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Ayak Thiik (also known as, "Ayak Tracks") is a South Sudanese singer-songwriter and vocal producer.[1][2] She is primarily known for writing hit songs and appearing on vocals for artists like Diana Ross, Cee Lo Green, James Morrison ("You Make It Real"), Chip ("Until You Were Gone"), Tinchy Stryder ("Never Leave You and "In My System"), and Dappy ("No Regrets" and "Rockstar"), among others.[2]

This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (January 2021)

Ayak Thiik
Born	Juba, South Sudan, lives in London
Genres	R&B, neo soul, hip hop, EDM, pop
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter, composer, studio producer, voice teacher, musical arranger
Instruments	Piano, keyboards, sampler, guitar, vocals
Years active	1998–present
Labels	Cinematic Music Group Universal Music Group Takeover Roc Nation Sony/ATV BMG Chrysalis UK Warner Music Polydor PB Management Syco Music

Background

Ayak Thiik's love for music was evident at an early age, and she was able to sing long before she was able to talk. Ayak Thiik had signed a record deal with German record label Stereo Wonderland, Polydor, Universal and recorded an album – making her the first Sudanese artist to be signed by a major label worldwide.[2][3] Thiik entered and won the Princes Trust Urban Music Festival's – Unsigned Talent Search, in the United Kingdom. She ultimately won a spot in a line-up which featured Beyoncé, as well as Alicia Keys and a host of top UK artists.[2]

Song writing and vocal production

In 2006, Ayak Thiik wrote and featured on the Cincinnati native hip-hop producer Hi-Tek's second album, 'Hi-Teknology²: The Chip’. The track "Can we Go back" also featured Talib Kweli. Since then she has ventured into the house music world, working with German producers Milk & Sugar. Her dance music collaborations with Milk & Sugar have clocked up two consecutive UK chart toppers at number 1 and 2. Thiik's house music endeavors have taken her to Brazil, Singapore, Moscow, Russia and Lebanon.[2]

Having spent 18 months working on her songwriting, she was offered a deal and signed by Takeover Entertainment. She has penned songs for Kelly Rowland, Mica Paris, Esmée Denters, JLS, Chip, Tinchy Stryder, The Wanted, Alexandra Burke, Lemar and Roc Nation's signed Bridget Kelly, among others.[2]

Her vocals have also appeared on Tinchy Stryder's "Never Leave You" – Catch 22 album, "In My System", "Take the World" – Third Strike album, Kylie Minogue's "Everything is beautiful" – Aphrodite album, James Morrison's "You Make It Real – Songs For You Truths For Me album, Cheryl Cole's "Stand up" – 3 Words album, Cee-Lo Green's "Satisfied" – The Lady killer album, among others.[2]

In 2010, Thiik gained her first UK Singles Chart record as co-writer on Chip's "Until You Were Gone" featuring Esmée Denters. This went into the UK singles charts as at No. 3. She also co-wrote Tinchy Stryder's No. 10 hit "In My System", on which she also appeared on vocals but not the music video.[2]

Solo career

Ayak Thiik recorded and released a studio album entitled, Voices in My Head.[3] Her list of musical achievements continues. Ayak Thiik was featured on Liberty Bell Jolly Good TV Sky Arts 'Song Book' show by chance, after coming to the rescue of her hero and arguably the most successful songwriter of current generation Diane Warren who wrote the hits "Un-Break My Heart" (1996) by Toni Braxton, "How Do I Live Without You" (1997) by LeAnn Rimes, "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing (1998) by Aerosmith, and for many other artists.[2] Taken aback by Ayak Thiik's voice, Diane Warren has begun writing songs for Ayak Thiik and is determined to make her a star in her own right.[2] A documentary chronicling this will be filmed by the same production team.[2]

