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Nicholas Furlong (musician)

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Nicholas Furlong
Background information
Born (1986-09-16) September 16, 1986 (age 38)
Sacramento, California, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • rapper
  • record producer
Years active2010–present
LabelsAttaBoy Music

Nicholas Furlong (born September 16, 1986) is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, and record producer.[1][2] His work crosses several musical genres, ranging from dance, rock, and pop, to rap and hip-hop. He is also the vocalist and co-writer of the hit single "The Nights" by Avicii.[3][4]

Furlong was initially signed by songwriter and producer Ryan Tedder[5] during the years of 2010–2011. Since 2012, he has worked with artists such as Kygo, Steve Aoki, 5 Seconds of Summer, Big Time Rush, Sabrina Carpenter, WALK THE MOON, All Time Low, blink-182, Travis Barker, Papa Roach, the Used, Sleeping with Sirens, and Fever 333.[6][7]

In 2019, he was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance, for his songwriting credit on Made an America by Fever 333.[8]

Early life

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Furlong was born in Sacramento, California to Jennifer and Michael Furlong and raised in Carson City, Nevada. He is of English and Irish descent. At the age of 16, he began writing and recording his own songs and sharing them on music websites, before being discovered by a music director at Midway Games and being offered an opportunity to write music for video games. Furlong contributed to various game soundtracks in 2004–2005, including NBA Ballers, Blitz: The League, and NBA Ballers: Phenom. At the age of 21, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a songwriter and producer.[9]

Career

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2010–2013: Career breakthrough

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Furlong had his first commercial success in 2010 as a co-writer of the Big Time Rush and Jordin Sparks' duet, "Count on You". The song was featured on the band's debut album BTR, which debuted at number three on the Billboard 200. Shortly after, Furlong signed a publishing deal with Ryan Tedder, where he worked with artists like Colbie Caillat, Jordin Sparks, Leona Lewis, and the Wanted. Furlong worked again with Big Time Rush in 2011, when he co-wrote "Time of Our Life" for their second album Elevate. The band shot a live music video for the song during the 2012 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards, which premiered after the show.[10]

In 2012, Furlong began transitioning into electronic music, after co-writing a song for Diplo's Express Yourself EP. "I'd always been a fan of dance music in general, but working on Diplo's project gave me a completely different perspective of the genre as a whole."[11] Later that year, Furlong began collaborating with Steve Aoki, co-writing the single "Singularity". They would collaborate again in 2013, when Furlong wrote and featured as a vocalist on the single "Bring You to Life (Transcend)", which peaked at number 44 on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Songs chart.[12] Furlong performed the song alongside Aoki at his 2013 concert in Los Angeles at the Shrine Exposition Hall, during which two Guinness World Records were set for "the longest scream by a crowd" and "most people simultaneously lighting glow sticks".

2014–2015: Commercial recognition

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Furlong worked with 5 Seconds of Summer in 2014 for their debut self-titled album, co-writing "Everything I Didn't Say", "Social Casualty", and "Independence Day". Despite not being released as a single, "Everything I Didn't Say" debuted at number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was also featured on the band's live album LiveSOS. Later that year, Furlong worked with post-hardcore band Sleeping with Sirens co-writing "Kick Me", the first single off of their fourth studio album, Madness. The single peaked at number 23 on the Billboard Hot Rock Songs chart. "Kick Me" won an award for song of the year at the 2015 Alternative Press Music Awards.

In 2015, Furlong began working with All Time Low on their sixth studio album Future Hearts, co-writing "Runaways" and "Don't You Go". The album was the highest-selling album worldwide its first week out, making it the band's highest debut ever. Later that year, Furlong co-wrote and co-produced "Game On", a song by Waka Flocka Flame featuring Good Charlotte, which served as the theme song of the Adam Sandler film Pixels. Pixels was released in 2D, 3D, and IMAX 3D on July 24, 2015. Furlong was also a co-writer on the Good Charlotte single "Makeshift Love", which debuted at number nine on the Billboard Rock chart. Variance Magazine claimed that 2015 was a "pivotal year" for the songwriter and producer.[13]

Avicii single "The Nights"

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Furlong co-wrote and performed vocals on Avicii's single "The Nights".[4] The single premiered on the soundtrack of FIFA 15 on September 23, 2014. It was released on December 1, 2014, on The Days / Nights EP, alongside Avicii's prior single "The Days", and as a single in the UK on January 11, 2015. "The Nights" peaked at number one on the UK Dance Chart, number six on the UK Singles Chart, and number ten on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Songs chart.[14] As of March 2022, the single has accumulated more than one billion streams on Spotify, making it the second most popular FIFA soundtrack song of all-time. Furlong sent the original idea, titled "My Father Told Me", to Arash Pournouri, Avicii's manager. Pournouri recognised an immediate draw to the track, saying that the song had that same sense of euphoria which characterises so much of Avicii's music. In an interview with Yahoo! Music, Pournouri said: "It made absolute sense to work on it with Nick...[Avicii and I just needed] to make it more 'us' and that's what [we] did."

