J. Williams (singer)

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=November 2012}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = J. Williams | image = | alt = | caption = | image_size = | birth_name = Joshua Elia Williams | alias = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1986|09|3|df=yes}} | birth_place = [[Māngere]], [[Auckland]] | origin = [[South Auckland]], New Zealand | instrument = Vocals, guitar | genre = [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]], [[Hip hop music|hip hop]] | occupation = | years_active = 2008–present | label = [[Illegal Musik]] [[Warner Music Group|Warner Music New Zealand]] | website = [https://www.myspace.com/jwilliamsimusik myspace.com/jwilliamsmusik] }} '''Joshua Elia Williams''' (born 3 September 1986), known by his [[stage name]] '''J. Williams''', is a New Zealand [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]] recording artist and professional [[hip-hop dance]]r. He made his musical debut in 2008 with "[[Blow Your Mind (J. Williams song)|Blow Your Mind]]" which peaked at number 13 on the [[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand|New Zealand Singles Chart]]. In early 2009 his debut album ''[[Young Love (J. Williams album)|Young Love]]'' was released with the single "[[You Got Me (J. Williams song)|You Got Me]]" featuring [[Scribe (rapper)|Scribe]]. It was certified platinum and became the #1 selling single of 2010 in [[New Zealand]].

== Early life and education == Joshua Elia Williams was born in Auckland, New Zealand His father is of Samoan descent and his mother of Fijian descent. He attended Weymouth Intermediate School in Weymouth, [[South Auckland]] and attended James Cook High School in Manurewa.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

He compares his upbringing to that of the [[Jackson 5]] family, as his father was very strict regarding religion and music.<ref>[http://www.muzic.net.nz/artists/genre/5/2451.html Interview with muzic.net.nz]</ref> Williams' has two younger sisters, Keziah and Ezra, and two older sisters, [[Emily Williams|Emily]] and [[Lavina Williams|Lavinia]], who have both appeared on ''[[Australian Idol]]'' in [[Australian Idol season 3|2005 (runner-up)]] and [[Australian Idol season 4|2006 (top-8)]], respectively.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}. In 2023, his younger sister, Ezra, finished runner-up on [[The Voice (Australian TV series) season 12|season 12 of The Voice Australia]].

== Career == Williams was a member of the hip hop street dance group originally called Dziah (now known as Prestige). In 2006 Dziah represented [[New Zealand]] at the [[World Hip Hop Dance Championships]] in [[Los Angeles]]. They came second to the current champions, the [[Philippine All Stars]]. In 2008 at the same competition, this time as Prestige, they came fourth.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

From 2008 to March 2011 Williams received over {{NZD|100,000}} in funding from the taxpayer-funded [[New Zealand On Air]]. This included $50,000 to produce the album, and multiple grants to make music videos.<ref name="funding">{{cite web | last = NZ On Air | title = Search All Funding Decisions | access-date = 2011-05-07 | url = http://www.nzonair.govt.nz/funding/fundingsearchpages/fundingsearchmusic.aspx? | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110927213410/http://www.nzonair.govt.nz/funding/fundingsearchpages/fundingsearchmusic.aspx | archive-date = 27 September 2011 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

=== 2008 – 2010: ''Young Love'' === {{Main|Young Love (J. Williams album)|l1=Young Love}}

In September 2008 "[[Blow Your Mind (J. Williams song)|Blow Your Mind]]" was released as the lead single from Williams' debut album. It peaked at number 13 on the [[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand|New Zealand Singles Chart]]. Second single "Set it Off", was released to commercial radio stations in early 2009 and charted at number thirty six. In March 2009, Williams released his third single, "[[Ghetto Flower]]", which peaked at number 5 on the same chart. The song was certified Gold in New Zealand on 9 June 2009, selling over 7,500 copies.<ref name="nzcert">{{cite web|url=http://www.radioscope.net.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=77&Itemid=61 |title=Latest Gold/Platinum Singles |access-date=2009-09-22 |work=radioscope.net.nz |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724195845/http://www.radioscope.net.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=77&Itemid=61 |archive-date=24 July 2011 }}</ref> and was written by his sister, [[Emily Williams]]. The fourth single, "[[Stand with You]]", was released in June 2009, and peaked at number 6 in New Zealand, becoming his second consecutive top-10 single. It featured his sister, [[Lavina Williams]]. The song was certified Gold in New Zealand on 13 September 2009, selling over 7,500 copies.<ref name="nzcert"/>

On 13 July 2009 Williams released his debut album, ''[[Young Love (J. Williams album)|Young Love]]''. The album debuted at number five on the [[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand|New Zealand Top 40 Albums Chart]] and was certified gold. On 9 November 2009 Williams released his fifth single from the album, "[[Your Style]]" which featured New Zealand singer, [[Erakah]]. The single peaked at number 16 on the [[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand|New Zealand Singles Chart]].

