Bryn Christopher

{{Short description|British singer and songwriter (born 1985)}} {{multiple issues| {{cleanup press release|date=September 2012}} {{BLP primary sources|date=December 2010}} }} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}} {{Use British English|date=May 2012}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Bryn Christopher | birth_place = Great Barr, Birmingham, England | alias = Skaar | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1985|11|08}} | instrument = Vocals | genre = {{hlist|Soul|R&B}} | occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter}} | years_active = 1997–present | label = {{hlist|Polydor {{small|(2008–09)}}|Geffen {{small|(2009–present)}}<ref name="blogs.myspace.com">{{cite web |url=http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=78626737&blogId=486730183 |title=hi van Bryn Christopher op Myspace |publisher=Blogs.myspace.com |accessdate=2011-08-10 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121129140014/http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=78626737&blogId=486730183 |archive-date=29 November 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>}} }} '''Bryn Christopher''' (born 8 November 1985<ref>[http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=786267370] {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>) is a British singer and songwriter, and the frontman of electronic music group I See Monstas. Born in Great Barr, Birmingham, England, .<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/pop-stars-reject-bryn-christopher-is-a-winner-after-all-3hlqj9tv623|title=Pop stars reject, Bryn Christopher, is a winner after all!|date=17 August 2008|first=Dan|last=Cairns|work=The Times|url-access=subscription|access-date=19 June 2021}}</ref><ref name="soul">{{Cite web|url=https://metro.co.uk/2008/08/13/bryn-christopher-the-mans-got-soul-376269/|title=Bryn Christopher: the man's got soul|date=13 August 2008|work=Metro|access-date=19 June 2021}}</ref> His debut single, "The Quest", was featured in the TV series ''Grey's Anatomy''.<ref name="soul" />

== Musical career == === Early years === Christopher was the support slot on the Amy Winehouse tour at the end of 2007, while he was still relatively unknown (he also supported U.S. soul artist Rahsaan Patterson at London's Jazz Café).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.souljonespresents.com/blog01.html |title=Concert Review on Soul Jones Presents "''Shout Out to the Soulheds''" |accessdate=2008-11-14 |first=Soul |last=Jones |work=souljonespresents.com |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325094310/http://www.souljonespresents.com/blog01.html |archivedate=25 March 2009 }}</ref> He has been picked up by the U.S. agency William Morris Agency. He also co-wrote the Leon Jackson hit song "Don't Call This Love" with British producer/writer Chris Braide. Christopher was also the opening act for Mary J. Blige on her European tour 'Growing Pains' in 2008.

=== "The Quest" === Christopher's first single release, "The Quest", was released on 8 June 2008 through Polydor Records. The single draws on his brother's personal experience as a soldier stationed in Basra. His brother two years later would be injured in Afghanistan losing both of his legs. "The Quest" was featured in the closing scene of ''Grey's Anatomy''{{'s}} season 4 conclusion, which caused the song to become more known in the US. The song was made into a music video for the show to promote its fifth season, with scenes of Christopher singing in London as well as scenes from the show. The song was also featured in an episode of the BBC school-based drama ''Waterloo Road''.

It was also covered by Grigory Leps in Russian which became a popular version.

Christopher teamed up with co-writer/producer Jarrad Rogers and production team Midi Mafia to produce his debut album ''My World'', which was released September 2008. Midi Mafia secured the exclusive rights to use samples from the Stax Records Catalogue, and has used some of these for the first time ever on Christopher's album.

His second single, "Smilin" was released on 2 September 2008. It peaked at No. 31. His third single "Fearless" was released on 18 January 2009 and failed to chart. His final single was "Taken Me Over", released on 4 August 2009 as a digital-only single. It also failed to chart.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ax.itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/browserRedirect?url=itms%253A%252F%252Fax.itunes.apple.com%252FWebObjects%252FMZStore.woa%252Fwa%252FviewAlbum%253Fid%253D301704320%2526s%253D143444 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728152509/http://ax.itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/browserRedirect?url=itms%3A%2F%2Fax.itunes.apple.com%2FWebObjects%2FMZStore.woa%2Fwa%2FviewAlbum%3Fid%3D301704320%26s%3D143444 |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 July 2011 |title=iTunes Store |publisher=iTunes |access-date=2011-08-10}}</ref>

Christopher then left Polydor, and signed with Geffen Records UK.<ref name="blogs.myspace.com" />

=== Festival appearances === Christopher hosted a residency at North London's live spot The Boogaloo throughout April 2007, and followed this with dates at London's Soho Revue Bar. He has also played at 2008's Wireless Festival in Hyde Park on the same day as Jay-Z, as well as Glastonbury, T in the Park, Oxegen and V Festival. Christopher has also appeared at the Capital Summertime and Jingle Bell Ball's as the vocalist of Sigala's "Sweet Lovin{{'-}}"; he also has appeared at V Festival and appeared in many other places during 2015–2017.

