Calvin Harris

Solo Artist

Photo: James · CC BY 2.0
Active 2002-present
Origin Dumfries, Scotland
Albums 7
Tracks 99
Most frequent collaborator Jessica Reyez · 7 tracks
Genres ElectronicDanceEDMHouseElectropop
Complete Artist
100%
Authorship

Holds writing credit on 99 of 99 tracks

Did Calvin Harris write his own songs?

Yes, all of them. Calvin Harris, real name Adam Wiles, writes and produces every track he releases, holding a credit on 100% of his catalogue. He wrote and sang his early hits like 'Acceptable in the 80s' entirely alone, and even his biggest song, 'We Found Love' for Rihanna, was written by him solo. On later albums he co-writes with the guest vocalists who appear on his tracks.

By the Numbers

7
Studio Albums
99
Tracks Credited
100%
Self-Written
24
Years Active
166
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 99 / 99 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 99 tracks: how many Calvin Harris wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.

Calvin Harris has a writing credit100%
37%
63%
Sole author37tracks37%
Co-written62tracks63%
Outside writers0tracks0%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
Calvin Harris's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 99 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)100%
Composer (music)100%
Producer100%
Performer100%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

Calvin Harris's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.

avg 100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
2007I Created Disco
2009Ready for the Weekend
201218 Months
2014Motion
2017Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1
2022Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 2
202496 Months
Early · 100% written
Mid · 100% written
Late · 100% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

100%
2000s
I Created Disco, Ready for the Weekend
100%
2010s
18 Months, Motion +1 more
100%
2020s
Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 2, 96 Months

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where Calvin Harris sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.

Calvin Harris
Other artists on the site

Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.

Katseye0%
BLACKPINK13%
The Pussycat Dolls21%
Britney Spears32%
Rihanna44%
Kesha77%
The Chemical Brothers92%
100%Calvin Harris
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

Acceptable in the 80s
I Created Disco
Written by Adam Wiles
Wrote it
The Girls
I Created Disco
Written by Adam Wiles
Wrote it
Merrymaking at My Place
I Created Disco
Written by Adam Wiles
Wrote it
I'm Not Alone
Ready for the Weekend
Written by Adam Wiles
Wrote it
Ready for the Weekend
Ready for the Weekend
Written by Adam Wiles
Wrote it
Flashback
Ready for the Weekend
Written by Adam Wiles
Wrote it
You Used to Hold Me
Ready for the Weekend
Written by Adam Wiles, Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Co-wrote
We Found Love
18 Months
Written by Adam Wiles
Wrote it
Feel So Close
18 Months
Written by Adam Wiles
Wrote it
Let's Go
18 Months
Written by Adam Wiles, Shaffer Smith
Co-wrote
Sweet Nothing
18 Months
Written by Adam Wiles, Florence Welch, Thomas Hull
Co-wrote
I Need Your Love
18 Months
Written by Adam Wiles, Ellie Goulding
Co-wrote
Summer
Motion
Written by Adam Wiles
Wrote it
Blame
Motion
Written by Adam Wiles, John Newman, James Newman
Co-wrote
Under Control
Motion
Written by Adam Wiles, Alessandro Lindblad, Theo Hutchcraft
Co-wrote
Outside
Motion
Written by Adam Wiles, Ellie Goulding
Co-wrote
Slide
Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1
Written by Adam Wiles, Christopher Breaux, Quavious Marshall, Kiari Cephus, Kirsnick Ball
Co-wrote
Feels
Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1
Written by Adam Wiles, Pharrell Williams, Brittany Hazzard, Katheryn Hudson, Sean Anderson
Co-wrote
Potion
Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 2
Written by Adam Wiles, Dua Lipa, Jeffery Williams, Jessica Reyez, Maneesh Bidaye
Co-wrote

