Audius Mtawarira
Encyclopedia
Audius Mtawarira, is a multi-ARIA Award winning Australia
n record producer
, composer, artist and songwriter
more commonly known as "Audius".
, Zimbabwe, and now resides in Sydney
, Australia
. He attended Peterhouse Boys, a private British boarding school in Zimbabwe where he sang in the choir and played the drums. After finishing his university degree in Perth
, Australia
he turned his attention writing and producing music. He started producing in 2002, producing the majority of Selwyn
's album, Meant To Be which peaked at number nine on the ARIA Album charts and was certified Gold. In 2003 he collaborated with Delta Goodrem
on Innocent Eyes co-writing. and producing the number one single "Born to Try". The song debuted at number three before reaching number one on the Australian Singles chart, becoming Goodrem's first number one single. It spent three months in the top five and went on to sell over 210,000 copies, making it the third highest selling single of 2002. In the UK, it debuted and peaked the charts at number three, spending eleven weeks in the top forty and reached number one on the New Zealand singles charts. "Born to Try" won 'Single of the Year' at the ARIA Music Awards of 2003
.
In 2004, Audius produced Australian Idol
contestant Paulini
's debut album One Determined Heart
which produced number 1 hit "Angel Eyes" and went certified Platinum. In 2005 he co-wrote fellow-Idol Contestant Ricki-Lee Coulter
's "Hell No!
", which reached number five on the ARIA singles charts, and produced majority of her album.
After having some great success, Audius turned his attention to building his own studios and record label. He is a part owner of The Sound Academy studios in Sydney as well as record label Blindfaith Entertainment.
In 2008 Audius produced Jessica Mauboy
's new album, Been Waiting
, co-writing her single, "Running Back
", which peaked at number three on the Australian singles charts. 2008 also saw Audius launch his own fashion label Shona Clothing which is heavily influenced by his Zimbabwean heritage. "Running Back" won 'Highest Selling Single' at the ARIA Music Awards of 2009
.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, composer, artist and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
more commonly known as "Audius".
Biography
Audius Mtawarira was born in 1977 in HarareHarare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
, Zimbabwe, and now resides in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. He attended Peterhouse Boys, a private British boarding school in Zimbabwe where he sang in the choir and played the drums. After finishing his university degree in Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
he turned his attention writing and producing music. He started producing in 2002, producing the majority of Selwyn
Selwyn (singer)
Selwyn is an R&B singer from Perth, Western Australia. He was a contestant on the Australian reality series Popstars 2, but did not make it through to the final group lineup. He was re-discovered while working at a shopping centre as a trolley boy...
's album, Meant To Be which peaked at number nine on the ARIA Album charts and was certified Gold. In 2003 he collaborated with Delta Goodrem
Delta Goodrem
Delta Lea Goodrem is an Australian singer-songwriter, pianist, and actress. Signed to Sony at the age of 15, Goodrem rose to prominence in 2002, starring in the Australian soap opera Neighbours as Nina Tucker. Goodrem has achieved eight number-one singles and three number-one albums in her home...
on Innocent Eyes co-writing. and producing the number one single "Born to Try". The song debuted at number three before reaching number one on the Australian Singles chart, becoming Goodrem's first number one single. It spent three months in the top five and went on to sell over 210,000 copies, making it the third highest selling single of 2002. In the UK, it debuted and peaked the charts at number three, spending eleven weeks in the top forty and reached number one on the New Zealand singles charts. "Born to Try" won 'Single of the Year' at the ARIA Music Awards of 2003
ARIA Music Awards of 2003
The 17th Annual Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards were held on 21 October 2003 at the Sydney Superdome.-ARIA Awards:*Album of the Year**Powderfinger – Vulture Street...
.
In 2004, Audius produced Australian Idol
Australian Idol
Australian Idol is a Logie Award-winning Australian singing competition, which began its first season on July 2003 and ended its run in November 2009. As part of the Idol franchise, Australian Idol originated from the reality program Pop Idol, which was created by British entertainment executive...
contestant Paulini
Paulini Curuenavuli
Paulini Curuenavuli , commonly known as Paulini, is an Australian R&B/pop singer-songwriter and actress who rose to fame as a contestant of the first season of the television series, Australian Idol in 2003....