=== 2010–present === Christopher co-wrote the Sub Focus song "Out the Blue", which was released 27 April 2012. He co-wrote and provided uncredited vocals for "Superstar" by Knife Party, from their debut album ''Abandon Ship'' (2014). In 2015, he was a featured artist and co-wrote the song "City Lights" by Culture Shock. He also worked with Sigala on the track "Sweet Lovin{{'-}}",<ref>{{cite web | title=Bryn Christopher: Pop's Secret Weapon | date=3 September 2021 | url=https://notion.online/bryn-christopher-pop-secret-weapon/ }}</ref> a tropical house track that has over 245 million hits on YouTube (as of October 2021) and reached number three on the UK Singles Chart. He also wrote "Came Here for Love" by Sigala and Ella Eyre with White N3rd and Klingande, which reached number 6 on the UK Singles Chart and was the official London gay pride theme.

==I See Monstas== {{Main|I See Monstas}} In 2012, Christopher, under the pseudonym Skaar, joined producers Rocky and Rufio to form an electronic music group called MONSTA (subsequently renamed I See Monstas in 2013). The group charted at No. 48 in the UK with their first single "Holdin' On".

==Discography== {{BLP sources section|date=June 2021}}

===Studio albums=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Album details ! Chart positions |- style="font-size:smaller;" ! style="width:65px;"| UK |- | 2008 | style="text-align:left;"| '''''My World''''' * Released: 8 September 2008 * Label: Polydor * Formats: CD, digital download | 18 |}

===Singles=== ====As lead artist==== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Song ! colspan="2"| Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2"| Album |- style="font-size:smaller;" ! style="width:60px;"| UK ! style="width:60px;"| GRE <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ifpi.gr/charts_en.html |title=IFPI Greek Singles Chart |access-date=14 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020195851/http://www.ifpi.gr/charts_en.html |archive-date=20 October 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> |- | rowspan="2"| 2008 ! scope="row"| "The Quest" | 45 | 2 | style="text-align:left;" rowspan="4"| ''My World'' |- ! scope="row"| "Smilin" | 31 | — |- | rowspan="2"| 2009 ! scope="row"| "Fearless" | — | — |- ! scope="row"| "Taken Me Over"{{anchor|ref_A}}[[#endnote A|'''[A]''']] | — | — |- | 2021 ! scope="row"| "Never Love You Again"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/never-love-you-again-little-big-town-bryn-christopher/1573814638|title=Never Love You Again (with Little Big Town & Bryn Christopher) – Single by Cheat Codes, Little Big Town & Bryn Christopher on Apple Music|date=16 July 2021|publisher=Apple Music|access-date=16 July 2021}}</ref> {{small|(with Cheat Codes and Little Big Town)}} | — | — | style="text-align:left;"| ''One Night in Nashville'' |- | colspan="5" style="font-size:85%"| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released. |}

'''Notes''' * A {{anchor|endnote_A}}'''^''' "Taken Me Over" was released as a digital download single.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=314414292&s=143444 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104112215/https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=314414292&s=143444 |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 November 2012 |title=iTunes Store |publisher=iTunes |access-date=2011-08-10}}</ref>