Furlong contacted filmmaker Rory Kramer to use footage from Kramer's YouTube channel for the official music video,[15] which was released on December 15, 2014, on YouTube. As of February 2023, the music video has over 900 million views.[16]

2016–present: AttaBoy Music

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Furlong in 2016

In 2016, Furlong was brought on as executive producer, co-producer, and a songwriter for Papa Roach's ninth studio album, Crooked Teeth. The first single, titled "Help", was released February 17, 2017, and spent six consecutive weeks at number one on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Singles chart, making it the band's third number one Rock single in their career.[17][18] The album's second single "American Dreams" reached number three on the charts. Furlong simultaneously co-produced and co-wrote several songs with All Time Low for their album Last Young Renegade, including the album's first single "Dirty Laundry", which reached No. 1 on the UK Rock Singles chart. Furlong is also credited as a co-writer on "Good Old Days" for blink-182's deluxe edition of their album California.[19] On October 13, 2017, The Front Bottoms released Going Grey, produced and executive produced by Furlong.

Furlong worked with the politically charged rap-rock trio The Fever 333 in 2018, writing singles "Made an America", which was nominated for a Grammy Award for best rock performance, and "Burn It", which won the best song at the 2019 Kerrang! Awards. He also contributed as a songwriter to Logan Henderson's single "Pull Me Deep", which was the artist's first single to debut on the Billboard Top 40 chart. In 2019 Furlong was credited as a co-writer on several songs from 311's album Voyager. He also launched his own joint venture publishing company AttaBoy Music with Reach Global Publishing.

In 2020, Furlong and Nicholas Petricca of WALK THE MOON wrote the song "Someday", a collaboration between Kygo and country artist Zac Brown, and "Supremacy" by The Fever 333, which was co-produced with John Feldmann and Travis Barker and interpolates the song "Rapture" by Blondie, listing Debbie Harry and Chris Stein as co-writers.[20] In addition, he also co-wrote and produced "Hanging with Ghosts" by Yung Pinch featuring Good Charlotte and Goody Grace.

Furlong revealed his own project, The Dirty Rich, on September 14, 2020. The first single, titled "Hot American Summer", was released on September 28, 2020, via Furlong's independent record label AttaBoy Music.[21] In 2021, the label also released an official remix of the single "Vacation" by Dirty Heads, and two singles titled "Grey Skies" and "5AM" by Betcha.

In 2022, Furlong was the executive producer, co-producer, and co-writer of Papa Roach's eleventh studio album, Ego Trip.[22] The album's singles "Kill The Noise" and "No Apologies" both reached No. 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Singles chart. He also co-produced and co-wrote three singles by Big Time Rush titled "Call It Like I See It", "Not Giving You Up", and "Fall".

Discography

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Production and songwriting credits

