Moody lounge soundtrack songwriter • producer • engineer • arranger • multi-instrumentalist
Tell me a little bit about how you got started, where you’re headed, what the deal is.
I’ve always been passionate about music, even when I was a young teenager I had a strange fascination with My Bloody Valentine and would spend hours trying to re-create their guitar sound with my cheap, low quality guitar and amp. I would record loops and alter the speed of them on an old fashioned tape deck. It wasn’t really music, just strange noises. I got started properly when I bought myself some second hand gear from eBay (drum machine/sampler and an analogue synth). Then I would sample bits of old records and make Daft Punk style tracks. After a while I got bored of that and taught myself to play piano by ear. I developed a passion for writing chord sequences and adding melodies to try to create ‘moods’. These ‘moods’ were of course influenced by all my favourite bands and composers (The Beach Boys, Burt Bacharach, The High Llamas, Ennio Morricone, Angelo Badalamenti, Bernard Herrmann, Daft Punk, Squarepusher etc.) Ideally I’m heading into writing music for Film and TV, the older I get the more this interests me. Lots of people have commented that my music is very cinematic so I guess it’s a natural progression.
What would you consider a defining moment for you, musically?
From a listening point of view, the defining moment for me was when I first heard the Beach Boys ‘Pet Sounds’ LP. Before that I had been listening to lots of guitar bands and when I first heard ‘Pet Sounds’ it completely floored me. Such amazing music, it was almost like some kind of weird semi-religious experience. I became completely obsessed with Brian Wilson’s music for a period in my life (and still am a bit).
From a creating music point of view, one of my defining moments was when I completed the rough mix for the song ‘Where Have You Gone’ (which you can hear below). I knew it was definitely a step up from what I had done before.
Is there a connection between when you feel more or less creative to what’s going on in your life?
Yes I think there is a connection between what’s going on in my life with how creative I feel. Although it’s probably hard to describe exactly what that connection is. Sometimes when you have had a bad day and you sit down and write some music it can make you feel a whole lot better about things. I love being creative and I get bored very easily if I can’t be creative with something.
Where did you come up with the idea for your featured song?
The song was partly inspired by a video made for one of my earlier tracks (thanks to Justin Hannah) and stuff going on in my life. I think I came up with the idea while lying in bed. You know when you are just starting to fall asleep and you are half awake / half asleep and your mind starts to wonder (although it’s probably not the same for robots?). I come up with lots of great ideas then, most of which I forget.
Although I should also mention the Danish band, the Surf School Dropouts who co-wrote this track with me and performed the vocals. It wouldn’t have happened without their excellent talents. The track is going to be the closing track on my debut album which should be out sometime soon… hopefully!
Listen to the featured song!
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