Joel Laslett Pott (born 20 January 1979 in Spilsby, Lincolnshire, England) is an English musician. He was the lead vocalist and guitarist of the indie band Athlete between 2000 and their split in 2013. In recent years he has served as a songwriter and music producer for numerous artists.[1]

Joel Pott
Background information
Born (1979-01-20) 20 January 1979 (age 45)
Spilsby, Lincolnshire, England
GenresIndie
Instrument(s)Vocals, synthesizer, guitar, keyboard, bass guitar, piano, drums
Years active1999–present
LabelsFiction, Parlophone, Astralwerks

Biography edit

While a child, he was bought some drums by his parents. These ultimately "didn't work out" and he was then given a nylon string guitar at the age of six. In his teenage years, he listened to British bands such as Blur, Radiohead and Oasis. He has cited Blur guitarist Graham Coxon as an influence on his own playing of the instrument.[2]

Pott went to Trinity school in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester and then to Hillcrest School in Bellingham, near Catford in London, later studying graphic design, photography and English for his A levels at the Brit School of Performing Arts and Technology.[3]

He considered attending the University of Edinburgh, but decided to move to Deptford, London, where he formed Athlete with childhood friends Carey Willetts, Steve Roberts and Tim Wanstall in 1999. Pott appeared on the BBC panel gameshow Never Mind the Buzzcocks on 15 November 2007.

Athlete edit

Pott and his band Athlete - formed in 2000 - released four studio albums. These are Vehicles and Animals in 2003, which was nominated for a Mercury Music Prize award, Tourist in 2005, which reached number one in the UK Album Charts in its first week and included the band's highest charting song "Wires" at number four, Beyond the Neighbourhood in 2007 and the latest, Black Swan, in 2009.

Athlete have also released three EPs which are titled Athlete, The Outsiders EP and The Getaway. The band have also released two live albums which includes a live recording from the band's show at Union Chapel performing their main hits stripped back to acoustic and more mellow titled Live at Union Chapel. The band's other live release was a ten-year anniversary live version of their debut album Vehicles and Animals Live recorded during a tour across the country.

The band continued to play occasional dates and small festivals. Pott has more recently been working with artists including George Ezra and London Grammar in writing songs. Athlete have stated that at this moment they do not intend to create a new album, but have not ruled it out in the future.

Personal life edit

Pott married in 2000.[4] From the relationship he has three children including a daughter called Myla.[3] Although now healthy, she was born prematurely and is the subject of the Athlete song "Wires".[5] Pott also wrote "Black Swan Song" after his grandfather, who fought in World War II, died in 2005.

Songwriting and production credits edit

Since 2011, Pott has co-written and produced tracks with a number of artists including George Ezra, London Grammar, James Bay, Gabrielle Aplin, Tom Walker and Shura.[6] He was nominated for the 2015 Ivor Novello Awards as co-writer of the hit single "Budapest" by George Ezra.[7]