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Year Artist Title Album Credits
2024 AR/CO & Don Diablo "Solar Eclipse"
Solar Eclipse – Single
Songwriter
Charlotte Sands "die in this room"
can we start over?
Songwriter, producer
Connor Kauffman "Pink Little Lighter"
Two Hearts
Songwriter, producer
FEVER 333 "BULL & A BULLET"
DARKER WHITE
Songwriter
"PIN DROP"
Iian Rich "CHOKEHOLD"
CHOKEHOLD – Single
Songwriter
Jutes "TBA"
TBA
Songwriter
Lindsey Stirling "Survive" (feat. Walk Off The Earth)
Duality
Songwriter
Oliver Cronin "Hello Goodbye"
Hello Goodbye – Single
Songwriter
People R Ugly "Church On TV"
Church On TV – Single
Songwriter, producer
"Dumb"
Dumb – Single
"Just Friends"
Just Friends – Single
Songwriter
Purple Disco Machine TBA
TBA
Songwriter
Papa Roach & Carrie Underwood "Leave A Light On (Talk Away The Dark)"
Leave A Light On (Talk Away The Dark – Single
Songwriter, producer
Tech N9ne "Sin Miedo" (feat. Zkeircrow, G-Mo Skee, & Phlaque The Grimstress)
COSM
Songwriter, producer
Unroyal "Ten Feet Tall"
Ten Feet Tall – Single
Songwriter
2023 Atreyu "Drowning"
Drowning – Single
Songwriter
Betcha "Trippin"
Trippin – Single
Songwriter, producer
Big Time Rush "I Just Want To (Party All The Time)"
Songwriter, producer
"Weekends"
Songwriter
"Forget You Now"
"Ask You Tonight"
"Another Life"
Songwriter, producer
"Learn To Love"
Another Life – Deluxe
Songwriter, producer
Cassadee Pope "Almost There"
Almost There – Single
Songwriter, producer
The Front Bottoms "Clear Path"
You Are Who You Hang Out With
Songwriter
"Not Joking"
Jutes "Quitter"
LADYBUG
Songwriter
Morgan Page & farfetch'd "Runaway" (feat. The Dirty Rich)
Runaway – Single
Songwriter, lead vocals
People R Ugly "Get Over It"
People R Ugly – EP
Executive producer (album),
songwriter, producer
"Deep End"
"What's Up"
4 Non Blondes Cover
What's Up – Single
Producer
Summer Rios "The Long Way"
The Long Way – Single
Songwriter
2022 Big Time Rush "Fall"
Fall – Single
Songwriter
"Not Giving You Up"
Not Giving You Up – Single
Songwriter, producer
Goldfinger "3am"
Never Look Back (Deluxe)
Songwriter
Mothica "Casualty"
nocturnal
Songwriter
Papa Roach "Bloodline" Executive producer (album),
songwriter, producer
"Ego Trip"
"Unglued"
"Killing Time"
"Leave A Light On"
"Always Wandering"
"No Apologies"
"Cut The Line"
"I Surrender"
Sleeping With Sirens "Grave"
Songwriter
Story of The Year "Take The Ride"[23]
Tear Me To Pieces
Songwriter
The Summer Set "Hard Candy"
blossom
Songwriter
2021 Atreyu "Stay"
Baptize
Songwriter
Betcha "Grey Skies"
Grey Skies – Single
Songwriter, producer
Big Time Rush "Call It Like I See It"
Call It Like I See It – Single
Songwriter, producer
Concrete Castles "Wish I Missed U"
(feat. Anthony Green)
Wish I Missed U
Songwriter
Devin Dawson "Not On My Watch"
The Pink Slip – EP
Songwriter
Dirty Heads "Vacation (AttaBoy Remix)"
Vacation – AttaBoy Remix
Producer
Forester "The Flood"
The Flood – Single
Songwriter
guardin "all i can see"
all i can see – Single
Songwriter, producer
Jena Rose "Check Mate"
Check Mate – Single
Songwriter
Jesse Clegg "Waiting On The Outcome"
Waiting On The Outcome – Single
Songwriter, producer
Nathan James "Appetite"
Appetite – Single
Songwriter, producer
Papa Roach "SWERVE"
(feat. Jason Aalon Butler of Fever 333 & Sueco)
SWERVE – Single
Songwriter, producer
2020 Betcha "July"
July – Single
Songwriter, producer
Felly "Love and Fear"
Mariposa
Songwriter, producer
Fever 333 "Supremacy"
Wrong Generation
Songwriter, producer
Hogland "Scars"
(feat. Wiktoria)
Scars – Single
Songwriter, producer
The Hunna "Cover You"
(feat. Travis Barker)
I'd Rather Die Than Let You In
Songwriter
Jesse Clegg "Speed of Light"
Speed of Light – Single
Songwriter, producer
Kygo "Say You Will"
(feat. Patrick Droney and Petey)
Songwriter
"Someday"
(feat. Zac Brown)
Songwriter, producer
No Love For The Middle Child "Walk Away"
(feat. American Teeth)
Walk Away – EP
Songwriter
Stray Kids "We Go"
(feat. Bang Chan, Changbin, & HAN)
Songwriter
Yung Pinch "Hanging With Ghosts"
(feat. Goody Grace & Good Charlotte)
