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.

Sacha Skarbek
Skarbek at his London studio
Skarbek at his London studio
Background information
Occupation(s)Songwriter, record producer
Websitesachaskarbek.com

Career

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Early career

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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

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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,[1] which focuses on artist development.

Film music

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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.[2]

Personal life

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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.[3]

Discography

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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

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  1. ^ "White Rope Music". Companies House (UK Government). Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  2. ^ "Sacha Skarbek on IMDb". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  3. ^ "Interview with SACHA SKARBEK, songwriter for James Blunt, Carrie Underwood, Jason Mraz". hitquarters.com. 13 July 2009. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
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