna Let You Go" Y
"Phoney" Y
"Stop Trying To" Y Y
"Nice n' Easy" Y Y
"Say It"2002Alison MoyetHometime Y
"Sugarhigh"Jade AndersonDive Deeper Y
"Promises"2003BazPsychedelic Love Y
"Surrender (Your Love)"JavineSurrender Y Y
"Leave Right Now"Will YoungFriday's Child Y
"Going My Way" Y Y
"Out of My Mind" Y
"Legend"2004Tamyra GrayThe Dreamer Y
"U've Only Got 1" Y
"Promise"JavineSurrender Y Y
"Millions" Y Y
"Think Twice" Y Y
"Messin'" Y Y
"Missing You" Y Y
"How Do You Think"The Brand New HeaviesAllabouthefunk Y
"Fisherman's Woman"2005Emiliana TorriniFisherman's Woman Y
"Shiver"Natalie ImbrugliaCounting Down the Days Y
"Slow Down" Y Y
"The Message"Nate JamesSet the Tone Y Y
"Universal" Y Y
"Call My Name"Charlotte ChurchTissues and Issues Y Y
"Crazy Stranger"
(with Harel Shachal)
NicklodemusNon-album single Y
"Baby I'm a Fool"Jo O'MearaRelentless Y Y
"Keep On"Will YoungKeep On Y
"Who Am I" Y
"Save Yourself" Y Y
"Think About It" Y
"Give In"2006Tina DicoIn the Red Y
"Use Me" Y
"What Are We Waiting For?"Duncan JamesFuture Past Y Y
"You Can" Y Y
"You Give Me Something"James MorrisonUndiscovered Y Y
"Wonderful World" Y
"Call the Police" Y
"Go"JameliaWalk with Me Y
"Mancunian Way"Take ThatBeautiful World Y
"No Man's Land"2007Beverley KnightMusic City Soul Y Y
"Just a Little Bit"Mutya BuenaReal Girl Y Y
"Choke"Nate JamesKingdom Falls Y Y
"The Sun is Always Behind Me"Darren HayesThis Delicate Thing We've Made Y Y
"I'll Take Everything"James BluntAll the Lost Souls Y
"Friday Night"Craig DavidTrust Me Y
"Cosmic"Kylie MinogueX Y Y
"Chasing Pavements"2008Adele19 Y Y
"Tomorrow"DuffyNon-album single Y
"Je realise"
(featuring James Blunt)
SinikLe Toit Du Monde Y
"Warwick Avenue"DuffyRockferry Y
"Hanging on Too Long" Y
"Delayed Devotion" Y
"Melt My Heart to Stone"Adele19 Y Y
"Tired" Y Y
"Jones"Brian McFaddenSet in Stone Y
"Alice in Wonderland" Y Y
"Waiting for Time"Sam SparroSam Sparro Y Y
"Hot Mess" Y Y
"Sad, Sad World"Amy StudtMy Paper Made Men Y
"One Last Cigarette" Y
"You Think I Don't Care"Jack McManusEither Side of Midnight Y Y
"Rising Up"Amanda JenssenKilling My Darlings Y
"Begger's Prayer"Emiliana TorriniMe and Armini Y Y
"What You Look For"Sam BeetonNo Definite Answer Y
"Changes"Will YoungLet It Go Y Y
"Tell Me the Worst" Y
"I Won't Give Up" Y Y
"Let It Go" Y Y
"Everything"MursMurs for President Y
"One Foot Wrong"P!nkFunhouse Y Y
"Could've Had Everything" Y Y
"Love, Love, Love"James BluntAll the Lost Souls Y Y
"Water and a Flame"
(featuring Adele)
2009Daniel MerriweatherLove & War Y Y
"Giving Everything Away for Free" Y Y
"Not Now"Little BootsIlluminations EP Y
"Hurricane Drunk"Florence and the MachineLungs Y Y
"Dream on Hayley"James MorrisonSongs for You, Truths for Me Y Y
"Bring it Back"Kris AllenKris Allen Y Y
"Once"2010Diana VickersSongs from the Tainted Cherry Tree Y
"You Don't Know Me"Alan PownallTrue Love Stories Y
"Not the Drinking"Lauren PritchardWasted in Jackson Y Y
"if Time is All I Have"James BluntSome Kind of Trouble Y
"Turn Me On" Y Y
"Recover"Natasha BedingfieldStrip Me Y
"Yeah Right"
(featuring Diggy Simmons)
2011Dionne BromfieldGood for the Soul Y
"Two"LenkaTwo Y Y
"Here to Stay" Y Y
"This Love Again"James BluntNon-album single Y Y
"Treading Water"Alex ClareThe Lateless of the Hour Y
"Foolin'"
(featuring Lil Twist)
Dionne BromfieldGood for the Soul Y
"Hands Are Clever"Alex ClareThe Lateless of the Hour Y Y
"Sadness is Coming"Alice GoldSeven Rainbows Y
"End of the World" Y
"Forever"James MorrisonThe Awakening Y
"All for Nothing"Matt CardleLetters Y Y
"Slowly" Y Y
"What the Water Gave Me"Florence and the MachineCeremonials Y
"Nothing's Real but Love"Rebecca FergusonHeaven Y Y
"Shoulder to Shoulder" Y Y
"Fairytale (Let Me Live My Life This Way)" Y Y
"Fighting Suspicions" Y Y
"Too Good to Lose" Y Y
"I Used to Have It All"2012Maverick SabreLonely Are the Brave Y Y
"Black & Blue"Paloma FaithFall to Grace Y
"Beauty of the End" Y
"Chaos & Piss"P!nkThe Truth About Love Y Y
