Fairytale
Written on June 17, 2013 at 1:48 pm | No Comments |
Marketing agencies have a habit of useing kooky acoustic tracks to entice us and fairytale is along those lines. Strumming ukeleles, double bass, bits of flute and fiddle… I could start a mumford band.
Lyrically it’s a love story set in the deep recesses of a childlike imagination. This is a co-write with Chris Price of Unthanks and Broken Joker fame. Lizzie Hibbert provided BVs
The Road To Peace
Written on June 10, 2013 at 4:04 pm | No Comments |
The trailer below features music by me but the film itself is one which which everyone should see.
In the media The Dalai Lama has been largely portrayed as a political leader concerned with the issue of Tibet, however, he also commands respect as one of the great philosophers and religious leaders of the 21st Century: a Nobel Peace Prize winner and a figurehead who propelled Buddhism onto the Western stage.
The film is incredibly moving and shows that the Dalai Lama has a presence and aura beyond that afforded by his fame. The fundamental principles of Buddhism are beautiful in their simplicity and if adopted gloabally, the world would certainly be a better place.
to buy the film click here
Category Blog, Featured | Tags: dalai lama,film trailer,music,road to peace
Pick Me Up
Written on June 4, 2013 at 6:00 pm | No Comments |
Ed Sheeran and Ben Howard are flying the flag for singer songwriters in a market which seems generally saturated with electronic music.
Ben Howard’s album Every Kingdom is fantastic and ‘Only Love’ is possibly my favourite track.
Pick Me Up is a track I did recently which payes hommage to that. It was co-written and sung by Tony Bowen.
Category Blog | Tags: acoustic,ben howard,ed sheeran,jim hustwit,production music,singer songwriter,tony bowen
This House – behind the scenes
Written on May 29, 2013 at 6:00 pm | No Comments |
AJ & The Wires have been quiet of late. Not least because we have enjoyed a double run as the band for the incredibly successful sell out show ‘This House’ at the National Theatre.
The experience itself has been one of the best things I’ve ever done. It was my first foray into the world of theatre and I have bloody loved it. Bring on the next show!
Anyway, for a flavour of what we’ve been up to, the Italian Stallion made this video:
Category Blog, Featured | Tags: acoustic jim & The wires,national theatre,olivier theatre,This house
Lost In The Rage
Written on May 24, 2013 at 10:42 am | No Comments |
As I turn my attention to production music I get to explore different sounds. I’m a big fan of Lana Del Rey and for a recent music brief co-wrote the below track with Lana (we’re on first name terms) in mind. Big strings and an epic feel.
Lost in the Rage – A story of being unable to move on whilst consumed by anger. Co-written and sung by Sarah Maclellan
Category Blog | Tags: epic,lana del rey,lost in the rage,orchestral,production music,strings
Hang Drum – Instrument of the 20th Century
Written on March 21, 2012 at 10:43 am | No Comments |
The Hang Drum or Flying Saucer as I like to call it is apparently one of only 2 musical instruments to be invented since the turn of the 20th Century. They are all made in a workshop in Berne, Switzerland and they sound awesome. Manu Delago seems to be to Hang Drums what Pino Palladino is to bass guitar. Here is the man … and drum in action.
Category Blog | Tags:
Got To Be Funky!
Written on March 7, 2012 at 11:25 am | No Comments |
There is no music that gets me going like funk music! When that rhythm section kicks in I just gots to move. It’s infectious. A friend, DJ and dance adversary Jim Sharpe sent me through a mix tape with a taste of the funk and soul weekly that is dropped on the Saturday sessions of The Paradise (www.theparadise.co.uk) on Kilburn Lane, Kensal Green, so I thought I’d share it.
Great for cutting rug to and great background music whilst you work. Enjoy!
The Adventure Begins
Written on February 26, 2012 at 8:49 pm | 2 Comments |
On the 23rd Feb 2012 at 10pm on Channel 4, the documentary ‘Strictly Baby Disco’ aired. The reason this is of note is because I composed the music. As a media music composer this was the most challenging job so far but incredibly rewarding. A massive thank you to Emily, Leon and the Boundless team.
The music is not be confused with my usual acoustic musings as there wasn’t a guitar in sight. The brief was to create a simple and fairytale feel to the story which follows four girls on the run up to Disco Kid 2011 which is the pinnacle of the Freestyle Disco Dancing calendar. The music was primarily classical string arrangements but with some more contemporary styles too. I’ll be posting all of the songs here over the coming week or so but first up is ‘The Adventure Begins.’
Category Blog | Tags: boundless,channel 4,classical,composer,media composer,music composer,strictly baby disco,the adventure begins
Making Musical Ends Meet
Written on February 17, 2012 at 2:06 pm | No Comments |
In May 2011 I quit my job as UK Manager for a major international company to pursue music. It was a great job with lots of autonomy, responsibility and was well remunerated. But, like Martin Luther, I had a dream. I am musical to my core and wanted to try and make a living in the shark infested and highly competitive waters of the music industry…. somehow.
“It’s better to have tried and failed than to live life wondering what would’ve happened if I had tried”
Alfred Lord Tennyson
My first task was to finish my album “Hanging Up My Cape.” This was months of intensive work and a very steep leaning curve but ultimately I was very pleased with the results. Once the joy of creating was over I was left with touring the album and working out how the hell I could make a living from being a solo singer-songwriter…. No easy task. In fact to this day I still don’t really know. Looking at it as a business model I can see no obvious revenue streams*…. at least not the kind that would pay the rent. Music sales are down and even majors with their marketing clout are struggling. Sync and perfromance royalties are the obvious way but that’s easier said than done.
So I decided to expand my horizons and put my eggs in as many musical baskets as possible. So I decided to try my hand as a guitar teacher. Helping others learn the trade and get as much joy from playing as I have seemed an obvious choice and how rewarding it was. So Guitar Lessons North London was born (catchy I know). I also decided to get involved in producing music for TV and Media which has turned out to be one of the most incredible things I have ever done. I realize at heart I am a composer rather than a performer and my first piece of scoring work goes live next week….. more to follow.
*when I say no obvious revenue streams I’m talking about earning a living, at my level, from performing writing and recording as a solo artist.
Category Blog | Tags:
Stevie Wonder – Soulful Times
Written on December 2, 2011 at 11:39 am | No Comments |
I have a freind who spends far too much time surfing YouTube and he played me this video of Stevie Wonder playing live on Sesame Street. I’m a massive fan of Stevie. He’s a phenominal musician and songwriter. The first thing that blew me away was the thought of music of this calibre being part of a kids TV programme…. I should have been born in the 70s!
The second thing that below me away is that Stevie and The Band keep jammin it out for nearly 7 minutes!!!! Our consumption of music is so different today. Songs for radio today are usually tailored to 3mins 30. What happened to the soul of music? What happened to awesome musicians laying down awesome grooves without having to inhibit themselves to a commercial imperative?? I could be really cynical and ask what happened to musicians?? Answers on a postcard. Either way, I’m waiting to see the Quantic Soul Orchestra jammin out on Teletubbies very soon. Enjoy!
Category Blog | Tags: acoustic jim,funk,jammin,quantic soul orchestra,sesame street,songwriter,soul,Stevie wonder
