William Wiik Larsen, also known as Will IDAP and Nasty kutt is a Norwegian Grammy-nominated record producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist based out of Los Angeles, California. He has crafted several global and US hits. Notable records include "Am I Wrong" for Nico & Vinz,"H.O.L.Y." for Florida Georgia Line, "Play That Song" for Train, "That's Not True" for Skip Marley, "Gatekeeper" for Jessie Reyez, "Darkside" for Alan Walker and "Stay" for Kygo.
William Wiik Larsen | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Will IDAP, Nasty Kutt, Will/William Larsen |
| Born | September 15, 1986 Oslo, Norway |
| Genres | Pop, hip hop, country music, world music, Reggae, rock music, electronic dance music |
| Occupation | Record producer & songwriter |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Labels | IDAP Music |
Early life
editLarsen was born in Oslo, Norway. His father was a professional musician and his mother a singer. Growing up in a musical family, he was exposed to instruments, drum machines, keyboards and turntables from an early age. At the age of 6 he started playing drums in the school band. He later moved on to study drums and percussion at the Norwegian Academy of Music (Norges Musikkhøyskole) at the age of 10. At the age of 12 he started dj'ing and programming music.[1]
DJ & artist career (2001-2012)
editAt age 14, Larsen started touring and competing as a DJ under the alias Nasty Kutt, he won the Norwegian DMC National DJ Championships 2005 and 2006, to go on to represent Norway in the World finals (DMC World DJ Championships[2]).
He has done several appearances as a dj/artist among others most notably In 2011, launching the single 'Min Ting' at VG-lista Topp 20 in a collaboration with IDAP Music and Universal Music, featuring Norwegian artists Vinni from Paperboys, Yosef from Madcon, Lars Vaular og OnklP, and Swedish artists Timbuktu & Promoe.[3]
Music production & songwriting career
editEarly career (2001-2012)
editLarsen started producing songs in Oslo’s urban music scene in the early 2000s. After he started to gain traction as a dj, he got his first local commercial break along with Norwegian band Karpe Diem, producing a string of singles, ‘Vestkantsvartinga’, ’Byduer I Dur’ and ‘Krølla 50 lapp y’all’ around the late 2000s. He continued to work as producer in the Norwegian and Scandinavian music markets, earning 21 IFPI (International Federation of the Phonographic Industry) Certifications, 5 of them being multi-platinum.[4]
In 2009, he produced the single ‘City Lights’ for Redman & Methodman feat UGK from the album ‘Blackout! 2’, securing him his first US major label placement. The Def Jam/Universalrelease debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard200 album chart.[5]
International career (2013-present)
editIn 2013, he reconnected and worked closely with duo Nico&Vinz, developing the distinct sound for their single ‘Am I Wrong’ and their album ‘Black Star Elephant’. producing and co-writing 10 out of the 14 songs on the album. ’Am I Wrong’ entered several other international singles charts. In the United States, the song peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the highest-charting song by a Norwegian artist since a-ha's "Take On Me" in 1985. The song reached its first million sales mark in the US in June 2014, and its second million in September 2014, having sold 2.2 million by the year's end. In the United Kingdom, the song peaked at number one, making ‘Am I Wrong’ the first song by a Norwegian act to top the UK Singles Chart since A-ha's "The Sun Always Shines on T.V." in 1986.[6]
Late 2013 Larsen relocated to Los Angeles and signed a worldwide Joint Venture deal with IDAP Music & BMG Rights Management.
In the years to follow, Larsen played a part in several US and international successes.
