Labrinth
Biography
Timothy Lee McKenzie (born 4 January 1989), known professionally as Labrinth, is an English singer, songwriter, rapper, and record producer. He has been lauded as "one of the most important British musicians of his generation". Raised on a diet of gospel, funk, and American hip-hop, Labrinth's musical journey began with producing for other artists.
Early Career and Breakthrough
Labrinth's career took off in 2010 when he co-wrote and produced Tinie Tempah's debut single, "Pass Out," which topped the UK Singles Chart. This success led to a signing with Simon Cowell's Syco Music, making him the first artist in six years to be signed to the label without competing on a talent show. His debut single, "Let the Sun Shine," reached the top three in the UK. Labrinth's first album, "Electronic Earth" (2012), peaked at number two on the UK Albums Chart and featured several hit singles, including the number-one hit "Beneath Your Beautiful" featuring Emeli Sandé.
Solo Work and Collaborations
Throughout his career, Labrinth has collaborated with a wide array of prominent artists, including Beyoncé, Kanye West, The Weeknd, Nicki Minaj, and Ed Sheeran. His production work on The Weeknd's "Beauty Behind the Madness" earned him a Grammy nomination. In 2018, he formed the supergroup LSD with Australian singer Sia and American DJ Diplo. Their debut self-titled album was released in 2019. Labrinth released his second solo album, "Imagination & the Misfit Kid," in November 2019, followed by "Ends & Begins" in 2023.
LSD (Labrinth, Sia & Diplo)
The formation of the supergroup LSD in 2018 marked a significant chapter in Labrinth's career. The trio, consisting of Labrinth, Sia, and Diplo, released their debut single "Genius" in May 2018. Their album, "Labrinth, Sia & Diplo Present... LSD," was released in April 2019 and has garnered over a billion streams on Spotify, featuring the Gold-certified track "Thunderclouds".
Euphoria and Composing for Screen
In 2019, Labrinth composed the score for the acclaimed HBO drama series "Euphoria". This project brought him widespread recognition as a composer, earning him two Primetime Emmy Award nominations and one win for the song "All for Us". The soundtrack album, a blend of gospel, soul, and electronic music, was released in October 2019. He continued his work with the show, scoring the second season and earning further Emmy nominations for the songs "I'm Tired" and "Elliot's Song".