Title Year Artist Album Songwriter Producer
Primary Additional
"Chances" 2010 Westlife Gravity  Y
"Hit My Ego"
(featuring Joel Pott)
2011 Cicada Sunburst  Y
"Sunburst"
(featuring Joel Pott)
 Y
"Is This Love" 2012 Aiden Grimshaw Misty Eye  Y
"As One" 2013 Hadouken Every Weekend  Y
"Stop Time"  Y
"The Comedown"  Y
"Another Life" Bo Bruce Before I Sleep  Y  Y
"Over & Over (Run With the Horses)"  Y  Y
"Salvation" Gabrielle Aplin English Rain  Y
"Broken is Beautiful" Jonas Myrin Dreams Plan Everything  Y
"Shyer" London Grammar If You Wait  Y
"Youth" Fenech-Soler Rituals  Y
"Did You Hear the Rain?" George Ezra Wanted on Voyage  Y
"Budapest"  Y
"Just Once" 2014 Shura Non-album single  Y  Y
"Touch" Nothing's Real  Y  Y
"Cassy O" George Ezra Wanted on Voyage  Y
"Blame It on Me"  Y
"Barcelona"  Y
"Listen to the Man"  Y
"Leaving It Up to You"  Y
"Stand By Your Gun"  Y
"Breakaway"  Y
"Spectacular Rival"  Y  Y
"Song 6"  Y
"Da Vinci Riot Police"  Y
"Blind Man in Amsterdam"  Y  Y
"Indecision" Shura Nothing's Real  Y  Y
"Kings & Queens" Brooke Fraser Brutal Romantic  Y
"2Shy" 2015 Shura Nothing's Real  Y  Y
"Need the Sun to Break" James Bay Chaos and the Calm  Y
"Better Off Without You" Aquilo Painting Pictures of a War EP  Y
"Wildstar"
(featuring Foxes)
Giorgio Moroder Déjà Vu  Y
"Close Your Eyes" Rhodes Wishes  Y
"White Light" Shura Nothing's Real  Y  Y
"Know Me Better" Mabel Non-album single  Y  Y
"Without Your Love" Charlene Soraia Love Is the Law  Y
"My Boy My Town" Mabel Non-album single  Y  Y
"Touch"
(re-release featuring Talib Kweli)
2016 Shura  Y  Y
"What's It Gonna Be?" Nothing's Real  Y  Y
"The Space Tapes"  Y
"Make It Up"  Y  Y
"Thinking of You" Mabel Non-album single  Y  Y
"(i)" Shura Nothing's Real  Y
"Nothing's Real"  Y  Y
"Kidz 'n' Stuff"  Y
"What Happened to Us?"  Y  Y
"(ii)"  Y  Y
"Tongue Tied"  Y
"311215"  Y
"No Gold" Norma Jean Martine Only in My Mind  Y  Y
"Hang My Hat"  Y
"Angels on My Shoulders"  Y  Y
"Ride or Die" 2017 Mabel Bedroom EP  Y
"Talk About Forever"  Y  Y
"Don't Matter Now" George Ezra Staying at Tamara's  Y
"Begging" Mabel Ivy to Roses  Y
"Come Over"  Y  Y
"Low Key"  Y  Y
"Get Away" 2018 George Ezra Staying at Tamara's  Y
"Shotgun"  Y
"All My Love"  Y
"Sugarcoat"  Y
"Hold My Girl"  Y
"Saviour"
(featuring First Aid Kit)
 Y
"Only a Human"  Y
"The Beautiful Dream"  Y
"17" Lily Moore Not That Special EP  Y
"3AM" You Me at Six VI  Y  Y
"Make 'Em Like You" Tom Grennan Lighting Matches  Y  Y
"Little by Little Love"  Y  Y
"Secret Lover"  Y  Y
"Back Again" You Me at Six VI  Y  Y
"All Day" Lily Moore I Will Never Be EP  Y
"Pray for Me" You Me at Six VI  Y  Y
"Candlelight" 2019 Jack Savoretti Singing to Strangers  Y
"BKLYNLDN" Shura Forevher  Y  Y
"Religion (U Can Lay Your Hands on Me)"  Y  Y
"The Stage"  Y  Y
"Something About You"
(with Rudimental)
Elderbrook Why Do We Shake in the Cold?  Y
"That's Me, Just a Sweet Melody" Shura Forevher  Y
"Side Effects"  Y  Y
"Tommy"  Y
"Princess Leia"  Y
"Flyin'"  Y  Y
"Forever"  Y  Y
"Control"  Y  Y
"Skyline, Be Mine"  Y  Y
"Better Half of Me" Tom Walker What a Time to Be Alive:
Deluxe Edition
 Y
"Elevator Girl"
(featuring Ivy Sole)
2020 Shura Non-album single  Y
"Wait for You" Tom Walker TBA  Y
"I'm a Fool" Elderbrook Why Do We Shake in the Cold?  Y
"Feet Don't Fail Me Now" 2021 Joy Crookes Skin  Y
"Too Much History" Jack Savoretti Europiana  Y  Y
"Why Not"  Y  Y
"Late Night"  Y  Y
"Anyone for You (Tiger Lily)" 2022 George Ezra Gold Rush Kid  Y  Y
"Green Green Grass"  Y  Y
"Gold Rush Kid"  Y  Y
"Manila"  Y  Y
"Fell in Love at the End of the World"  Y
"Don't Give Up"  Y  Y
"Dance All Over Me"  Y  Y
"I Went Hunting"  Y  Y
"In the Morning"  Y
"Sweetest Human Being Alive"  Y  Y
"Love Somebody Else"  Y  Y
"The Sun Went Down"  Y

References edit

  1. ^ "NME.COM - News - Ivor Novello Awards - the results". www.nme.com. Archived from the original on 13 June 2006. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  2. ^ "Shop Fender | Electric Guitars, Acoustics, Bass, Amps and More". Fender.co.uk. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  3. ^ a b Poole, Dan (26 October 2007). "Interview: Athlete lead singer Joel Pott". Archived from the original on 20 November 2007. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  4. ^ Loundras, Alexia (11 April 2003). "Athlete: On their marks". The Independent. Archived from the original on 3 April 2008.
  5. ^ Loundras, Alexia (13 September 2007). "Athlete: On top of their game". The Independent. Archived from the original on 8 January 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  6. ^ "JOEL LASLETT POTT". Jaxmanagement.com.
  7. ^ "The Ivors Nominations 2015". Theivors.com. 24 March 2015. Archived from the original on 17 June 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2015.

External links edit