Sam Newton Battenberg Faulkner (born January 11, 1985) is an English singer-songwriter and musician from Reigate, Surrey. Known for his guitar playing, which involves rhythmically tapping and hitting his guitar's body, Faulkner came to prominence in 2007, with the release of his debut studio album, Hand Built by Robots. The album was certified double platinum in the United Kingdom, and yielded the singles, "Dream Catch Me", "I Need Something" and "Teardrop".
Following an accident, which resulted in his right wrist shattering, Faulkner released his second studio album, Rebuilt by Humans in 2009. An EP named Sketches will be released on April 17 containing three new tracks, followed by a new studio album.
Early Life
Faulkner is the second child of Sally Carolyn (née Battenberg, formerly Evans) and Keith William Faulkner, Faulkner has an older brother, Toby William Battenberg Faulkner and a younger sister, Charlotte Elizabeth Battenberg Faulkner. Newton attended the Hawthorns School in Bletchingley, Surrey. He began playing guitar at the age of 13 (after a few attempts at the drums and piano) and attended the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts. He grew his trademark red dreadlocks at age 15. He then moved on to the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford in 2002, where he spent two years gaining both diploma and the higher diploma award under the tutelage of Eric Roche, amongst others.
His first band was a Green Day cover band, in which he played bass guitar. His experience on the stage grew as he formed Half A Guy, a funk rock group with a quirky edge, with fellow band mates Matt Buchanan (credited in Newton's Hand Built by Robots tab book), Dave Elvy and Nicola Crawshaw. Half A Guy recorded two demo CDs and managed two years before splitting. He then spent time recording and playing gigs under the name Newton Battenberg Faulkner, including the Lapagestock festival on 11 June 2005.
Music career
In 2005 he made a sound for the game TrackMania Sunrise calledTake Back
Appearances in 2006 on BBC Radio 2 as well as a publishing deal with Peermusic UK compelled the Independent on Sunday to tell its readers to "watch this face". Faulkner performed at the 2006 South by Southwest music festival and at Guilfest 2007.
Newton subsequently signed with Sony BMG records and on 30 July 2007 he released his début album Hand Built By Robots. He supported James Morrison on his February UK tour as well as Paolo Nutini on his UK tour in April, and John Mayer on his September dates in the UK. He supported The John Butler Trio on a number of European dates.
In June 2007, Newton's second single "Dream Catch Me" was selected Jo Whiley's Pet Sound on her daily Radio 1 show. This gave the track much exposure and was highly commented on by listeners to Jo's show by SMS and e-mail.
On 29 July, "Dream Catch Me" entered the UK Singles Chart at number 16. The following week it had risen to number 7 with Hand Built By Robots entering the album charts at number 3. The song was still at number 8 on 12 August and the album reached number 1 on 26 August.
Faulkner's fourth single from Hand Built By Robots, "Teardrop" (a cover of the Massive Attack track), was released on 10 December 2007. A new video for "I Need Something" was released in March along with a United States version of the video for "Dream Catch Me".
On a video blog streamed live from Newton Faulkner's website on 22 June 2009, Newton stated that the new album was to be called Rebuilt By Humans. The reason for this was that in December 2008, Newton slipped on some ice and badly injured his wrist, into which doctors had to fit a metal plate. Newton said that, effectively, he had 'been put back together again' by humans. The album was released 21 September 2009. The first single from the album was "If this Is It", with the video exclusively shown on Channel 4 on 1 August, and released on 14 September 2009.
"Dream Catch Me" was a featured song in the US movie, "She's out of my league" in 2010.
Newton Faulkner is currently writing and recording his 3rd studio album at his home studio. An EP of three tracks is being released in April 2012 called 'Sketches'.
Live performances
Newton appeared twice at the Glastonbury Festival in June 2007 — once on the Friday on the Acoustic Stage and once on the Sunday on the Leftfield Stage. He appeared twice in 2008 Glastonbury — once in the Guardian Lounge and once on the Other Stage, as well as twice in 2010, in the Field of Avalon and at the Orange Chill and Charge Tent. He appeared at V Festival 2007 and later on in 2008 in August where he played in the Virgin Mobile Sessions Tent – a venue much too small as many people had to listen outside. He appeared at the Connect Music Festival at the end of August 2007 on the Guitars and Other Machines stage.