In February 2010, Williams released sixth single "[[You Got Me (J. Williams song)|You Got Me]]", featuring New Zealand rapper [[Scribe (rapper)|Scribe]]. The single peaked at number one on the [[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand|New Zealand Singles Chart]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=J.+Williams+feat.+Scribe&titel=You+Got+Me&cat=s|title=J. Williams feat. Scribe – You Got Me|publisher=charts.nz|access-date=14 April 2010}}</ref> and was certified Platinum.<ref name="nzcert"/> In December 2010, it was declared that "You Got Me" was the #1 selling single of 2010 in [[New Zealand]].<ref name="tvnz.co.nz">{{cite news |url=http://tvnz.co.nz/entertainment-news/j-williams-susan-boyle-top-charts-2010-3978200 |title=J. Williams, Susan Boyle top charts for 2010 |date=17 December 2010 |work=[[One News (New Zealand)|One News]] |access-date=6 October 2011}}</ref>

=== 2010 – present === On 25 May 2010 Williams released "[[Takes Me Higher]]", which features pop singer [[Dane Rumble]]. The single only had a [[Music download|digital]] release. It peaked at number two on the [[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand|New Zealand Singles Chart]]. In December 2010, "Takes Me Higher" was declared the #19 best seller of 2010 in New Zealand.<ref name="tvnz.co.nz"/> "[[Night of Your Life (J. Williams song)|Night of Your Life]]" was released on 11 October 2010 and received a gold certification.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/nz/album/night-of-your-life-feat-k-one/id396583879?i=396583887 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112075710/https://itunes.apple.com/nz/album/night-of-your-life-feat-k-one/id396583879?i=396583887 |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 November 2012 |title=Night of Your Life (feat. K.One) - Single |publisher=[[iTunes Store]]|access-date=13 October 2010}}</ref> In 2010 Williams toured Germany.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

In 2012, Williams was the supporting act for New Zealand [[boy band]], [[Titanium (band)|Titanium]] on their [[Come On Home Tour]].{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

== Personal life == Williams and his partner Larissa Brown separated shortly before the birth of their child Ryder, and stories of alcohol-fuelled violence emerged.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10724172|title=Kiwi No 1 pop star's 'horrible' violence|first=Kathryn|last=Powley|newspaper=The New Zealand Herald|date=8 May 2011}}</ref> Williams stepped down from his post as Rugby World Cup ambassador.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/5159480/Rumble-replaces-Williams-as-rugby-ambassador|title=Rumble replaces Williams as rugby ambassador|newspaper=Auckland Now|date=17 June 2011}}</ref> Williams underwent counselling, and in 2012 rekindled a relationship with his high school sweetheart, Renee Marriot.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10887549|title=Troubled hip-hop star turns life around|first=Morgan|last=Tait|newspaper=The New Zealand Herald|date=31 May 2013}}</ref>

== Discography == {{Infobox artist discography | Artist = J. Williams | Image = | Caption = | Studio = 1 | Live = | Compilation = | Video = | Tribute = | EP = | Singles = 11 | Music videos = 10 | B-sides = | Soundtrack = | Option = 3 | Option name = Featured singles }}