Back 2 The Beach
Songwriter, producer
2019 311 "Space and Time" Songwriter
"What The?!"
"Dodging Raindrops"
"Lucid Dreams"
Dinosaur Pile-Up "Pouring Gasoline"
Celebrity Mansions
Songwriter
Fever 333 "Burn It"
Songwriter
Hero The Band "Trouble in My Mind"
Back To Myself – EP
Songwriter, producer
New Politics "Suspension"
An Invitation to an Alternate Reality
Songwriter
Papa Roach "The Ending" Executive producer (album),
songwriter, producer
"Renegade Music"
"Not The Only One"
"Who Do You Trust?"
"Elevate"
"Come Around"
"Feel Like Home"
"Problems"
"I Suffer Well"
"Maniac"
"Better Than Life"
Stray Kids "Double Knot" Songwriter
"Double Knot" (Japanese Version)
The Used "Blow Me"
(feat. Jason Aalon Butler)
Songwriter
2018 Basement "Slip Away"
Songwriter, producer
Fever 333 "Made An America" Made An America Songwriter
"POV"
"Made An America (Remix)"
(feat. Travis Barker & Vic Mensa)
Logan Henderson "Pull Me Deep"
Pull Me Deep – Single
Songwriter
"Intro" Echoes of Departure and The Endless Street of Dreams Pt. I Executive producer (album),
songwriter, producer
"Sleepwalker"
"Bite My Tongue"
"Speak of The Devil"
"Take It Out On Me"
"Evergreen"
"Generations"
2017 All Time Low "Dirty Laundry" Last Young Renegade Songwriter, producer
"Nice2KnoU"
"Nightmares"
"Afterglow"
blink-182 "Good Old Days"
Songwriter
The Front Bottoms "You Used To Say (Holy Fuck)" Going Grey Songwriter, producer
"Peace Sign"
"Vacation Town"
"Grand Finale"
"Trampoline"
"Far Drive"
"Everyone But You"
"Ocean"
Krewella "Dead AF"
Songwriter, producer
Onyx "Problem Child"
Songwriter, producer
Papa Roach "Break The Fall" Executive producer (album),
songwriter, producer
"Crooked Teeth"
"My Medication"
"American Dreams"
"Periscope"
(feat. Skylar Grey)
"Help"
"Sunrise Trailer Park"
(feat. Machine Gun Kelly)
"Traumatic
"None of The Above"
Sabrina Carpenter "Why"
(Acoustic Version)
Why (Acoustic)
Producer
2016 Krewella "Marching On"
Songwriter
Steve Aoki "Back 2 U"
(feat. WALK THE MOON)
Songwriter, producer
"Can't Go Home"
(feat. Adam Lambert)
Can't Go Home – Single
Vocal producer
"Feel (The Power of Now)"
Feel (The Power of Now) – Single
Songwriter
2015 All Time Low "Runaways" Future Hearts Songwriter
"Don't You Go"
Disturbed "Open Your Eyes"
Songwriter
Good Charlotte "Makeshift Love"
Songwriter
Jake Miller "Selfish Girls"
Songwriter
ListenBee "Save Me"
Save Me – Single
Songwriter
ONE OK ROCK "Paper Planes"
(feat. Kellin Quinn)
Songwriter
Sleeping With Sirens "Kick Me" Songwriter
"Better Off Dead"
"November"
Steve Aoki "Light Years"
(feat. Rivers Cuomo)
Songwriter, additional vocals
Timeflies "Burn It Down"
Songwriter
Waka Flocka Flame "Game On"
(feat. Good Charlotte)
Songwriter, producer
Iyaz "Believe In Love"
Aurora
Songwriter
2014 Avicii "The Nights"
Songwriter, lead vocals
Heffron Drive "Could You Be Home" (RAS Remix)
Happy Mistakes
Producer
Issues "Disappear"
Diamond Dreams
Producer
5 Seconds of Summer "Everything I Didn't Say" Songwriter
"Social Casualty"
"Independence Day"
2013 Makua Rothman "Underneath The Halo" Sound Wave Songwriter
"The Nite B4"
Kay "Next To You" My Name Is Kay Songwriter, producer
"It's Over"
Steve Aoki "Bring You To Life (Transcend)"
Bring You To Life (Transcend) – Single
Songwriter, lead vocals
2012 Diplo "No Problem"
(feat. Flinch and Kay)
Express Yourself – EP
Songwriter
Steve Aoki "Singularity"
(feat. Kay)
It's The End of The World As We Know It – EP
Songwriter, vocal producer
2011 Big Time Rush "Time of Our Life"
Songwriter
Stan Walker "Won't Let You Down"
Songwriter, producer
The Wanted "Satellite"
Vocal producer
2010 Big Time Rush "Count On You"
(feat. Jordin Sparks)
Songwriter
Burnham "Automatic"
Almost Famous – EP
Co-writer
Chingy "Superhero"
Superhero – Single
Songwriter, vocals
Colbie Caillat "Brighter Than The Sun"
Vocal producer
Jordin Sparks "I Am Woman"
I Am Woman – Single
Vocal producer
"The World I Knew"
Justice Crew "And Then We Dance"
And Then We Dance – Single
Songwriter, producer
Murphy Lee "Hit The Floor"
(feat. Nelly, City Spud, Kyjuan & Ali)
You See Me
Songwriter, lead vocals

