Fame Academy winner lands new songwriting deal

Aug 3 2009 by Andrew Newport, Paisley Daily Express

FAME Academy winner David Sneddon has signed a money-spinning deal to write songs for some of the music industry’s biggest stars.

The Paisley man and his pal Jay Bauer-Mein have been snapped up by major music publisher Sony ATV to pen hit records for artists such as Pop Idol sensation Will Young.

The duo will also work with Simon Cowell’s Syco label as part of the deal, which will earn David big bucks through royalty payments should any of his compositions hit the top of the charts.

And, in an exclusive interview with the Paisley Daily Express, 30-year-old David said he believes the deal could be even bigger than his telly show triumph.

He said: “I’ve just signed as a writer to Sony and I’ll be working with various well-known pop acts.

“It means that, for the next few years, Jay and I will be writing for a lot of chart acts. We’re hooking up with Will Young’s writers for his new album and there will be others to follow.

“We’ve got some work lined up with other labels like Decca Records, Universal and Syco, which is Simon Cowell’s label.

“It’s a massive opportunity. To an extent, this is a bigger achievement than winning Fame Academy. To become a respected songwriter is something I’ve wanted for 15 years.

“At the same time, winning Fame Academy was a massive thing for me. It totally changed my life.

“I would still like to think that I would have got to the point where I am now without Fame Academy but probably not as quick.”

Former Gleniffer High School pupil David was just 21 when he was thrust into the national spotlight after winning the BBC talent show but, within a year of that success, he had quit the fame game.

Despite scoring a number one hit with his self-penned ballad Stop Living the Lie, David was never comfortable with life as a celebrity.

However, he has now found happiness writing songs for other artists.

After completing his apprenticeship as a songwriter by penning tunes for a number of up-and-coming stars, he and Jay – who was David’s bassist in his backing band after he won Fame Academy – have agreed to work with Sony and their stable of chart-topping performers.

David, who now lives in London with his girlfriend Eleanor Roffe, said: “This deal has been in the pipeline for a year and it has been a frustrating time. We had a few other offers but we wanted to wait for the right deal and that’s why it took so long.

“I’ve taken a bizarre route to become a songwriter. I don’t think there’s been another reality TV winner who took a back step to this side of the industry but I like just being allowed to get on with my work.

“If this wasn’t the Paisley Daily Express, I wouldn’t even be doing this interview.”

Since giving up on life as a performer, David has kept busy by helping other singers becomes stars.

Along with Jay, David has helped mould talented newcomers Nate James, Julian Perretta and Glaswegian singer/songwriter Dave Gibson into polished performers.

He now believes all three could become stellar.

And these link-ups have also helped him prove to label bosses at Sony that his success with Stop Living the Lie was not just a flash in the pan.

David – who spoke to the Express during a flying visit to his parents’ house in Dykebar, Paisley, where he caught up with mum Anne and dad David, as well as younger sister Polly – added: “Up until now, Jay and I have been developing acts. We’ve worked with guys like Dave Gibson for a year and he’s now signed a joint deal with Epic in the US and Columbia here in the UK and he could become massive.

“Signing a joint deal is really rare but Dave’s potential is enormous.

“We had to prove ourselves. It’s hard to get accepted by record companies and publishers who don’t know much about you, so that’s why we did a lot of development work.

“We wanted to show what we were capable of and that helped us get our foot in the door.”