In the Beginning

It’s the 1970’s. Most primary school age kids are riding around on Chopper bikes or Space Hoppers and playing Kerplunk. Not me. I’m the one playing a recorder on his tod writing down music, making up new tunes. And whilst a whole decade of Punk, Floyd, Glam Rock and Bowie raged around me I was absorbed in the Four Seasons, Beethoven Symphony box sets and everything else that my parent’s “The Joy of Classics” monthly record subscription could supply me with.

It was geek/nerd bliss.

Terrible Teens and Twenties

Things progressed slowly. I graduated to scraping the violin and then moved onto heavy brass and piano. I wrote terrible love songs for girls and fell head over heels with writing music on computers.

The technology blew my mind.

I did music at Uni and also postgrad at Trinity College of Music, London. I came out able to play the Tuba like an Olympian and with a burning, burning passion for writing music. However, I was a classic case all the gear with no idea. Nobody taught me how to actually make any money from music. I tried and tried but with no internet to find out information from and a crippling lack of self confidence I shelved all notions of making music my life in my late 20’s.

It hurt. Man it really hurt. Like a deep black empty hole in my core.

And for nearly 30 years I did something else, I had a wonderful, beautiful family, a successful career in another industry but also a gnawing, nagging, constant aching pain to be writing music. I accumulated three decades of life experience all with the constant companion of listening to music as my solace, my ever true friend.

Midlife Crisis

Then, just as most are buying sports cars, getting their first tattoos and starting extra marital affairs I stumbled upon a Production Music library on the internet.

BOOM! I did a career pivot.

Now I earn my living writing music for TV shows and films. Hearing my music on the BBC for the first time was amazing. My music is published internationally by leading libraries, including BMG, APM, Warner Chappell and MegaTrax. Recent placements include BBC Sports Personality of the Year, The Apprentice, Dragon’s Den, This is My House, Gardener’s World and Sort Your Life Out as well as numerous international placements including NBC News Daily.

I’ve also returned to my first love of writing to picture and scored some short films and documentaries.

So, where am I now?

Well, I’m definitely still a bit nerdy and introverted. At a rather ridiculous 6’5, I might be hard to miss — but my real distinguishing feature is my life experience. Running my own business in another field for so many years taught me the value of collaboration, teamwork, and reliability. I’m told I’m likeable, easy to work with, creative, and a bit quirky (hopefully in a good way!). As a father of three young adult daughters, very little phases me!

If you’re looking for something unique and compelling for your project, check out my portfolio — and if you like what you hear, let’s connect. I’d love to collaborate. Just don’t leave me with your house plants. They will come to a sad demise.