====As featured artist==== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:24em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:1em;"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="10"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Certifications ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| UK ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| AUS ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| AUT ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| FRA ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| GER ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| IRE ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| NLD ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| SCO ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| SWE ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| SWI |- ! scope="row"| "City Lights" {{small|(Culture Shock featuring Bryn Christopher)}} | rowspan="2"| 2015 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — | | {{n/a|Non-album single}} |- ! scope="row"| "Sweet Lovin{{'-}}" {{small|(Sigala featuring Bryn Christopher)}} | 3 || 11 || 7 || 115 || 15 || 6 || 23 || 1 || 29 || 31 | * BPI: 2× Platinum<ref name=UKCerts>{{cite certification|region=United Kingdom|access-date=9 July 2023|artist=Bryn Christopher}}</ref> * ARIA: Platinum<ref name="AU certs 2016">{{cite certification|region=Australia|type=single|certyear=2016|accessdate=27 August 2019}}</ref> * BVMI: Gold<ref name="BVMI">{{cite certification|region=Germany|artist=Sigala|accessdate=9 June 2016}}</ref> * RMNZ: Gold<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/singles/2016-03-11|title=NZ Top 40 Singles Chart – The Official New Zealand Music Chart|work=THE OFFICIAL NZ MUSIC CHART}}</ref> | ''Brighter Days'' |- ! scope="row"| "Me, Myself & I" {{small|(Blonde featuring Bryn Christopher)}} | 2018 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — | | rowspan="2" {{n/a|Non-album singles}} |- ! scope="row"| "All Around the World"<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/dance/8528631/matoma-bryn-christopher-all-around-the-world |title=Matoma and Bryn Christopher catch flights, not feelings, on breezy 'All Around The World': Listen |last=Bein |first=Kat |date=28 August 2019 |magazine=Billboard|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190911111559/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/dance/8528631/matoma-bryn-christopher-all-around-the-world |archive-date=11 September 2019 |access-date=11 September 2019}}</ref> {{small|(Matoma featuring Bryn Christopher)}} | 2019 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — | |- ! scope="row"| "No Therapy"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/no-therapy-feat-nea-bryn-christopher-single/1526764423 |title=No Therapy (feat. Nea & Bryn Christopher) - Single by Felix Jaehn on Apple Music |website=Apple Music |date=21 August 2020 |accessdate=4 September 2020}}</ref> {{small|(Felix Jaehn featuring Nea and Bryn Christopher)}} | 2020 | — || — || — || — || — || 56 || — || — || — || — | | ''Breathe'' |- ! scope="row"| "Unconditional"<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weisband |first=Sami |date=4 June 2021 |title=Dillon Francis shines optimistic light on first original track of 2021, 'Unconditional' |url=https://dancingastronaut.com/2021/06/dillon-francis-shines-optimistic-light-on-first-original-track-of-2021-unconditional/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210606160932/https://dancingastronaut.com/2021/06/dillon-francis-shines-optimistic-light-on-first-original-track-of-2021-unconditional/ |archive-date=6 June 2021 |accessdate=7 July 2021 |website=Dancing Astronaut}}</ref> {{small|(Dillon Francis and 220 Kid featuring Bryn Christpher)}} | 2021 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — | | ''Happy Machine'' |- | colspan="14" style="font-size:85%"| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released. |}

2024

Hit me up - Jodie harsh featuring Bryn Christopher

===Other appearances=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! scope="col"| Year ! scope="col"| Song ! scope="col"| Album |- | 2014 ! scope="row"| "Superstar" (by Knife Party, uncredited vocals) | ''Abandon Ship'' |- | 2015 ! scope="row"| "Mine" (Kill the Noise featuring Bryn Christopher) | ''Occult Classic'' |- | 2015 ! scope="row"| "Deeper Love" (Botnek & I See MONSTAS featuring Bryn Christopher, uncredited; a part of I See MONSTAS), Released on Monstercat. | Single |}