Faulkner played at the Isle of Wight Festival 2008 on 15 June, where he performed his cover of 2 Unlimited track "No Limit" and Dead or Alive hit "You Spin Me Round". He also played at the Bonnaroo and Sasquatch! festivals in 2008
Newton played the Main Stage on Sunday 11 May 2008, for Radio 1's Big Weekend. Songs included "Dream Catch Me", a cover of Massive Attack's "Teardrop", and a cover of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody".
In the summer of 2008, Faulkner played at Lollapalooza in Grant Park, Chicago.
He played at Oxegen in Ireland in July 2008 and again in July 2010, where he finished with "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen.
He also played at 'T in the Park' in Scotland in July 2010, playing the famous cover 'Teardrop' by Massive attack.
He played at the 2009 Latitude Festival, playing songs from his debut album as well as new material.
Also played at Cois Fharraige in Kilkee, Clare, Ireland in September 2009.
He also played at the Beautiful Days music festival in Devon in August 2010, closing with Bohemian Rhapsody.
He also featured in the 2009 Latitude Festival in Henham Park, Southwold. He performed in the 'Uncut' tent performing a set consisting mainly of songs from his debut solo album.
He played at the Crossing Border festival in The Hague, the Netherlands in 2009. He played songs both from his debut and second album. It was his last performance for the Rebuilt By Humans launch tour.
In early 2010, Newton featured on the Hamish and Andy radio show in Australia, playing 'I Hate Mondays'. Since being released, the song has gone on to chart a #1 on the Australian Apple iTunes Store.
At concerts Newton has been known to walk on stage and ask the crowd what he should play.
On 26 October 2010, Newton played a surprise set at the ACM Awards show at Indig02 at the O2 Arena in London.
On 21 November 2010, he appeared at the 'Christmas Lights switch-on' in Barnstaple.
For the 2010-2011 Edinburgh New Year's Hogmanay Celebration, he appeared on the Waverley Stage along with acts such as The Coral.
On 4 February 2011, Newton played at "Movistar Summer Experience" in Pinamar, Argentina.
In 2011, Newton performed at 'Beach Break Live', a music festival in Wales. He sang a variety of his own hits, and also his cover of Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody'.
Recently, Newton headlined the Avebury Rocks charity concert on the 9th July 2011. This event raised money for the cancer charity, the Love Hope Strength Foundation.
During July 2011, he played at the Cambridge Folk Festival, and in August 2011, he performed at Edinburgh's The Edge Festival with Reverieme.
In September 2011, he played at Weyfest.
In 2011 Newton performed at Bath Forum as a part of the International Guitar Foundation.
Newton had two live gigs in Edinburgh at the Liquid Room (as part of The Edge Festival) on Monday 8th and Tuesday 9 August 2011. He played many of his well known songs, a range of his covers and a number of new songs including "Dog Food Taster", "She's Not The One For You", "Robot Woman" and "The New Scientist".
At several shows on his 2012 tour, Newton Faulkner announced his new album would be called "Write It On Your Skin" and would be released on July 9, with a track called "Clouds" as it's first single.
Influences
Newton's influences include musicians such as Michael Williams, Del Amitri, Eric Roche, Tom Waits, Jurassic 5, Stevie Wonder, The Rolling Stones, James Brown, Prince, Mr Hudson, Green Day, George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, Primus, Led Zeppelin, Joni Mitchell, Nirvana, Cee-lo Green, Gordon Giltrap, DJ Shadow, The Beatles, The Neptunes, Jamiroquai, The Presidents, Slick Rick, Nick Harper, Robbie Williams, Cornelius, Neil Young, Pearl Jam, Thomas Leeb,Django Reinhardt.
Discography
Albums
Singles
| Year |
Single |
Chart positions |
Album |
| UK |
IRL |
DEU |
AUS |
GIB |
| 2007 |
"I Need Something" |
107 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Hand Built by Robots |
| "Dream Catch Me" |
7 |
46 |
39 |
5 |
1 |
| 2008 |
"All I Got" |
59 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| "Teardrop" |
57 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| "I Need Something" (re-release) |
70 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| "Gone in the Morning" |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| "To the Light" (video only) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| 2009 |
"If This Is It" |
56 |
- |
- |
29 |
- |
Rebuilt by Humans |
| "Over and Out" |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| 2010 |
"I Hate Mondays" |
- |
- |
- |
8 |
- |
| 2012 |
"Write It On Your Skin" |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| Persondata |
| Name |
Faulkner, Newton |
| Alternative names |
|
| Short description |
|
| Date of birth |
11 January 1985 |
| Place of birth |
Reigate, Surrey, England
|
| Date of death |
|
| Place of death |
|