As The Dirty Rich

[edit]
Year Title Album Credit
2020
"Hot American Summer"
Hot American Summer – Single
Vocals, songwriter, producer, all instruments

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Award Title Category Result
2024 AFSP Lifesavers Gala Honoree Won
2021 Billboard Music Awards Golden Hour Dance/Electronic Album Nominated[24]
2019 Kerrang! Awards "Burn It" Best Song Won[25]
61st Annual Grammy Awards "Made An America" Best Rock Performance Nominated[26]
2018 iHeartRadio Music Awards "Help" Rock Song of the Year Nominated[27]
2017 Loudwire Music Awards Crooked Teeth Hard Rock Album of the Year Nominated[28]
Rock Sound Awards Last Young Renegade Album of the Year Won[29]
2015 Alternative Press Music Awards "Kick Me" Song of the Year Won[30]

References

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  1. ^ "Nicholas Furlong - Credits - AllMusic". All Access.
  2. ^ "Nicholas Furlong - Discography". Discogs.
  3. ^ "nicholas furlong Songs - Play & Download Hits & All MP3 Songs!". Wynk Music. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Brockington, Ariana (April 20, 2018). "Avicii's Biggest Hits (Listen)". Variety. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  5. ^ "An Interview with Songwriter, Producer, and Singer Nick Furlong". All Access. April 29, 2019.
  6. ^ "Nick Furlong: The Papa Roach and Fever 333 Collaborator Talks Songwriting". Beasley Music Media Group. September 28, 2020.
  7. ^ "Nicholas Furlong, Goldfinger's John Feldmann And Fever333 On The Art Of Collaboration". Forbes.
  8. ^ Baltin, Steve. "Nicholas Furlong, Goldfinger's John Feldmann And Fever333 On The Art Of Collaboration". Forbes. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  9. ^ "Douglas High Graduate Finds Music Success". The Record Courier.
  10. ^ "Big Time Rush – Time Our Lives Music Video – 2012 Kids Choice Awards". PerezHilton.com.
  11. ^ "Singer, Songwriter and Producer Nick "RAS" Furlong Has Hustle and Flow". EDMTunes. January 26, 2015.
  12. ^ "Steve Aoki to Release New Single 'Bring You To Life (Transcend)' on 10/15". Broadway World Music.
  13. ^ "Interview: Avicii Collaborator RAS Says Rock's Comeback 'Already Happening'". Variance Magazine. September 11, 2014. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  14. ^ List of UK Dance Chart number-one singles of 2015
  15. ^ "See It First: Avicii's Euphoric New Video, 'The Nights'". Yahoo!. December 15, 2014. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  16. ^ "Avicii Most Viewed YouTube Videos". Social Blade. December 27, 2018. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
  17. ^ "Papa Roach Unleash Catchy, Cathartic New Song 'Help'". Loudwire. February 17, 2017.
  18. ^ "Papa Roach – Chart History – Billboard". Billboard.
  19. ^ "Good Old Days - blink-182 - Song Info". All Access.
  20. ^ "FEVER 333's 'SUPREMACY' sample of Blondie's 'Rapture'". WhoSampled.com.
  21. ^ "Nick Furlong Unveils New Project". Broadway World Music.
  22. ^ "Papa Roach Share Origins of New Album EGO TRIP and Video for "No Apologies": Exclusive". Yahoo Entertainment. April 8, 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  23. ^ "Story of The Year". Twitter.
  24. ^ "Billboard Music Awards 2021 Finalists Full List". Billboard.com.
  25. ^ "Kerrang! Awards 2019: Here's The Full List of Winners". Kerrang!. June 19, 2019.
  26. ^ Campbell, Rachel (February 11, 2019). "Grammy Awards 2019 Winners Announced—See The Full List". Alternative Press. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  27. ^ "iHeartRadio Music Awards Nominees". Variety. January 10, 2018.
  28. ^ "2017 Loudwire Music Awards Nominees Revealed". Loudwire. August 15, 2017.
  29. ^ "Meet The Winners of the First Ever Rock Sound Awards!". Rock Sound.
  30. ^ "Here Are the Winners of the 2015 APMAs". Alternative Press.
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