===Songwriting credits===

{| class="wikitable" |- ! Year !! Artist !! Album !! Song !! Co-written with |- | 2008 || Leon Jackson || ''Right Now'' || "Don't Call This Love" || Christopher Braide, Carl Falk |- | 2011 || The Saturdays || ''On Your Radar'' || "Do What You Want With Me" || Jarrad Rogers |- | rowspan="2"| 2012 || Sub Focus || ''Torus'' || "Out the Blue" {{small|feat. Alice Gold}} || Nicholas Douwma, Alice McLaughlin |- | Alexandra Burke || ''Heartbreak on Hold'' || "Devil in Me" || Peter Boxta Martin |- | rowspan="3"| 2015 || Andrea Faustini || ''Kelly'' || "Kelly" || Matthew Prime, Timothy Woodcock |- | Kill the Noise || ''Occult Classic'' || "Mine" {{small|feat. Bryn Christopher}} || Jacob Stanczak, Kenneth Walker |- | Sigala || ''Brighter Days'' || "Sweet Lovin{{'-}}" {{small|feat. Bryn Christopher}} || Bruce Fielder |- | 2016 || Mat Zo || ''Self Assemble'' || "Sinful" {{small|feat. I See Monstas}} || Matan Zohar, Rocky Morris, Rufio Sandilands |- | 2017 || Sigala || ''Brighter Days'' || "Came Here for Love" {{small|with Ella Eyre}} || Bruce Fielder, Cedric Steinmyller, Scott Wild, Ella McMahon |- | rowspan="3"| 2018 || The Vamps || ''Night & Day'' || "Too Good to Be You" {{small|with Danny Ávila}} || Philip Plested, George Tizzard, Richard Parkhouse, Colson Baker |- | Jamie Talbot || rowspan="2" {{n/a|Non-album single}} || "Goldmine" || Jonatan Gusmark, Ludvig Evers, Karen Poole |- | Blonde || "Me, Myself & I" {{small|feat. Bryn Christopher}} || Adam Eaglefield, Jacob Manson, Ashley Milton, Daniel Goudie |- | rowspan="6"| 2019 || Blithe || ''Don't Blink EP'' || "Don't Blink" || Rhiann Pitter, Fridolin Walcher |- | Louis Tomlinson || ''Walls'' || "Two of Us" || Louis Tomlinson, Andrew Jackson, Duck Blackwell |- | Matoma || {{n/a|Non-album single}} || "All Around the World" {{small|feat. Bryn Christopher}} || Thomas Lagergren, Andrew Jackson, Matthew Zara |- | Nea || ''Some Say EP'' || "Some Say" || Linnea Sodahl, Vincint Kottkamp, Hitimpulse |- | Blithe || {{n/a|Non-album single}} || "Becoming You" || Rhiann Pitter, Fridolin Walcher |- | Fleur East || ''Fearless'' || "Size" || Fleur East, Chiara Hunter, Tre Jean-Marie, Jacob Attwooll |- | rowspan="4"| 2020 || Melanie C || ''Melanie C'' || "Who I Am" || Melanie Chrisholm, Ash Howes, Richard Stannard |- | Matoma || ''RYTME EP'' || "Don't Stop the Rhythm" {{small|feat. Bryn Christopher}} || Thomas Lagergren, Andrew Bullimore, Matthew Zara |- | Felix Jaehn || rowspan="2" {{n/a|Non-album single}} || "No Therapy" {{small|feat. Nea and Bryn Christopher}} || Felix Jaehn, Robbie McDade, Linnea Sodahl, Vincint Kottkamp, Hitimpulse |- | Hotel Supernova || "Rhythm & Lights" {{small|feat. Bryn Christopher}} || Edward Burrows, Michael Kintish |- |2022 |Tomorrow X Together |''Minisode 2: Thursday's Child'' |"Opening Sequence" |Koda, Sam Klempner, Supreme Boi, Slow Rabbit, Lee Seu-ran, Huening Kai, January 8, Taehyun, Danke, Yi Yi-jin |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{wikiquote}} * {{Cite web |url=http://www.polydor.co.uk/ |title=Polydor Records website |access-date=1 May 2019 |archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20080222213002/http%3A//www.polydor.co.uk/ |archive-date=22 February 2008 |url-status=bot: unknown}} * [http://www.geffen.com Geffen Records website] * [http://www.bluesandsoul.com/feature/322/bryn_christopher_eyes_to_the_top_spot/ Bryn Christopher interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' September 2008] * [https://archive.today/20081014231311/http://www.brynchristopher.fr/ Bryn Christopher French Site]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Christopher, Bryn}} Category:1985 births Category:20th-century English LGBTQ people Category:21st-century Black British male singers Category:21st-century British male singers Category:21st-century English LGBTQ people Category:Alumni of the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts Category:Black British LGBTQ people Category:British contemporary R&B singers Category:English gay musicians Category:English LGBTQ singers Category:English LGBTQ songwriters Category:English people of Barbadian descent Category:English soul singers Category:English tenors Category:Gay singers Category:Gay songwriters Category:Geffen Records artists Category:Living people Category:People from Great Barr Category:Polydor Records artists Category:Popstars contestants Category:Singers from Birmingham, West Midlands