=== Studio albums === {| class="wikitable" style=text-align:center; |- !width="3"| Year ! style="width:210px;"| Album details ![[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand|NZ chart]] <ref name="NZ">{{cite web|url=https://charts.nz/showinterpret.asp?interpret=J.+Williams|title=J. Williams in New Zealand charts|work=Hung Medien|publisher=charts.nz|access-date=26 May 2010}}</ref> ![[Music recording sales certifications|Certifications]] [[List of music recording sales certifications|(sales thresholds)]] |- |2009 |align="left"| '''''[[Young Love (J. Williams album)|Young Love]]''''' *Released: 13 July 2009 *Label: [[Illegal Musik]], [[Warner Music Group|Warner]] *Formats: [[Compact Disc|CD]], [[Music download|digital download]] | 5 |align="left"| [[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand|NZ]]: Gold<ref name="NZalbumcert">{{cite web|url=http://www.radioscope.net.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=79&Itemid=62 |title=Latest Gold / Platinum Albums |work=RadioScope |access-date=14 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724195817/http://www.radioscope.net.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=79&Itemid=62 |archive-date=24 July 2011 }}</ref>  |}

=== Singles === {| class="wikitable" |- !Year !Title ![[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand|NZ peak chart position]] <ref name="NZ"/> ![[Music recording sales certifications|Certifications]] [[List of music recording sales certifications|(sales thresholds)]] !Album |- |rowspan=2|2008 |"[[Blow Your Mind (J. Williams song)|Blow Your Mind]]" | style="text-align:center;"|13 | style="text-align:center;"|— |rowspan=6|''[[Young Love (J. Williams album)|Young Love]]'' (and Collector's Edition) |- |"[[Set It Off (J. Williams song)|Set It Off]]" | style="text-align:center;"|36 | style="text-align:center;"|— |- |rowspan=3|2009 |"[[Ghetto Flower]]" | style="text-align:center;"|5 |align="left"| *[[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand|NZ]]: Platinum<ref name="NZsinglecert">{{cite web|url=http://www.radioscope.net.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=77&Itemid=63 |title=Latest Gold / Platinum Singles |work=RadioScope |access-date=17 October 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014104613/http://www.radioscope.net.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=77&Itemid=63 |archive-date=14 October 2008 }}</ref> |- |"[[Stand with You]]" (featuring [[Lavina Williams]]) | style="text-align:center;"|6 |align="left"| *[[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand|NZ]]: Gold<ref name="NZsinglecert"/> |- |"[[Your Style]]" (featuring [[Erakah]]) | style="text-align:center;"|16 | style="text-align:center;"|— |- |rowspan="3"|2010 |"[[You Got Me (J. Williams song)|You Got Me]]" (featuring [[Scribe (rapper)|Scribe]]) | style="text-align:center;"|1 |align="left"| *[[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand|NZ]]: Platinum<ref name="NZsinglecert"/> |- |"[[Takes Me Higher]]" (featuring [[Dane Rumble]]) | style="text-align:center;"|2 | *[[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand|NZ]]: Platinum<ref name="NZsinglecert"/> | style="text-align:center;" rowspan="5"|TBA |- |"[[Night of Your Life (J. Williams song)|Night of Your Life]]" (featuring [[K.One]]) | style="text-align:center;"|4 |align="left"| *[[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand|NZ]]:Gold<ref name="NZsinglecert"/> |- |rowspan="2"|2011 |"[[Everybody Wants to Rule the World|Want to Rule the World]]" (featuring [[K.One]]) | style="text-align:center;"|29 | style="text-align:center;"|— |- || "[[Live It Up (J. Williams song)|Live It Up]]" | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— |- ||2013 |"Never Let Go" (featuring [[DJ Lenium]]) | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— |}

==== As featured artist ==== {| class="wikitable" |- !Year !Title ![[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand|NZ peak chart position]] |- |2008 |"Them Eyes" ([[Mareko]] featuring J. Williams) | style="text-align:center;"|39<ref>{{cite web|author=Steffen Hung |url=https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Mareko&titel=Them+Eyes&cat=s |title=Mareko - Them Eyes |publisher=charts.nz |date=2009-02-14 |access-date=2014-03-05}}</ref> |- |2010 |"My Love" ([[DJ CXL]] featuring J. Williams and [[The Gift (rapper)|The Gift]]) | style="text-align:center;"|— |- |2011 |"She's a Killer" ([[K.One]] featuring J. Williams) | style="text-align:center;"|26 |- |2017 |"Wide Awake" (BAR9 featuring Paradigm Shift & J. Williams) | style="text-align:center;"|— |}

