Tim McEwan

From The Midnight Wiki
McEwan in 2018
Tim McEwan
McEwan performing live with The Midnight in 2018
McEwan performing live with The Midnight in 2018
Background information
Birth nameTim Daniel McEwan
Also known asData, iAmData, Varsity Blue
Born (1979-09-16) September 16, 1979 (age 44)
Copenhagen, Denmark
Genres
  • Electronic
  • Pop
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • record producer
Instrument(s)
  • Drums
  • synths
  • vocals
Years active1999–present
Member of

Tim Daniel McEwan (born September 16, 1979) is a Danish drummer, songwriter, and producer. He is the primary producer and songwriter of The Midnight.

McEwan grew up in a musical family and started drumming at a young age. Around the age of 17, he began producing and did a few productions in his native Denmark. In 2008, he joined the Danish production group Deekay and began writing and producing for many popular artists.[1][2]

In 2012, McEwan met Tyler Lyle at a songwriting workshop in Los Angeles. The two made an instant connection and began writing songs. McEwan and Lyle formed The Midnight and self-released their first extended play (EP) in 2014 and have continuously released music since.

Early Life

McEwan was born in Copenhagen, Denmark to Tom McEwan and Terese Damsholt. His father is an actor and musician and his mother is an actress. He has a brother, Oliver, who is also a musician. Being the son of a musician, McEwan was exposed to music from a young age, having access to a guitar, drum, and piano at home growing up. He started playing the drums as an adolescent and began producing at the age of 17.[3]

Career

Throughout the early 2000s, McEwan produced a few songs and did some remixes.[4] He gained higher prominence in 2008, writing and producing several songs on Show the World, the debut album from Danish singer and The X-Factor winner Martin.[5] Also in 2008, McEwan became a member of the production/songwriting team Deekay,[1][2] a Danish-based outfit that has written and produced songs for many popular artists including Jordin Sparks, Sugababes, JLS, and New Kids on the Block.[6] In 2009, McEwan served as the drummer for Niels Brinck, who performed the song Believe Again as part of Denmark’s entry to that year’s Eurovision Song Contest. The song made the contest final where it finished in thirteenth place.[7]

McEwan has stated that his musical influences include Avicii, deadmau5, Porter Robinson, Dirtyloud, Arty, and Mat Zo.[8]

The Midnight

Still residing in Denmark, McEwan visited Los Angeles in 2012 and met Georgia based singer-songwriter Tyler Lyle at a songwriter’s workshop in North Hollywood organized by Katie Donovan, Lyle’s A&R representative at the time.[9] Prior to meeting, McEwan had listened to some of Lyle’s previous work and liked Lyle’s folk sound. The two began writing songs and on McEwan’s suggestion, based their sound on 80s synth, having prior exposure to the synthwave genre and being inspired by the movie Drive. Their first song written as a duo was WeMoveForward,[9][10] and their first release as a band under The Midnight moniker was the 2014 extended play Days of Thunder. McEwan is the primary producer and songwriter in The Midnight. While Lyle is the primary vocalist and lyricist, McEwan wrote the lyrics and sang the vocals on the songs Synthetic and Comet.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Multi-platinum Record Production Team Deekay – Pro Music Magazine – Inside the Music Business". Pro Music Magazine. September 21, 2008. Archived from the original on April 12, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Multi-platinum Record Production Team Deekay". My Hit Online. Archived from the original on September 21, 2008. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  3. "THE MIDNIGHT: Tim McEwan And Tyler Lyle On Bringing 'Monsters' To Life!". Icon Vision. July 9, 2020. Archived from the original on February 24, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
  4. "April 1, 2010". Discogs. Archived from the original on May 30, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
  5. "Martin – Show The World (2008, CD)". Discogs. May 30, 2008. Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  6. "Credits - DEEKAY Music". Deekay Music. January 1, 2022. Archived from the original on October 26, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
  7. "BT TV: McEwan-brødre skal føre Brinck til sejr | BT Underholdning - www.bt.dk". BT. Archived from the original on June 25, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
  8. "The Midnight on Seminal Album "Monsters" and the Volcanic Potential of Synthwave Culture [Interview] - EDM.com - The Latest Electronic Dance Music News, Reviews & Artists". EDM.com. August 18, 2020. Archived from the original on April 17, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
  9. 9.0 9.1 "Who Are The Midnight?: An Interview with the Masters of Modern Nostalgia". Vehlinggo. November 12, 2017. Archived from the original on March 24, 2022. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
  10. "Retrowave Sessions Ep 2: The Midnight - YouTube". YouTube. May 30, 2019. Archived from the original on March 24, 2022. Retrieved April 3, 2022.

External links