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| Sacha Skarbek | |
|---|---|
 Skarbek at his London studio | |
| Background information | |
| Occupation(s) | Songwriter, record producer |
| Website | sachaskarbek |
Sacha Skarbek is a British songwriter and producer. He is best known for co-writing James Blunt's hit singles "You're Beautiful" and "Goodbye My Lover" as well as Miley Cyrus' hit song "Wrecking Ball". Skarbek has worked with artists such as Adele, Lana Del Rey, Jason Mraz, Tears for Fears, Duffy and many more.
Career
Early career
Sacha Skarbek is a classically trained musician, taught by distinguished pianist Ronald Smith. He received music scholarships to Northbourne Park and The King's School, Canterbury. After graduating from Oxford Brookes University with a degree in music, Skarbek was musical director and keyboard player for Neneh Cherry, Beverley Knight, Alisha's Attic and Jon Bon Jovi.
Songwriting and production
Skarbek played a key role in the development of James Blunt with whom he wrote the worldwide No. 1 hit "You're Beautiful". Skarbek co-wrote six songs on the multi-platinum selling debut album "Back to Bedlam", including follow up singles "Goodbye My Lover" and "Wisemen". In 2008, Skarbek wrote "Cold Shoulder" with Adele. The song was released as a single from Adele's multi-platinum selling debut album "19". Over the years Skarbek wrote several songs on globally chart topping albums, including Jason Mraz's multi-platinum selling album "We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things" as well as Lana Del Rey's best-selling album "Born to Die". Skarbek co-wrote Miley Cyrus' "Wrecking Ball" with Mozella and Stephan Moccio which was later produced by Dr. Luke and Cirkut. The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 and was awarded multi-platinum around the world.
In 2012, Skarbek set up his own production company, White Rope Music, which focuses on artist development.
Film music
Skarbek scored and supervised the music for the documentary film For No Good Reason, starring Johnny Depp. He also scored and collaborated with James Walsh on the soundtrack music for a film of Chuck Palahniuk's Lullaby.
Personal life
Skarbek was raised in an area of London. He is the son of psychotherapist Andrzej Skarbek and journalist and writer Marjorie Wallace, who was made Commander of the Order of the British Empire for founding the mental health charity SANE. His brother, Stefan Skarbek, is also a songwriter and music producer.
Discography
| Discography | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Artist | Album | Song | Credit |
| 2023 | Quarry | Object | "Kind Of Hoping" | Writer |
| 2022 | Tears For Fears | The Tipping Point | "Please Be Happy" | Writer-Piano |
| "Long, Long, Long Time" | Vocal Production | |||
| "The Tipping Point" | Producer | |||
| "End Of Night" | Producer | |||
| "Stay" | Producer | |||
| "My Demons" | Writer-Producer | |||
| "Shame" | Writer-Producer | |||
| "Secret Location" | Writer-Producer | |||
| Alec Benjamin | Paper Crown (Single) | "Paper Crown" | Writer-Producer | |
| James Bay | Leap | "Silent Love" | Writer-Producer | |
| Roachford | Once In A Lifetime | "Better" | Writer-Producer | |
| 2021 | Ilse DeLange | I Will Help You (Single) | "I Will Help You" | Writer |
| Imelda May | 11 Past The Hour | "Diamonds" | Writer | |
| 2020 | Melanie C | Melanie C | "End of Everything" | Writer |
| Jason Mraz | Look For The Good | "Gratitude" | Writer | |
| Zig Mentality | The Sesh - EP | "Sesh On" | Writer-Producer | |
| "If You Ever" | Writer-Producer | |||
| "Stoned Love" | Writer-Producer | |||
| "Who Do You Work For" | Writer-Producer | |||