In 2016, he co-wrote the song ‘HO.L.Y’ for the American duo Florida Georgia Line, which earned the spot as the highest charting country song that year, and the 5th charting country song of the decade in the US. The song also won BMI ‘Country song of the year ‘.[7]
He then teamed up with singer Pat Monahan from the band Train to work on their album ‘A Girl A Bottle A Boat’, playing part of 6 out of the 11 songs on the album. The album debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard 200 albums chart on its first week of release. The single ‘Play That Song’ co-written and produced by Larsen, received international certifications in addition to being 2xplatinum in the US.[8]
The same year, he also co-wrote and co-produced Kygo’s single ‘Stay’ featuring Maty Noyes, receiving several international platinum and gold certifications.[9]
In 2017, Larsen co-wrote and produced the song ‘Gatekeeper’ along with Jessie Reyez for her EP ‘Kiddo’, Gatekeeper was released as a short film, which addressed sexism and exploitation in the music industry. It specifically was based on her experience with music producer Noel "Detail" Fisher, who was accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women, including artist Bebe Rexha. In 2018 ‘Gatekeeper’ received a MTV Music Video Awards nomination in the category ‘Video With A Message’ and a won Juno Award 'Video Of The Year'.[10]
He then co-wrote Alan Walker’s single ‘Darkside’.[11]
In 2019, Larsen produced and co-wrote Skip Marley’s ‘That’s Not True’ feat Damian Marley. The song was the first single of off the EP ‘Higher Place’ which was nominated for a Grammy award in the category ‘Best Reggae Album’ at the 2020 Grammy Awards.[12]
He also worked closely with artist Akon in the period between 2016 and 2019, yielding the unofficial single 'Letter To My Son' released in 2020.[13]
Media appearances and mentoring
editLarsen was featured on episode #275 of Dave Pensado's 'Pensado's Place',[14] he has appeared as a panelist several times at the ASCAP Expo in LA.[15] He appeared twice as a coach and guest judge on the Norwegian hit show "Stjernekamp".[16] Larsen has worked with the organization Music Norway and has mentored at the Norwegian music university LIMPI to support aspiring Norwegian producers and songwriters.[17]
Selected discography
edit| Year | Artist | Song | Album | Credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Ty Dolla $ign & Chris Brown | "Motion Remix" | Single | Producer & Writer |
| 2023 | Ty Dolla $ign | "Motion" | Single | Producer & Writer |
| 2022 | Andrea Berg & Justin Jesso | "I'll Be There" | Single | Producer |
| 2022 | Benson Boone | "Work Of Art" | Walk Me Home... | Producer & Writer |
| 2022 | Clinton Kane | "Keep It To Yourself" | Single | Producer & Writer |
| 2022 | Jennifer Lopez | "Church" | Marry Me (2022 Film) | Writer |
| 2021 | Camila Cabello, Nicholas Galitzine, Idina Menzel | "Am I Wrong" | Cinderella (2021 American film) | Writer |
| 2020 | Akon | "Letter To My Son" | Ain't No Peace | Producer & Writer |
| 2019 | Scotty Sire | "Words" | Single | Producer & Writer |
| 2019 | Strawhatz | "POWER UP!" | Single | Producer & Writer |
| 2019 | Strawhatz | "Drop The Beat" | Single | Producer & Writer |
| 2019 | Running Lights | "Into U" | Single | Producer & Writer |
| 2019 | American Authors feat Beau Young Prince | "Champion" | Single | Producer & Writer |
| 2019 | Skip Marley feat Damian Marley | "Thats Not True" | Single | Producer & Writer |
| 2019 | Running Lights | "Not In Love" | Single | Producer & Writer |
| 2019 | Running Lights | "Speechless" | Single | Producer & Writer |
| 2019 | Madcon | "Callin You" | Single | Producer & Writer |
| 2018 | Alan Walker feat Au/Ra & Tomine Harket | "Darkside" | Single | Writer |
| 2018 | Maty Noyes | "Boys Like you" | Love Songs From A Lolita EP | Producer |
| 2018 | AJ Mitchell | "High Like You" | Hopeful EP | Producer & Writer |
| 2018 | Train feat Cam & Travie McCoy | "Call Me Sir" | Single | Producer & Writer |
| 2017 | Jessie Reyez | "Gatekeeper" | Kiddo | Producer & Writer |
| 2017 | Train | "You Better Believe" | a girl a bottle a boat | Producer & Writer |
| 2017 | Train | "Lost and Found" | a girl a bottle a boat | Producer & Writer |
| 2017 | Train | "Valentine" | a girl a bottle a boat | Producer & Writer |
| 2016 | Train | "Working Girl" | a girl a bottle a boat | Producer & Writer |
| 2016 | Train | "Lottery" | a girl a bottle a boat | Producer & Writer |
| 2016 | Keke Palmer | "Figure You Out" | Single | Producer & Writer |
| 2016 | Maty Noyes | "In My Mind" | Single | Producer & Writer |
| 2016 | Nano | "Day I'm Gone" | Single | Producer & Writer |
| 2016 | Kevin Hart, Akon | "Give It Back" | Single | Producer & Writer |