's debut album One Determined Heart
One Determined Heart
One Determined Heart is the debut studio album by Australian singer Paulini, released in Australia on 23 July 2004. The album was produced by Audius Mtawarira and has a genre of R&B & pop songs. The album mainly cover songs including some by Jeff Healey, TLC, The Four Tops, Barbra Streisand, Jeff...
which produced number 1 hit "Angel Eyes" and went certified Platinum. In 2005 he co-wrote fellow-Idol Contestant Ricki-Lee Coulter
Ricki-Lee Coulter
Ricki-Lee Coulter is an Australian recording artist and television and radio presenter. In 2004, Coulter was placed seventh place on the second season of Australian Idol...
's "Hell No!
Hell No!
"Hell No!" is a song performed by Australian singer-songwriter, Ricki-Lee Coulter. It serves as the lead single from her self-titled debut album, Ricki-Lee...
", which reached number five on the ARIA singles charts, and produced majority of her album.
After having some great success, Audius turned his attention to building his own studios and record label. He is a part owner of The Sound Academy studios in Sydney as well as record label Blindfaith Entertainment.
In 2008 Audius produced Jessica Mauboy
Jessica Mauboy
Jessica Hilda Mauboy , is an Indigenous Australian R&B singer-songwriter and actress. In 2006, Mauboy was the runner-up on the fourth season of Australian Idol, she had auditioned for the talent show in Alice Springs to pursue a recording career...
's new album, Been Waiting
Been Waiting
Been Waiting is the debut studio album by Australian recording artist Jessica Mauboy. It was released in Australia on 22 November 2008 via Sony Music. While Mauboy was still a member of the girl group Young Divas, she began to work on what became Been Waiting...
, co-writing her single, "Running Back
Running Back (Jessica Mauboy song)
"Running Back" is the debut single by Australian R&B recording artist Jessica Mauboy, which features American rapper Flo Rida. It was written by Mauboy, Audius Mtawarira, and Sean Ray Mullins, and was produced by Audius. "Running Back" was released for digital download on 19 September 2008, as the...
", which peaked at number three on the Australian singles charts. 2008 also saw Audius launch his own fashion label Shona Clothing which is heavily influenced by his Zimbabwean heritage. "Running Back" won 'Highest Selling Single' at the ARIA Music Awards of 2009
ARIA Music Awards of 2009
The 23rd Annual Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards took place on 26 November 2009 at the Acer Arena at the Sydney Olympic Park complex. The ceremony was telecast on the Nine Network at 8:30pm that night...
.
Solo career
Audius' solo recordings have garnered him popularity in his native Zimbabwe and South Africa. He has released 4 albums in Africa - 'Audius' (2002), 'Ever After' (2003), 'Music and Me' (2005) and 'Day Like This' (2008). His current release 'Day Like This' was also released in Australia through Blindfaith/Inertia. In 2003, Audius won the Best Urban Grooves (Male) at the Zimbabwe Music Awards.Solo artist
- Audius (2002)
- Ever After (2003)
- Music and Me (2005)
- Day Like This - Blindfaith/Inertia (2008)
Production discography
- Meant to Be (SelwynSelwynSelwyn is originally an Anglo-Saxon name, also occasionally spelt Selwin, deriving from 'Sel' & 'wyn/win' , roughly meaning "friend in the house" or "friend in the castle"....
) - Destiny (Levi)
- One Determined HeartOne Determined HeartOne Determined Heart is the debut studio album by Australian singer Paulini, released in Australia on 23 July 2004. The album was produced by Audius Mtawarira and has a genre of R&B & pop songs. The album mainly cover songs including some by Jeff Healey, TLC, The Four Tops, Barbra Streisand, Jeff...
(PauliniPaulini CuruenavuliPaulini Curuenavuli , commonly known as Paulini, is an Australian R&B/pop singer-songwriter and actress who rose to fame as a contestant of the first season of the television series, Australian Idol in 2003....