| "Pretty Girls On Bikes" | Writer-Producer | |||
| Tenille Townes | The Lemonade Stand | "Find You" | Writer | |
| 2019 | James Bay | Oh My Messy Mind – EP | "Break My Heart Right" | Writer-Producer |
| Loïc Nottet | 29 (Single) | "29" | Writer | |
| 2018 | Aurora | Infections Of A Different Kind – Step 1 | "It Happened Quiet" | Writer |
| Alec Benjamin | Narrated For You | "1994" | Producer | |
| "Water Fountain" | Producer | |||
| dubé | Stoned Love (Single) | "Stoned Love" | Producer | |
| Who Do You Work For (Single) | "Who Do You Work For" | Producer | ||
| Millie Turner | The Shadow (Single) | "The Shadow" | Writer | |
| Night Running (Single) | "Night Running" | Writer | ||
| Noah Kahan | Hurt Somebody – EP | "Passenger" | Writer | |
| Loïc Nottet | On Fire | "On Fire" | Writer | |
| 2017 | Tears For Fears | Rule The World: Greatest Hits | "Stay" | Producer |
| "I Love You But I'm Lost" | Producer | |||
| Mighty Oaks | Dreamers | "The Great Unknown" | Writer | |
| dubé | Pretty Girls on Bikes (Single) | "Pretty Girls on Bikes" | Writer-Producer | |
| Alien (Single) | "Alien" | Writer-Producer | ||
| Albert Gold | Oxygen – EP | "Oxygen" | Writer-Producer | |
| 2016 | Nause | Dynamite (Single) | "Dynamite (ft. Pretty Sister)" | Writer |
| Gavin James | Bitter Pill | "Bitter Pill" | Writer | |
| "Till The Sun Comes Up" | Writer | |||
| Jessie Ware | Me Before You (Soundtrack) | "Till The End" | Writer | |
| Graham Candy | Plan A | "Heart of Gold" | Writer | |
| Netsky | 3 | "Forget What You Look Like" | Producer-Writer | |
| All Saints | Red Flag | "Who Hurt Who" | Writer | |
| Alec Benjamin | End of the Summer (Single) | "End of the Summer" | Producer | |
| 2015 | Gabrielle Aplin | Light Up the Dark | "Shallow Love" | Writer |
| "Together" | Writer | |||
| Alle Farben | Get High-EP | "Get High" | Producer-Writer | |
| Duffy | Legend (Soundtrack) | "Whole Lot of Love" | Writer | |
| 2014 | Alec Benjamin | Paper Crown (Single) | "Paper Crown" | Producer-Writer |
| 2013 | Miley Cyrus | Bangerz | "Wrecking Ball" | Writer |
| Darin | Exit | "Surrender" | Writer | |
| Backstreet Boys | In a World Like This | "Madeleine" | Writer | |
| Karise Eden | Thread of Silence (Single) | "Thread of Silence" | Writer | |
| 2012 | Lana Del Rey | Born To Die | "Without You" | Writer |
| Engelbert Humperdinck | Love Will Set You Free (Single) | "Love Will Set You Free" | Producer-Writer | |
| Lisa Marie Presley | Storm & Grace | "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet" | Writer | |
| "Close to the Edge" | Writer | |||
| "So Long" | Writer | |||
| "Un-break" | Writer | |||
| Ilse DeLange | Eye of the Hurricane | "Hurricane" | Writer | |
| "Time Will Have To Wait" | Writer | |||
| "Fold This World" | Writer | |||
| 2011 | Christina Perri | The Ocean Way Sessions | "Daydream" | Writer |
| Ilse DeLange | Next to Me | "Almost" | Writer | |
| "Carousel" | Writer | |||
| "Untouchable" | Writer | |||
| Greyson Chance | Hold On 'til the Night | "Little London Girl" | Writer | |
| Milow | North and South | "Never Gonna Stop" | Writer | |
| Jason Mraz | Love Is A Four Letter Word | "Frank D. Fixer" | Writer | |
| "In Your Hands" | Writer | |||
| Charlotte OC | For Kenny | "The Rose" | Producer-Writer | |
| "Shout It Out" | Producer-Writer | |||
| "Take Me Away" | Producer-Writer | |||
| "Treasure Island" | Producer-Writer | |||
| "Shine On" | Producer-Writer | |||
| "Head Rush" | Producer-Writer | |||
| "Closer" | Producer-Writer | |||
| "Anybody Else" | Producer-Writer | |||
| 2010 | Train | Save Me, San Francisco | "The Finish Line" | Writer |
| James Walsh | Live at the Top of the World | "Live at the Top of the World EP" | Producer – Writer | |
