Lazy Gramophones Artists pages

I am a London-based lifetime music collector and music obsessive extraordinaire. There was rarely a day that went by without me playing the piano, composing and singing for at least three or four hours, after which I'd do my homework whilst taping and cataloguing John Peel sessions, writing songs, poems and letters, and playing guitar. I used to save my lunch money to buy CD's, then pawn my CD's to get to as many gigs as possible, and my lunch hours were spent working out songs and drum patterns in music rooms.

With the greatest of pleasure, I trained to grade 8 distinction on piano and cello before going on to gain my first degree in Composition from The Guildhall School of Music and Drama where I studied with my ultimate composition heroine, Diana Burrell. Since that time I have performed and composed extensively alongside numerous major and independent labels, and composed film, ensemble and theatre pieces for for some highly inspirational award-winning writers and performers.

I am intensely passionate about the direction music has taken in this country in the last twenty years, the ever-increasing lack of representation of independent musicians and their efforts in the media, and the need to enable all people to harness their innate creativity. Much of my time is spent researching and writing on these topics, publishing occasional articles on my specialist bug-bears for whatever think tank will have me, and supporting my fellow musicians and smaller labels in their quest to establish themselves using online platforms through providing SEO copy and advice where I can.

I am proudly represented for my creative writing by the wonderful people at Lazy Gramophone Press for whom I am currently completing my first book on contemporary music, and who kindly commission me for poetry.

My favourite credits so far include: session work for Kingsize, Blang, Polydor Europe, Northstar, Sony BMG, the BBC, replacement of Florence (and the Machine) in Ashok, co-founder, composer & lead vocalist of The Heritage Orchestra precursor, K-Project; commissions from: Tracy Keeling, Ralitza Petrova, and The Landon Chamber Ensemble; prizes: Philip Bates Prize finalist, International Poetry Competition finalist, UK Songwriting Competition finalist; education: creation and implementation of programmes of study at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama and London’s Centre for Young Musicians.