) - Rikki-LeeRicki-Lee (album)Ricki-Lee is the debut studio album from Australian singer-songwriter Ricki-Lee Coulter. It was released on 3 October 2005 in Australia. Coulter recorded the album in Melbourne and worked with many producers and artists including Audius Mtawarira, Israel, Nitty and Jarrad Rogers...
(Ricki-Lee CoulterRicki-Lee CoulterRicki-Lee Coulter is an Australian recording artist and television and radio presenter. In 2004, Coulter was placed seventh place on the second season of Australian Idol...
) - Are You ReadyAre You Ready (Shakaya album)Are You Ready is the second album by Australian girl duo Shakaya, released in Australia on 5 March 2006 by Columbia Records. It was produced by Billy Mann and Christopher Rojas and features urban R&B songs — written by Shakaya themselves and Audius Mtawarira, Daniel O'Donoghue, Ruth-Anne...
(ShakayaShakayaShakaya were a two-piece girl group from Australia, that consisted of Simone Stacey and Naomi Wenitong, two Cairns, North Queensland based songwriters and performers. The two met at the Atsic Music College in 1999 while studying an Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander music course and they had...
) - Wines and Spirits (Rahsaan PattersonRahsaan PattersonRahsaan Patterson is an American singer and actor, best known for portraying "The Kid" on the popular 1980s television show Kids Incorporated. He is a native of The Bronx, New York. He was named after '60s jazz saxophonist Rahsaan Roland Kirk...
) - From the Mind of a Dreamer (Sarah Reeves)
- Through My EyesThrough My EyesThrough My Eyes is singer, model Erica Baxter's debut album. It was released in April 2007 through SonyBMG. The album features Erica's debut single, "I Spy" which was written by singer, songwriter Natasha Bedingfield. Baxter co-wrote 8 of the 12 tracks...
(Erica Baxter) - Close to You (Vincy)
- Grace Bawden (Grace BawdenGrace BawdenGrace Bawden is an Australian classical crossover singer, who has been dubbed "Australia's greatest operatic discovery", after becoming the Judge's Choice Grand Finalist on the TV talent show Australia's Got Talent in 2008...
) - Been WaitingBeen WaitingBeen Waiting is the debut studio album by Australian recording artist Jessica Mauboy. It was released in Australia on 22 November 2008 via Sony Music. While Mauboy was still a member of the girl group Young Divas, she began to work on what became Been Waiting...
(Jessica MauboyJessica MauboyJessica Hilda Mauboy , is an Indigenous Australian R&B singer-songwriter and actress. In 2006, Mauboy was the runner-up on the fourth season of Australian Idol, she had auditioned for the talent show in Alice Springs to pursue a recording career...
) - The Day Before (Snob ScrillaSnob ScrillaSean Ray is an American rapper, producer and musician.- Biography :Sean Ray known by his alias Snob Scrilla was born in Clovis, California. He went to Buchanan High School. He moved to Australia to study and while living in Newcastle began making music before later moving to Sydney. His hometown...
) - Bebaskan (Shila)
- "Inside Out" (Stan WalkerStan WalkerStan Walker , is an Australian recording artist and actor. In 2009, Walker was the winner on the seventh season of Australian Idol. He subsequently signed a recording contract with Sony Music Australia....
) - "With Me" (Stan Walker)
- "Chandelier" (Stan Walker)
- "Stand Up" (Stan Walker)
- "Kissing You" (Stan Walker)
- "Like This" featuring IyazIyazKeidran Jones , better known by his stage name Iyaz, is a singer signed with the record label Beluga Heights Records from the British Virgin Islands. His debut single "Replay", was released in 2009 and reached number two on the US Billboard Hot 100, number-one in the UK, Australia and the top ten...
(Jessica Mauboy)
Songwriting discography
- "Buggin' Me", "Way Loves Supposed To Be" & "Like This, Like That" (SelwynSelwynSelwyn is originally an Anglo-Saxon name, also occasionally spelt Selwin, deriving from 'Sel' & 'wyn/win' , roughly meaning "friend in the house" or "friend in the castle"....