"The Fire"Matt CardleThe Fire Y
"Habit"TulisaThe Female Boss Y Y
"Worth Your While"2013Jamie N CommonsRumble and Sway EP Y Y
"No Strings"Chloe HowlChloe Howl Y Y
"Hold Me"Tom OdellLong Way Down Y Y
"Nothing"Josh KrajcikBlindly, Lonely, Lovely Y
"When You Go" Y
"Don't Make Me Hopeful" Y
"No Man's Land"Leanne MitchellLeanne Mitchell Y
"Sense"Tom OdellLong Way Down Y Y
"You My Everything"Ellie GouldingHalcyon Days Y Y
"Water and a Flame"Celine DionLoved Me Back to Life Y Y
"Didn't Know Love" Y Y
"Fake Smile"Rebecca FergusonFreedom Y Y
"My Freedom" Y Y
"Girls and Boys"2014Chloe HowlChloe Howl Y Y
"Good Thing"Sam SmithIn the Lonely Hour Y Y
"I've Told You Now" Y Y
"Disappointed"Chloe HowlChloe Howl Y Y
"Sugar Lies"
(featuring Ben Weinman)
KimbraThe Golden Echo Y
"The Magic Hour" Y
"Baby, Happy Birthday"TrainBulletproof Picasso Y Y
"Therapy"Mary J BligeThe London Sessions Y Y
"Takes Me a Long Time"Chloe HowlChloe Howl Y Y
"When You're Gone"Mary J BligeThe London Sessions Y
"See You Again"2015Elle KingLove Stuff Y Y
"No More You (Interlude)"Alexandra BurkeRenegade EP Y
"Fight for Love"KwabsLove + War Y
"I Am"Leona LewisI Am Y Y
"You Knew Me When" Y
"Stay Like This"James MorrisonHigher Than Here Y
"We Can" Y
"Easy Love" Y
"Purple Hearts (Soldier of Love)"CeeLo GreenHeart Blanche Y Y
"Only Water"2016LawsonPerspective Y
"For Julian"Dua LipaNon-album single Y Y
"Pay for It"Rebecca FergusonSuperwoman Y
"How Can I Blame You"John LegendDarkness and Light Y
"Blindside"2017AquiloSilhouettes Y Y
"Words with Friends"FountaineerGreater City, Greater Love Y
"Choice"Charlotte OCCareless People Y
"The Cricketers"FountaineerGreater City, Greater Love Y
"One More Light"Linkin ParkOne More Light Y
"Deserve to Be Loved"Zak AbelOnly When We're Naked Y Y
"Blind Eye"Sam SmithThe Thrill of It All Y Y
"Lost and Lonely"Paloma FaithThe Architect Y Y
"Tonight's Not the Only Night" Y Y
"Not That Special"2018Lily MooreNot That Special EP Y
"Raining Glitter"Kylie MinogueGolden Y Y
"Sepia"Plan BHeaven Before All Hell Breaks Loose Y
"Brake Lights"
(featuring Nao)
CoshaR.I.P. Bonzai Y
"Fast Forward"You Me at SixVI Y Y
"Aboard"Tom GrennanLighting Matches Y Y
"Solid Gold"Alex HepburnIf You Stay Y Y
"I Will Never Be"Lily MooreI Will Never Be EP Y Y
"Like Everybody Else"Lennon StellaNon-album single Y
"It's the Weekend"KovacsCheap Smell Y Y
"Midnight Medicine" Y Y
"Do This for Me"Lily MooreI Will Never Be EP Y Y
"Losing You"You Me at SixVI Y Y
"Got My Own"Ray BLKEmpress Y
"A Life Like This"NaoSaturn Y
"Between the Words"
(with Matt Maeson)
DevaultStay EP Y
"Loyal"2019Jasmine ThompsonColour EP Y Y
"Take Care" Y Y
"Power"James MorrisonYou're Stronger Than You Know Y Y
"Slowly" Y
"Cross the Line" Y
"Into Hope"Maverick SabreWhen I Wake Up Y Y
"More"Jasmine ThompsonColour EP Y Y
"Hurt Me Once"Ben PlattSing to Me Instead Y Y
"Some People"Jasmine ThompsonColour EP Y Y
"Colour (Amen)" Y Y
"This is What We Wanted"Izzy BizuGlita EP Y Y
"I Will Be Stronger"Céline DionCourage Y Y
"Better Than I Am"2020Keith UrbanThe Speed of Now Part 1 Y Y Y
"Moving On"Sea GirlsOpen Up Your Head Y
"Numbers"2024The IndienThe Indien Y Y

Awards and nominations

YearInstitutionAward
Winner
2024Ivor Novello AwardsBest Song Musically and Lyrically ("Black Swan") [11]
2009Ivor Novello AwardsSongwriter of the Year[4]
2004Ivor Novello AwardsBest Song Musically and Lyrically ("Leave Right Now")[12]
YearInstitutionAward
Nominated
2009Grammy AwardsSong of the Year & Record of the Year ("Chasing Pavements")[13]

Eg and Alice discography

Singles
  • "Indian" c/w "Crosstown and Bobby and Holly" (WEA 1991) - did not chart
  • "Doesn't Mean That Much to Me" (WEA 1991) - did not chart
Album

Solo discography

Singles

  • 1995: "Stay Home" (WEA)
  • 1997: "Made My Baby Cry" (WEA)
  • 2009: "Broken" (Parlophone Records)
  • 2015: "You Fooled Me" (Lakeshore Records)

Albums

  • Turn Me On, I'm a Rocket Man (WEA, 1996)

First review found at Daily Music Guide.[14]

References