| 2016 | Train | "Play That Song" | Single | Producer & Writer |
| 2016 | Tish Hyman | "Lesbehonest" | "Dedicated to" | Producer |
| 2016 | Tish Hyman | "Absolutely" | "Dedicated to" | Producer & Writer |
| 2016 | Tish Hyman Feat Ty Dolla Sign & Fabolous | "Dreams" | "Dedicated to" | Producer |
| 2016 | Tish Hyman | "4 Letter Word" | "Dedicated to" | Producer & Writer |
| 2016 | Broiler | "Daydream" | Single | Producer & Writer |
| 2016 | Florida Georgia Line | "H.O.L.Y." | Single | Writer |
| 2016 | Broiler feat Bekuh Boom | "Money" | Single | Producer & Writer |
| 2015 | Tish Hyman | "Home For Christmas" | "Dedicated to" | Producer & Writer |
| 2015 | Kygo feat Maty Noyes | "Stay" | Single | Producer & Writer |
| 2015 | Nano | "Perfect Melody" | Single | Producer & Writer |
| 2015 | Broiler feat Tish Hyman | "Fly By Night" | Single | Producer & Writer |
| 2015 | Nano | "Lion" | Single | Producer & Writer |
| 2015 | Tish Hyman | "Subway Art" | "Dedicated to" | Producer |
| 2014 | Nico & Vinz feat. Emmanuel Jal | "Find A Way" | "The Good Lie" Movie Soundtrack | Producer & Writer |
| 2014 | Jessie J | "Personal" | Sweet Talker | Producer & Writer |
| 2014 | Nico & Vinz | "Am I Wrong" | Black Star Elephant | Writer[18] |
| 2014 | Nico & Vinz | "Know What I'm Not" | Black Star Elephant | Producer & Writer |
| 2014 | Nico & Vinz | "Miracles" | Black Star Elephant | Producer & Writer |
| 2014 | Nico & Vinz feat Ntirelang Berman | "My Melody" | Black Star Elephant | Producer & Writer |
| 2014 | Nico & Vinz | "Another Day" | Black Star Elephant | Producer & Writer |
| 2014 | Nico & Vinz | "People" | Black Star Elephant | Producer & Writer |
| 2014 | Nico & Vinz | "Imagine" | Black Star Elephant | Producer & Writer |
| 2014 | Nico & Vinz feat Ntirelang Berman | "Homeless" | Black Star Elephant | Producer & Writer |
| 2014 | Nico & Vinz | "When The Day Comes" | Black Star Elephant | Producer & Writer |
| 2013 | Dirt Nasty(Simon Rex) feat Too $hort | "Bang Her" | Palatial | Producer |
| 2013 | Dirt Nasty(Simon Rex) | "Threesome" | Palatial | Producer & Writer |
| 2012 | Angel Haze | "CHI (Need To Know)" | Reservation | Producer |
| 2012 | Three Loco | "Beer" | Three Loco EP | Producer |
| 2012 | Three Loco | "Make Em Wait" | Three Loco EP | Producer |
| 2012 | Envy | "One Song" | The Magic Soup And The Bittersweet Faces | Producer & Writer |
| 2010 | Madcon | "Walk Out The Door" | Contraband | Producer & Writer |
| 2010 | Madcon | "Be Mine" | Contraband | Producer & Writer |
| 2009 | Method Man & Redman feat UGK | "City Lights" | Blackout! 2 | Producer |
| 2008 | Karpe Diem | "Krølla 50'lapp y'all" | Fire Vegger | Producer |
| 2008 | Karpe Diem | "Byduer I Dur" | Fire Vegger | Producer |
References
edit- ^ "Nasty Kutt". discogs.com. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- ^ DMCWorld.com, Dan @. "DMC World DJ Championships". dmcdjchamps.com. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- ^ "Hiphoptoppmøte på VG-lista-showet på Rådhusplassen". vg.no. 17 June 2011. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- ^ Karpe Diem - Fire Vegger Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved 2022-10-20
- ^ Method Man, Redman - Blackout! Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved 2022-10-20
- ^ Lipshutz, Jason (2014-06-17). "Nico & Vinz Goes Top 10: Norwegian Duo On The Making of 'Am I Wrong'". Billboard. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
- ^ Creative, The Uprising. "Nate Cyphert Honored at BMI's Country Awards for Florida Georgia Line's "H.O.L.Y"". Pulse Music Group. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
- ^ Train - a girl a bottle a boat Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved 2022-10-20
- ^ Stay by Kygo - Track Info | AllMusic, retrieved 2022-10-20
- ^ Jessie Reyez: Gatekeeper - IMDb, retrieved 2022-10-20
- ^ Darkside by Alan Walker - Track Info | AllMusic, retrieved 2022-10-20
- ^ Warner, Denise (2020-11-24). "2021 Grammy Nominations: See the Full List". Billboard. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
- ^ Jahmal, Karlton (2020-08-02). "Akon Spills His Heart On "Letter To My Son"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
- ^ Producer/Songwriter William Wilk Larsen - Pensado's Place #275, 10 August 2016, retrieved 2022-10-20
- ^ "William Larsen's schedule for ASCAP EXPO". ascapexpo2015.sched.com. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
- ^ Ratvik, Elise Hellem (2015-09-26). "Dette mente Stjernekamp-dommerne om hiphop-kvelden". NRK (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2022-10-20.
- ^ "Apply to Limpi". limpimusic.com. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
- ^ "Envy | Nobel Peace Prize Concert". www.nobelpeaceprizeconcert.org. Archived from the original on 2013-11-27.