Five of the Best: Calvin Harris

Image: Calvin Harris

Most artists undergo a transformation during their career, but few as quickly and profitably as that of Adam Richard Wiles, A.K.A. Calvin Harris. The 31-year-old from Dumfries has risen over the last eight years from the weedy MySpace indie raver to a behemoth of electronic music. He's also much better at the gym than most of us.

'Acceptable in the 80's' (2007)

By no means one of his biggest chart successes, this track from his 2007 breakout opus I Created Disco was pivotal in getting Harris noticed. It's funky riff and smooth melodies were enough to win people over and distract them from the fact that it was being sung by a guy whose musical talents lie elsewhere.

Peaking at number ten in the charts, it was beaten by the next single from the release'The Girls', but that was just the next step. Calvin had already been thrust into the limelight by the debut single, and that was significant achievement at this early stage in his career.

'Dance with me' ft Dizzee Rascal (2008) 

A year later saw Harris' first number one when he worked with Dizzee Rascal on the infectious 'Dance Wiv Me'. It hit the top spot and saw Harris produce the track and brush up his vocals to sing the song's main hook.

Taking him to the top of the charts wasn't the only first the track reeled in, the BRIT Award nominated tune also sold over 600,000 copies thus giving him his first platinum plaque. The popularity of it also enabled Harris to gain his first Essential Mix on BBC Radio One the same year.

 'I'm not alone' (2009)

Calvin's second album Ready For The Weekend featured fourteen tracks, eleven of which he sang on, produced and wrote himself. The Album debuted atop the UK Albums chart in August 2009. With his first solo number one single still elusive, this album had plenty of chances of scooping it, eleven if necessary.

First single, 'I Am Not Alone' did just that, going straight in at the top. This single showed the progression and self belief of Harris, just three years after his emergence. His singing had improved no end from the very early days and in the charts were showing that he knew how to write a fucking banger in the studio.

'We found love' ft Rhianna (2011)

After an eventful 2010, seemingly producing every hit that was released and invading the X-Factor stage with a pineapple on his head, Harris toured extensively and made a constant procession of hits. His third album 18 Months came out in 2012 and blew both the minds of fans, and the non believers.

Despite his breakneck rise nobody foresaw the album achieving a record nine top ten singles. The album entered the charts at number one and has sold over 25 million singles worldwide. A top five could've been compiled from this album alone (other artists that collaborated on it include Tinie Tempah, Florence Welch, and Kelis), but it was this slayer that started the3 ball rolling.

First appearing on Rhianna's own huge opus Talk That Talk, it's probably to date still his most recognisable calling card, the floor filler voted third in Billboard's top 10 pop-dance collaborations ever after the Scot toured with the pop princess in 2011 and went on to top the charts in 27 separate countries.

'How Deep Is Your Love' ft Disciples (2015)

After more hit making and then releasing his fourth record Motion in 2014, once more delivering chart success, Harris had taken to collaborations and brought in renowned singers and concentrated his efforts in the studio. He took a similar approach with his live sets, focusing on DJing with his headline set at Coachella festival in 2014 drawing the second largest crowd in the festival's history.

Into 2015 and Harris has seemingly taken another turn in his music career with 'How Deep Is Your Love'. The track features Disciples with the trio enabling Harris to push towards the more dominant deep house, keeping fans on their toes and chomping at the bit to see what is up his sleeve. We for one can't wait to find out.