START THE INSANITY

U.K. R&B legend Craig David is the first artist to have signed an album contract with Insanity Records - a joint venture between Andy Varley’s Insanity Management, Jason Iley’s Sony U.K. and indie company Speakerbox. Expected in early 2017, the project is being A&Rd by Pete Dalton, creative director for Speakerbox, in partnership with Insanity’s A&R team (led by Varley).

Alex Fisher (Managing Director, JEM Music Group), Pete Dalton (Creative Director, Speakerbox), Craig David, Andy Varley (President, Insanity Records) and Colin Lester (Chairman/CEO, JEM Music Group) get their groove on.

Managed by long-term professional partner Colin Lester at JEM Music Group (who signed him to his first record deal aged 18), David is one of Iley’s priorities this year and is a comeback of sorts. The singer first found fame in 2000 with the release of his 4 million selling debut album Born To Do It. David has since sold more than 13 million albums worldwide across his catalog of five, and secured 12 U.K. Top Ten singles including “Fill Me In,” “7 Days,” “Walking Away” and “Rise & Fall.” His latest track, “When The Bassline Drops,” is currently sitting at #13 on the iTunes charts in Blighty and has been climbing up the RadioMonitor charts, shooting 13 places to land at #15 on Friday. Recent promo spots have included a BBC 1Xtra Live Lounge session and an appearance on The X Factor 2015 final alongside Fuse ODG.

The Sony deal follows stints at both Warner and Universal, the latter of which was home to David’s latest album, Signed Sealed Delivered. Released in 2010, it was a set heavy on covers and samples and reached #13 on the U.K. charts and failed to make an impact worldwide.

Will the new label set-up and music bring David's career fortunes full circle? Stay tuned.