) - "Born to Try" (Delta GoodremDelta GoodremDelta Lea Goodrem is an Australian singer-songwriter, pianist, and actress. Signed to Sony at the age of 15, Goodrem rose to prominence in 2002, starring in the Australian soap opera Neighbours as Nina Tucker. Goodrem has achieved eight number-one singles and three number-one albums in her home...
) - "Til I Found You" (Casey DonovanCasey Donovan (singer)-Australian Idol :Donovan transferred to the Australian Institute of Music in Sydney's Surry Hills in 2004 and it was in this year that her stepfather encouraged her to audition for the second season of Australian Idol...
) - "Goodbye" (Levi)
- "We Can Try" (PauliniPaulini CuruenavuliPaulini Curuenavuli , commonly known as Paulini, is an Australian R&B/pop singer-songwriter and actress who rose to fame as a contestant of the first season of the television series, Australian Idol in 2003....
) - "Hell No!Hell No!"Hell No!" is a song performed by Australian singer-songwriter, Ricki-Lee Coulter. It serves as the lead single from her self-titled debut album, Ricki-Lee...
", "Something About You" & "Stay With Me" (Ricki-Lee CoulterRicki-Lee CoulterRicki-Lee Coulter is an Australian recording artist and television and radio presenter. In 2004, Coulter was placed seventh place on the second season of Australian Idol...
) - "War" (Laurent WolfLaurent WolfLaurent Wolf 1973 in Toulouse Is a French electro-house producer and DJ. He is the author of several compilations that contain his own tracks and also his remixes. He reached the top of the charts with his "Saxo" and "Calinda" compositions. Laurent Wolf was the winner of the DJ category in the...
) - "Too Late" & "Tyna Find the One" (ShakayaShakayaShakaya were a two-piece girl group from Australia, that consisted of Simone Stacey and Naomi Wenitong, two Cairns, North Queensland based songwriters and performers. The two met at the Atsic Music College in 1999 while studying an Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander music course and they had...
) - "Take Me to a Place" (Rikki Lee)
- "Stop Breaking My Heart" (Rahsaan PattersonRahsaan PattersonRahsaan Patterson is an American singer and actor, best known for portraying "The Kid" on the popular 1980s television show Kids Incorporated. He is a native of The Bronx, New York. He was named after '60s jazz saxophonist Rahsaan Roland Kirk...
) - "Little Girl" & "Here We Go Again" (Sarah Reeves)
- "Hey", "Just Another Day", "Ever Be The Same", "Frustrated" & "Country Girl" (Erica Baxter)
- "I Believe" (Vincy)
- "Go Crazy" (Liena)
- "Should Have Loved You More" (Jade McCrae)
- "Running BackRunning Back (Jessica Mauboy song)"Running Back" is the debut single by Australian R&B recording artist Jessica Mauboy, which features American rapper Flo Rida. It was written by Mauboy, Audius Mtawarira, and Sean Ray Mullins, and was produced by Audius. "Running Back" was released for digital download on 19 September 2008, as the...
", "Magical", "To The Floor" (Jessica MauboyJessica MauboyJessica Hilda Mauboy , is an Indigenous Australian R&B singer-songwriter and actress. In 2006, Mauboy was the runner-up on the fourth season of Australian Idol, she had auditioned for the talent show in Alice Springs to pursue a recording career...
) - "There You Go Again", "Mr Officer", "Chasing Ghosts", "D.I.S." & "Mr Whatever" (Snob ScrillaSnob ScrillaSean Ray is an American rapper, producer and musician.- Biography :Sean Ray known by his alias Snob Scrilla was born in Clovis, California. He went to Buchanan High School. He moved to Australia to study and while living in Newcastle began making music before later moving to Sydney. His hometown...
) - "Hell No" & "Lets Pretend" (Shila)
- "I'm Not A Puppet" (DebraDebra (singer)Debra is an Indonesian singer-songwriter, pianist, and model. Her life was surrounded by music and art. Her brother, Andry P is her inspiration in music. He did his major in music and liked to jam their own composed songs with her at home and some big events...
) - "Inside Out (Stan Walker)
- "With Me" (Stan Walker)
- "Like This" (Jessica Mauboy)