=== Music videos === {| class="wikitable" |- !Year !Title !Director |- |rowspan="2"|2008 |"Blow Your Mind" | |- |"Set It Off" | |- |rowspan="3"|2009 |"Ghetto Flower" |rowspan="3"|Ivan Slavov<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/awards/video/id/C9nWkor8g3Y/search/illegal%20musik|title=J. Williams – Ghetto Flower music video|work=[[NME]]|access-date=11 July 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Kiwi Hit Clips |publisher=[[New Zealand On Air]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ha2uduMnkzE |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/Ha2uduMnkzE |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=J. Williams – Your Style feat Erakah and Tyree|medium=[[YouTube]]|date=3 November 2009|access-date=11 July 2010}}{{cbignore}}</ref> |- |"Stand with You" |- |"Your Style" |- |rowspan="3"|2010 |"You Got Me" |Damien Caine<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.3news.co.nz/Kiwi-musician-makes-new-video-in-3D/tabid/551/articleID/141843/Default.aspx|title=Kiwi musician makes new video in 3D|format=video|work=[[3 News]]|date=15 February 2010|access-date=25 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406085407/http://www.3news.co.nz/Kiwi-musician-makes-new-video-in-3D/tabid/551/articleID/141843/Default.aspx|archive-date=6 April 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- |"Takes Me Higher" |Ivan Slavov<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/awards/video/id/RuC6XiPQNdw/search/video%20models|title=J Williams feat Dane Rumble Takes Me Higher Official Video|work=[[NME]]|access-date=11 July 2010}}</ref> |- |"Night of Your Life" |Anthony Plant |}

== Awards and nominations == {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Type ! Award ! Result |- |rowspan="6"|2010 |[[APRA Awards (Australia)|APRA Awards]] |[[APRA Silver Scroll]] ("[[You Got Me (J. Williams song)|You Got Me]]" with [[Scribe (rapper)|Scribe]])<ref>[http://www.mtv.co.nz/news/21bb6026-apra-silver-scroll-top-20-songs/ APRA Silver Scroll Announce Top 20] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719194443/http://www.mtv.co.nz/news/21bb6026-apra-silver-scroll-top-20-songs/ |date=19 July 2011 }} MTV New Zealand - Retrieved 24 July 2010</ref> |{{nom}} |- |rowspan="3"|[[2010 New Zealand Music Awards|New Zealand Music Awards]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10670339 |title=NZ music awards finalists announced |first=Hugh |last=Sundae |newspaper=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=1 September 2010 |access-date=1 September 2010}}</ref> |Vodafone Single of the Year ("You Got Me") |{{nom}} |- |Best Male Solo Artist (''[[Young Love (J. Williams album)|Young Love]]'') |{{nom}} |- |Best Urban/Hip-Hop Album (''[[Young Love (J. Williams album)|Young Love]]'') |{{nom}} |- |rowspan="2"|[[Pacific Music Awards]] |Best Pacific Urban Artist |{{nom}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10648134 |title=Chart-topping acts among Pacific award contenders |first=Vaimoana |last=Tapaleao|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=29 May 2010 |access-date=16 July 2010}}</ref> |- |Best Pacific Male Artist |{{won}}<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1005/S00332.htm|title=S3 Pacific Music Award Winners Announced|publisher=Pacific Music Awards|date=30 May 2010|access-date=16 July 2010}}</ref> |}

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == *[https://web.archive.org/web/20121023140110/http://www.bebo.com/jwilliamsimusik Official Bebo site] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20101125010223/http://www.illegalmusik.co.nz/ Record Label site] *[http://www.muzic.net.nz/artists/genre/5/2451.html Profile on muzic.net.nz] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20080925113356/http://www.amplifier.co.nz/artist/40883/j-williams.html Profile on amplifier.co.nz] *[http://tvnz.co.nz/close-up/son-preacher-man-2851587 Feature profile on Television New Zealand's Close Up programme]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, J.}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:New Zealand people of Samoan descent]] [[Category:New Zealand male singer-songwriters]] [[Category:New Zealand singer-songwriters]] [[Category:New Zealand contemporary R&B singers]] [[Category:New Zealand pop singers]] [[Category:New Zealand hip-hop musicians]] [[Category:New Zealand people of I-Taukei Fijian descent]] [[Category:21st-century New Zealand male singers]] [[Category:1986 births]]