When the John Lewis call came, Labrinth answered. In soundtracking its latest festive advert with his re-rub — alongside original vocalist Alison Limerick — of 1990 rave classic Where Love Lives, he was only too happy to join the annual slush-fest. For one thing, the middle-Britain-wowing gig proved something.
“It’s weird. A lot of people thought I just went away!” the 36-year-old from Stoke Newington says with a burst of his ever-ready laughter. Fifteen years ago, he was signed to Simon Cowell’s Syco label and had immediate, Brit and Ivor Novello-winning success when he co-wrote and produced Tinie Tempah’s No 1 hit, Pass Out. Beneath Your Beautiful (2012), a chart-topper under his own name with Emeli Sandé, followed. Since then he’s logged serious studio hours with Beyoncé, Billie Eilish and The Weeknd, scored soundtracks for Disney (The Lion King) and created the music for HBO’s controversy-bait series Euphoria, for which he won an Emmy for All for Us, recorded with Zendaya. Little wonder that these days the Londoner born Timothy McKenzie is resident half the year in LA.