Discography 7 albums

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

Calvin Harris99 tracks
7Jessica Reyez, 7 tracks BH5Brittany Hazzard, 5 tracks 5Pharrell Williams, 5 tracks 4Ellie Goulding, 4 tracks 4Theo Hutchcraft, 4 tracks JN3John Newman, 3 tracks O3Offset, 3 tracks MB3Maneesh Bidaye, 3 tracks MB3Matthew Burns, 3 tracks DM2Dylan Mills, 2 tracks DR2Dizzee Rascal, 2 tracks KH2Kuk Harrell, 2 tracks R2Rihanna, 2 tracks H2Hurts, 2 tracks BS2Big Sean, 2 tracks TK2Tinashe Kachingwe, 2 tracks T2Tinashe, 2 tracks QM2Quavious Marshall, 2 tracks KB2Kirsnick Ball, 2 tracks P2PartyNextDoor, 2 tracks JW2Jeffery Williams, 2 tracks YT2Young Thug, 2 tracks SD2Snoop Dogg, 2 tracks DL2Dua Lipa, 2 tracks JB2Jesse Boykins III, 2 tracks JT2Justin Timberlake, 2 tracks H2Halsey, 2 tracks JF2James Fauntleroy II, 2 tracks SS2Sam Smith, 2 tracks RG2Rory Graham, 2 tracks RM2Rag'n'Bone Man, 2 tracks SE1Sophie Ellis-Bextor, 1 track IK1Izza Kizza, 1 track MI1Mark Irving, 1 track D1Detnon, 1 track P1Paul, 1 track C1Chrome, 1 track K1Kelis, 1 track EG1Elliot Gleave, 1 track E1Example, 1 track NR1Nicky Romero, 1 track TT1Tinie Tempah, 1 track JF1James F. Reynolds, 1 track MK1Mark Knight, 1 track FW1Florence Welch, 1 track on Florence and the Machine's page TH1Thomas Hull, 1 track DF1Dillon Francis, 1 track N1Ne-Yo, 1 track AM1Ayah Marar, 1 track SM1Steve Mac, 1 track AL1Alessandro Lindblad, 1 track A1Alesso, 1 track JN1James Newman, 1 track AA1All About She, 1 track F1Firebeatz, 1 track UO1Ummet Ozcan, 1 track EH1Este Haim, 1 track DH1Danielle Haim, 1 track AH1Alana Haim, 1 track AR1Ariel Rechtshaid, 1 track H1HAIM, 1 track SM1Sean Michael Anderson, 1 track GS1Gwen Stefani, 1 track on No Doubt's page BL1Benjamin Levin, 1 track RT1Ryan Tedder, 1 track on OneRepublic's page R1R3hab, 1 track CB1Christopher Breaux, 1 track on Frank Ocean's page FO1Frank Ocean, 1 track M1Migos, 1 track QH1Quincy Hanley, 1 track SM1Shelley Massenburg-Smith, 1 track RC1Rogét Chahayed, 1 track SQ1ScHoolboy Q, 1 track D1DRAM, 1 track AG1Ariana Grande, 1 track F1Future, 1 track KR1Khalid Robinson, 1 track K1Khalid, 1 track JW1Jacques Webster, 1 track TS1Travis Scott, 1 track A1A-Trak, 1 track CB1Calvin Broadus, 1 track JL1John Legend, 1 track T1Takeoff, 1 track NM1Nicki Minaj, 1 track KH1Katheryn Hudson, 1 track KP1Katy Perry, 1 track MM1Miles McCollum, 1 track K1Kehlani, 1 track LY1Lil Yachty, 1 track JR1Jessie Reyez, 1 track SB1Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, 1 track on 21 Savage's page AB1Alissia Benveniste, 1 track 2S121 Savage, 1 track SA1Stephanie Allen, 1 track CB1Chloe Bailey, 1 track CC1Coi Collins, 1 track JA1Jade Amar, 1 track GV1Germán Valdés, 1 track SD1Stefflon Don, 1 track C1Chloë, 1 track CL1Coi Leray, 1 track CP1Charlie Puth, 1 track CL1Chinsea Lee, 1 track NM1Nathalia Marshall, 1 track RK1Rachel Kennedy, 1 track DF1Danny Flores, 1 track LS1Lance Shipp, 1 track S1Shenseea, 1 track NH1Normani Hamilton, 1 track N1Normani, 1 track TS1Trevor Smith Jr., 1 track NC1Nija Charles, 1 track B1Burns, 1 track BR1Busta Rhymes, 1 track JS1Jorja Smith, 1 track DB1Durk Banks, 1 track EN1Edith Nelson, 1 track BB1Barbara Boko-Hyouyhay, 1 track LD1Lil Durk, 1 track RV1Ricardo Valentine Jr., 1 track IG1Ian Greenidge, 1 track 616LACK, 1 track D1Donae'o, 1 track CB1Calvin Broadus Jr., 1 track AS1Alyssa Stephens, 1 track L1Latto, 1 track KB1Khalif Brown, 1 track SL1Swae Lee, 1 track TT1Terrence Thornton, 1 track PT1Pusha T, 1 track CZ1Chenai Zinyuku, 1 track ND1Nathan Duvall, 1 track GK1Gavin Koolmon, 1 track LM1Luke McDermott, 1 track MW1Marvin White, 1 track IW1Ina Wroldsen, 1 track D1Disciples, 1 track NS1Nils Sjöberg, 1 track JH1Jamie Hartman, 1 track TM1Troy Miller, 1 track PB1Pablo Bowman, 1 track PR1Peter Rycroft, 1 track SR1Sam Roman, 1 track AW1Andrew Watt, 1 track CT1Cleo Tighe, 1 track JG1Jon Green, 1 track JB1Jahron Brathwaite, 1 track ER1Eliza Rose, 1 track SL1Steve Lacy, 1 track

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. Showing the 150 most frequent of 158. BH Brittany Hazzard · JN John Newman

Photo credits

Portraits in the web and the rail come from Wikimedia Commons. The artist's own photo carries its credit under the picture.

