NEWS
January 2024
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Move to Oxfordshire​
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I have officially, and finally moved back to Oxfordshire.
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I will be working part time for Oxfordshire County Music Service, as well as continuing to write and perform.
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November 2023
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Fold Gig at Domino​
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We had an amazing gig at Domino Club in Leeds City Centre.
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Supported my Komla MC and Oakley Riot.
June 2023
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Cover Release - The Best​
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I recorded this cover shortly after the death of Tina Turner, released on the 27th June 2023.
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According to my Spotify Artists app, it has one very big fan, thank you.
March 2023
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New Single​
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6th March saw the release of a song I wrote with Louie McDonald online using Zoom/Audio Movers software.
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Trumpets - David Hepworth
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March 2023
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Fold Single Release​
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Who the Hell Are We?
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ADVANCING EQUALITY & UNITY THROUGH MUSIC
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February 2023
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New Band​
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I am fortunate to have been invited to join the band Fold on bass.
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"Fold – a band advancing equality & unity through musical dialogue"
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October 2021
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October ​PRS Highlights
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2 highlights from this PRS quarter’s library music usages. German TV’s Glanz and Gloria, and ITV current affairs programme ‘Tonight’.
Shame I can’t find the actual footage from either though.
Both written with @nickmcenallymusic #legend
October 2021
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Take Me Away Release​
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Release of Take Me Away by Astraea.
Guitar and bass recordings done at home using various instruments and tunings.
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May 2021
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First Proper Gig of the Year​
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A small wedding in Sheffield was to be my first main gig since lockdown began.
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I have done a few small restaurant gigs but this one felt like a lot more of a milestone. I also utilised my looper in most songs for the first time
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Playing a mixture of instrumentals and singing, it was two sets of covers for a lovely wedding on a hot sunny day.
June 2021
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Westbrook Online Concert​
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I couldn't be more proud of my Westbrook Lane primary students who have filmed songs that they chose for the 2021 summer concert!
For the second year running they have all exceeded expectations and learned and performed these songs entirely online.
May/June 2021
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Recording of Acoustic Folk Album for Production Company
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Nick and I have been hard at work creating a full album of acoustic and folk songs to be released for use as production music.
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These are full songs with a few collaborations to be released through the company Gearbox.
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2020
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Release of Production Music
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Co-written with Nick McEnally, this was released through The Firm Production Company and Editone to BMP Production Music.
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Mostly acoustic instruments and relatively neutral in character; aimed at television programmes and adverts, but equally useable for YouTube Videos or Instagram Stories.​
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November 2020
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Release of Constant Lovers
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My second song written in lockdown based on a folk song by the same name.
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This song has two parts: the first a conversation on a cliff top, and the second part based in the sea.
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It can be listened to or downloaded from various platforms here:
https://song.link/gb/i/1537962817
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October 2020
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Rockafella Acoustic Video​
We performed two songs in a bar in Leeds called Blind Tyger. Both filmed by our regular videographer Joe.
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We both think the videos came out really well and thoroughly enjoyed being back amongst other people in a safe and sensible way!
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June 2020
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Release of Follow You Follow Me
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This is/was my first solo commercial release and I was pretty nervous about letting something I had created into the world.
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It seemed to have a relatively good reception though and has since be streamed more than 7000 times across various platforms.
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November 2019
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Composition of lullabies for the Mayborn Group
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I wrote a few lullabies with my colleague Josh Weller for a clock for kids.
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I did a version of Baabaa Black Sleep and an original composition on acoustic classical guitars.
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July 2019
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Re:tract Live at Blue Dot Festival
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We were invited to play on the stage at Blue Dot festival on the Friday giving us the rest of the festival to enjoy ourselves.
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Blue Dot is an amazing festival offering something for everyone.
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March 2019
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Astraea Live at St. James's Church London
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Performing to a nearly sold out audience in a beautiful church with full band and string section. An absolute dream of a gig.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rXBZmwg7DU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qyxII3o8Ik
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May 2019
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Re:tract on BBC Radio One
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Re:tract had a single played on BBC Radio One with Huw Stephens.
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Re:tract's new song 'Amber' was played on the show which features Martha Philips on vocals and me on bass guitar.
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000579y
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May 2019
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The Hands Behind the Craft
Music Written for Video Series
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I wrote and recorded a few pieces of music for a series by Opal Video on crafts.
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These were written to the brief to match the vibe of the video.
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February 2019
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Live Video Recording with Astraea for the Mahogany Cover Sessions
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I spent the morning in a large photography studio recording a live session on bass and triggering samples with Astraea for Mahogany Cover Sessions.
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The video has come out really well which you can see below.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYLVMlIdemM
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January 2019
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Loop creation for with Neeta and Rogan Music.
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This was two full evenings into the early hours improvising and jamming to create two packs of loops for Novation Blocs Wave App.
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One was a Motown pack using old-school mic techniques, and the other was a psychedelic electronic jam.
September 2018
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The Nave Video Sessions
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I spent a full day in The Nave in Leeds with The Beat Collective recording two songs with full videos for promotional purposes.
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These will be knocking about soon.
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Great crew all round and a really good day.
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Highly recommend The Nave for any recordings you may need. The have incredible spaces, gear and are very reasonably priced as well.
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August 2018
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Gig with Astraea in London at St. Pancras Old Church
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Played a belter of a gig in London for Astraea (The voice and Producer behind the Lloyds TSB adverts).
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For this gig I was primarily singing which was nice, though I was also playing the electric guitar and triggering samples on an MPC.
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Hopefully there will be videos to come.
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https://www.astraeamusica.com/
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August 2018
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Lots of Strat Modding
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I spent a fair amount of time over the summer modding my strat.
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Ranging from bridge and pickup upgrades through to a new switch for the pickup selection options and capacitor changes.
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It sounds like a whole new guitar now for a very small amount of money!
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See my Blog page for full details and parts
June 2018
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Re:tract on BBC introducing Manchester
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Re:tract has been on Manchester BBC introducing radio show with Michelle Hussey and Natalie-Eve Williams.
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Re:tract's new song 'Amber' was played on the show which features Martha Philips on vocals and me on bass!
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0035lnc
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Update: the content in no longer available online.
April 2018
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Theme Tune for TikTok TV
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I had a commission for a theme tune for a kids YouTube Channel called Tiktok TV.
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This is a very bouncy and short piece of music written mostly with synths and a vocoder.
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You can listen to it here:
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January 2018
Podcast 'Beyond the Boxed Set' reaches Top Ten in iTunes Film and TV Podcast Charts
I've had loads of great feedback regarding our Theme Tune for this Podcast and we have since done the outro and some stingers for between sections in the show. The Theme also got new massive drums from Joe Montague. Check out the Podcast at:
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https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/beyond-the-box-set/id1215482070?mt=2
December 2017
Phil and Sian play Live on BBC Radio Leeds in Leeds City Centre
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As part of a Christmas songathon for charity, Phil and Sian played a selection of Christmas songs for the audience present as well as those listening in.
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October 2017
Phil plays a bass guitar session for critically acclaimed British Country Duo Ward Thomas
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The product of this session is still a secret and will hopefully come to fruition some time soon in 2018. Working alongside great musician's and producers such as John Arkell, Jenny Keller and Mark Levin.
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https://www.wardthomasmusic.com/
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