Selected production and writing credits

Date	Artist	Song	Album	Label	SW/P	Album/Record chart
2006	Hi-Tek	"Can We Go Back"	Hi-Teknology²: The Chip	Babygrande Records	SW	US Billboard 200: 38
2008	James Morrison	"You Make It Real"	Songs for You, Truths for Me	Polydor Records	P	UK Singles Chart: 7 US Billboard 200: 49 UK Albums Chart: 3
2009	Tinchy Stryder	"Never Leave You"	Catch 22	Takeover	P	Euro Hot 100 Singles: 5 Irish Singles Chart: 2 UK Singles Chart: 1 Euro Top 100 Albums: 11 Irish Albums Chart: 9 UK Albums Chart: 2
	Tata Young	"Ready For Love"	Ready for Love	Sony Music Thailand	SW	Thai Singles Chart : 1
	Cheryl Cole	"Stand Up"	3 Words	Fascination Records	P	Euro Top 100 Albums: 7 Irish Albums Chart: 2 UK Albums Chart: 1
	JLS	"Private"	JLS	Epic Records	SW	Irish Albums Chart: 1 UK Albums Chart: 1
2010	Chip	"Until You Were Gone"	I Am Chipmunk	Jive Records	SW	UK Singles Chart: 3 UK Albums Chart: 2
	Kylie Minogue	" Everything is Beautiful"	Aphrodite	Parlophone	P	Australian Alb. Chart: 2 Euro Top 100 Albums: 1 US Billboard 200: 19 UK Albums Chart: 1
	Tinchy Stryder	"In My System"	Third Strike	Takeover	SW/P	UK Singles Chart: 10
	Tinchy Stryder	"Take the World"			SW	—
	Cee Lo Green	"Satisfied"	The Lady Killer	Elektra Records	P	US Billboard 200: 9 UK Albums Chart: 3
2011	Dappy	"No Regrets"	Bad Intentions	Takeover	SW	UK Singles Chart: 1
2012	Dappy	"Rockstar"			SW	UK Singles Chart: 2
	Marcus Collins	"It's Time"	Marcus Collins	RCA Records	SW	Scottish Alb. Chart: 8 UK Albums Chart: 7
2012	Misha B	"Do You Think of me?"	TBA	Relentless Records	SW	UK Singles Chart: 9
	Dappy	"Yin Yang"	Bad Intentions	Takeover	SW	UK Albums Chart: 6
2013	Little Mix	"A Different Beat"	Salute	Syco	SW	Australian Alb. Chart: 4 US Billboard 200: 6 UK Albums Chart: 2
2014	The Vamps	"Last Night"	Meet the Vamps	Mercury Records	SW	UK Singles Chart: 2 UK Albums Chart: 2
	Yogi featuring Pusha T	"Burial"	Burial EP	Owsla	SW/P	TBA
	Perplexus (duo) featuring Charlie Brown (singer)	"Put you on"		Sonus	SW/P
	Robin Stjernberg	"Body Language"		Lionheart Music Group	SW	Swedish Singles Chart: 1
2015	The Prototypes	"Under"	City of Gold	Viper Recordings	SW/ P	UK Dance Chart: 22
2015	Skrillex & Yogi featuring Pusha T, Moody Good & TrollPhace	"Burial"		Owsla	SW/P	UK Singles Chart: 90
2016	Nabiha	"Weapon"		Sony Music	SW
	Lali	"Boomerang"	Soy	Sony Music Argentina	SW	Argentine Albums (CAPIF): 1
	Lost Frequencies	"Dance with Me"	Less Is More	Armada Music	SW	Belgian Albums Chart: 3
2017	Nabiha	"Young"		Sony Music	SW
	KStewart	"Sex 4 breakfast"		Warner Bros. Records	SW
	Nano Omar	"Hold On"		Warner Music Sweden	SW	Swedish Singles Chart: 3
	Melody Day (band)	Kiss on the Lips		LOEN Entertainment	SW	Non-album single
	Hot Source ft Ayak	"Patience"		Island Records	SW
	Paris and Simo ft Karen Harding	"Come as you are"		INgrooves	SW
2018	Wilkinson ft Sub Focus	"Take it up"		RAM Records	SW/P	Belgian Singles Chart: 100
	Hardwell & Wildstylez ft Kifi	"Shine a light"		Revealed Recordings	SW
	Claire Richards	"7 Billion"	"My Wildest Dreams"	Sony Music	SW	UK Albums Chart: 9
2019	James Hype	"I Was Lovin' You"		Get Together Records	SW/P	UK Singles Chart: 92
2021	Diana Ross	"Come together"	"Thank you"	Decca Records	SW/P	UK Albums Chart: 7

Source:[1][4]

References

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