| The Boy who Trapped the Sun | Dreaming Like a Fool | "Sunken City" | Writer | |
| Gin Wigmore | Holy Smoke | "I Do" | Writer | |
| 2009 | Joss Stone | Colour Me Free! | "Stalemate" | Producer |
| Ben's Brother | Battling Giants | "Questions & Answers" | Producer-Writer | |
| Tyrone Wells | Remain | "Before It Started" | Writer | |
| Ben's Brother feat. Anastacia | Stalemate (Single) | "Stalemate" | Producer | |
| Jason Mraz | Life Is Good-EP | "San Disco Reggaefornia" | Writer | |
| "Up" | Writer | |||
| Dawn Kinnard | Amazon Tribe | "Loves Is My New Drug" | Writer | |
| 2008 | Ilse DeLange | Incredible | "Broken Girl" | Producer-Writer |
| "Miracle" | Producer-Writer | |||
| "The Other Side" | Producer-Writer | |||
| "So Incredible" | Producer | |||
| Amie Miriello | I Came Around | "Hey" | Producer-Writer | |
| "Beauty of Goodbye" | Producer-Writer | |||
| Jason Mraz | We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things | "Love for a Child" | Writer | |
| "Only Human" | Writer | |||
| "If It Kills Me" | Writer | |||
| Adele | 19 | "Cold Shoulder" | Writer | |
| Duffy | Rockferry | "Save It For Your Prayers" | Producer-Writer | |
| 2007 | Ben's Brother | Beta Male Fairytales | "Beauty Queen" | Writer |
| 2006 | James Blunt | Chasing Time: The Bedlam Sessions | "Out of My Mind" | Writer |
| "Sugar Coated" | Writer | |||
| 2004 | James Blunt | Back to Bedlam | "You're Beautiful" | Writer |
| "Wisemen" | Writer | |||
| "Goodbye My Lover | Writer | |||
| "Billy" | Writer | |||
| "Cry" | Writer | |||
| "No Bravery" | Writer | |||
| Cherie | Cherie | "I'm Ready" | Writer | |
| 2002 | L5 | Retiens-Moi | "Reste Encore" | Writer |
| 2000 | Samantha Mumba | Gotta Tell You | "Body II Body" | Producer-Writer |
| Amanda Ghost | Ghost Stories | "Idol" | Producer-Writer | |
| "Glory Girl" | Writer | |||
| "The Wrong Man" | Producer-Writer | |||
| "Cellophane" | Writer | |||
| "Blind Man" | Writer | |||
| "Empty" | Writer | |||
| "Numb" | Writer | |||
| 1998 | Beverly Knight | Prodigal Sista | "Good Morning World" | Writer |
| Albums and EPs | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Artist | Album/EP | Credit |
| 2015 | Kelvin Jones | Stop the Moment | Producer-Writer |
| Peter Aristone | Gold-EP | Producer-Writer | |
| 2013 | Alec Benjamin | America-EP | Producer-Writer |
| Shannon Wardrop | Medicine | Producer | |
| 2012 | James Walsh | Lullaby | Producer-Writer |
| 2010 | Charlotte Church | Back to Scratch | Producer-Writer |
| 2009 | Waylon | Wicked Ways | Producer-Writer |
| 2008 | Tristan Prettyman | Hello... x | Producer-Writer |
| Double O Zero | We Are Not A Band | Producer | |
Awards and nominations
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| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | "I'm Ready" | BMI Award | Won |
| 2006 | "You're Beautiful" | Ivor Novello Award for International Hit of the Year | Won |
| 2006 | "You're Beautiful" | Ivor Novello Award for Most Performed Work | Won |
| 2007 | "You're Beautiful" | BMI Award | Won |
| 2007 | "Goodbye My Lover" | BMI Award | Won |
| 2007 | "You're Beautiful" | Grammy Award for Song of the Year | Nominated |
| 2014 | "Wrecking Ball" | BMI Award | Won |
| 2014 | "Wrecking Ball" | SOCAN Award for No. 1 Song | Won |
| 2016 | "Bitter Pill" | Choice Music Prize for Irish Song of the Year | Won |
References
- "White Rope Music". Companies House (UK Government). Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- "Sacha Skarbek on IMDb". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
- "Interview with SACHA SKARBEK, songwriter for James Blunt, Carrie Underwood, Jason Mraz". hitquarters.com. 13 July 2009. Retrieved 17 December 2013.