The Authorship Story

Data Insight

Harris is the sole composer on every track he has ever released, an almost unheard-of level of creative control in EDM. His debut album sees him as lyricist on nearly every track; by Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1 that drops to near zero as featured artists handle all the singing, though on many tracks, including 'We Found Love,' he wrote the words himself.

Quick Facts

  • GrammysOne win (Best Music Video, 2013) and five nominations
  • Highest-paid DJTopped Forbes' highest-paid DJ list for six straight years (2013-2018)
  • Chart recordMost UK number-one singles of the 2010s
  • 18 MonthsScored nine top-10 UK singles from one album, breaking Michael Jackson's record of seven
  • StreamingFirst UK solo artist to pass one billion Spotify streams

Creative Fingerprint

A producer who writes the whole track: Calvin Harris is credited on every song he releases, writing and singing solo on his early records and his biggest hit 'We Found Love,' then co-writing with guest vocalists across his later, feature-driven albums.

The Story

Calvin Harris is a Scottish DJ, singer-songwriter, and record producer who became one of the world's highest-paid musicians. He began as a self-contained artist who wrote and performed every note of his debut, then evolved into EDM's most successful crossover architect, writing all his compositions while enlisting pop royalty as featured vocalists.

Awards & Recognition

Won a Grammy Award for Best Music Video (2013) for 'We Found Love'
Topped Forbes' list of the world's highest-paid DJs for six consecutive years (2013-2018)
Holds the record for most UK number-one singles of the 2010s
Scored nine top-10 UK singles from 18 Months, breaking Michael Jackson's record of seven from one album
First UK solo artist to surpass one billion Spotify streams

Frequently Asked Questions Calvin Harris

Did Calvin Harris write his own songs?
Yes, all of them. Calvin Harris, real name Adam Wiles, writes and produces every track he releases, holding a credit on 100% of his catalogue. He wrote and sang his early hits like 'Acceptable in the 80s' entirely alone, and even his biggest song, 'We Found Love' for Rihanna, was written by him solo. On later albums he co-writes with the guest vocalists who appear on his tracks.
Who wrote 'We Found Love'?
'We Found Love' (2011) was written and produced entirely by Calvin Harris. Rihanna sang it and it became her longest-running US number one, but she did not write it; the song is Harris's alone.
Did Calvin Harris write 'Feel So Close'?
Yes. 'Feel So Close' (2011) was written, produced, and sung by Calvin Harris himself, with no co-writers. It marked his shift from behind-the-scenes producer to a front-and-center dance artist.
Who wrote 'Slide'?
'Slide' (2017) was co-written by Calvin Harris with Frank Ocean and Migos, who all perform on it. It opened his more collaborative Funk Wav Bounces era, where he built tracks around guest artists.
What is Calvin Harris's real name?
Adam Richard Wiles. He was born in Dumfries, Scotland, in 1984 and is credited under his real name in his songs' writing credits, which is why 'Adam Wiles' appears rather than 'Calvin Harris.'
How many albums has Calvin Harris released?
This catalogue covers 7 of his studio albums, from his 2007 debut I Created Disco to the recent 96 Months.
Did Calvin Harris win a Grammy?
Yes, one, for Best Music Video in 2013 for 'We Found Love.' He has also received five Grammy nominations.
Was Calvin Harris the highest-paid DJ?
Yes. He topped Forbes' list of the world's highest-paid DJs for six years in a row, from 2013 to 2018, earning tens of millions per year.
Who sang on Calvin Harris's biggest hits?
A long list of guests: Rihanna on 'We Found Love,' Florence Welch on 'Sweet Nothing,' Ellie Goulding on 'Outside,' John Newman on 'Blame,' and Frank Ocean, Pharrell, and others on his Funk Wav albums.
How does Calvin Harris make his music?
He produces the instrumentals himself and either sings them or brings in a featured vocalist. Early on he did both roles; later he focused on production and songwriting, letting guest singers front the tracks he wrote.

Sources

AllMusic - Calvin Harris discography MusicBrainz - Calvin Harris Discogs - Calvin Harris Wikipedia: Calvin Harris