220 Kid
220 KID | |
|---|---|
| Born | William Edward Graydon May 8, 1989 Oxfordshire, England |
| Occupation(s) | DJ, record producer, remixer |
| Years active | 2014–present |
| Known for | "Don't Need Love", remix of "Wellerman" |
William Edward Graydon (born 8 May 1989), who performs under the professional alias 220 KID (pronounced "two-twenty kid" and styled in uppercase), is an English DJ, record producer, and remixer. His 2020 track "Don't Need Love," a collaboration with Gracey, reached number 9 on the UK Singles Chart. Additionally, his 2021 remix of Nathan Evans' "Wellerman," produced alongside Billen Ted, achieved the number 1 spot. He is based in Highbury, London.
Early life
William Edward Graydon entered the world on 8 May 1989 in Oxfordshire. His father, Ken—who previously managed Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees—chose his name after noticing a vehicle registration plate ending with WEG from a hospital window. Graydon was raised in Thame and attended Magdalen College School. He later pursued higher education at the University of Exeter, where he earned a bachelor's degree in biosciences followed by a master's degree in sustainable development. In response to the 2020 George Floyd protests, he created a three-year scholarship aimed at supporting an outstanding BAME student at his former school. Graydon has dyslexia and has a sister named Charlie, who works in the healthcare sector.
The stage name "220 Kid" originated from a 2013 charitable challenge during which he ran , equivalent to nine marathons over seven consecutive days on the Isle of Man, honoring Robin Gibb and raising funds for three medical charities. After relocating to London, he initially adopted the moniker "Willie the Kid" (inspired by the cowboy Billy the Kid), unaware that it was already claimed. Prior to launching his music career, Graydon gained experience working at marketing agency CPM Group, modeled in Singapore, practiced carpentry, and was employed at a Tesco supermarket.
Career
Before embarking on his solo path, Graydon performed under the name "William Edward" as part of the pop duo OMYO ("Our Music Your Opinion") alongside Tom McCorkell while residing in Thame. The duo formed after meeting on New Year's Eve 2014 at the James Figg pub and making a wager to compose a song together. They produced multiple tracks, including "Lady," which was featured in an advertising campaign for clothing retailer New Look. After being dropped by a major record label, they established their own independent label and released their debut single "Days with You" through Two Six Records in 2017, accompanied by a music video filmed in New York City. Their inaugural live performance involved supporting Drake at the Wireless Festival, with plans for their debut album scheduled for release in September 2017.
Graydon’s solo venture as "220 Kid" launched in 2018 with the single "Lights," signaling a transition from OMYO’s urban pop style toward electronic music. Subsequent releases included "Pleasure to Love You" and "Let Me Stay," both featuring vocalist Chilli Chilton. In 2019, 220 Kid signed with Polydor Records and released his first single under the label, "Don't Need Love," a collaboration with English singer Gracey in December of that year. The song climbed to number nine on the UK Singles Chart by July 2020 and received a nomination for British Single at the 2021 Brit Awards. His next single, "Too Many Nights," featuring Northern Irish artist JC Stewart, was released in September 2020 and peaked at number 74 on UK charts. Graydon acknowledges musical influences such as the Bee Gees, producer Timbaland, and artists associated with Motown.
DJ mixes
- D4 D4NCE: 220 Kid in the Mix (2022)
- Cr2 Live & Direct: 220 Kid (DJ Mix) (2024)
Singles
| Title | Year | UK | AUT | IRL | Certifications | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Lights" (featuring Remy) | 2018 | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "Pleasure to Love You" (featuring Chilli Chilton) | 2018 | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "Let Me Stay" (featuring Chilli Chilton) | 2019 | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "Don't Need Love" (with Gracey) | 2019 | 9 | — | 9 | BPI: Platinum | The Art of Closure |
| "Too Many Nights" (with JC Stewart) | 2020 | 74 | — | 56 | BPI: Silver | Non-album single |
| "Wellerman" (Nathan Evans, 220 Kid, Billen Ted) | 2021 | 1 | 1 | 2 | BPI: Gold; IFPI AUT: Platinum | |
| "Unconditional" (with Dillon Francis featuring Bryn Christopher) | 2021 | — | — | — | Happy Machine | |
| "Stupid Feelings" (with LANY) | 2021 | — | — | — | gg bb xx | |
| "I'll Take You Down" (featuring Chilli Chilton) | 2021 | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "Another Life" (with Jem Cooke) | 2022 | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "Release" (with Ásdís) | 2022 | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "Lose Control" (with S1mba) | 2022 | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "See in Color" (with Wax Motif) | 2022 | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "Somebody New" (with YouNotUs featuring Jordan Shaw) | 2022 | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "Look Where We Are" (with Kang Daniel and Willim) | 2023 | — | — | — | Non-album single |
Remixes
| Title | Year | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| "1984" | 2019 | Alexander Wood |
| "Honest" | 2020 | San Holo featuring Broods |
| "Better Off Without You" | Becky Hill and Shift K3Y | |
| "Boyfriend" | Mabel | |
| "I Need You to Hate Me" | JC Stewart | |
| "To Be Young" | Anne-Marie featuring Doja Cat | |
| "Holiday" | Little Mix | |
| "The Business" | Tiësto |
| 2021 | Ashnikko featuring Kelis | - !scope=
"row"| "Summer 91 (Looking Back)" |
- !scope=
"row"| "Lost" |
Jake Bugg | - !scope=
"row"| "Chemical" |
MK | - !scope=
"row"| "Hopeless Romantic" |
2022 | Sam Fischer | - !scope=
"row"| "Entertain Me" |
Ylona Garcia | - !scope=
"row"| "No One Dies from Love" |
Tove Lo | - !scope=
"row"| "Moving On" |
2023 | Arizona | - !scope=
"row"| "Time After Time" |
Pascal Letoublon and Ilira | - !scope=
"row"| "Live More & Love More" |
Cat Burns | - !scope=
"row"| "Nice to Know You" |
Lovelytheband |
} See also
External links |
- Pages with script errors
- Articles with short description
- Articles with hCards
- No local image but image on Wikidata
- 1989 births
- 21st-century English male musicians
- 21st-century English musicians
- Alumni of the University of Exeter
- Charity fundraisers (people)
- DJs from London
- English dance-pop musicians
- English male models
- English male musicians
- English record producers
- English male songwriters
- English electronic dance music DJs
- Living people
- Musicians from Herefordshire
- Musicians from Oxfordshire
- People educated at Magdalen College School, Oxford
- People from Weobley
- Musicians with dyslexia
- Models with dyslexia
- Polydor Records artists
- English remixers
- English people with disabilities
- British musicians with disabilities
- Models from Oxfordshire
- People from Thame