Creative Musician, Facilitator and Technologist
Client Showcase
Below are a selection of just some of the tracks I have produced with client's varying from individuals or groups with disabilities to nurture groups of teenagers in mainstream high schools.
power
Power is a song about tackling difficulties head-on with resilience. It explores taking control of your own destiny, defying expectations, and proving people wrong.
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This song was written and recorded by a young man with a complex health status; a triumph of collaboration this song features rapper 'Possibly Edible' and was part recorded by Christian TorreZorita, a student at Edinburgh College.
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Accompanied by a dynamic lyric video this track is soon to hit streaming services for the world to enjoy.
D.I.F.F.E.R.E.N.T
'D.I.F.F.E.R.E.N.T.' is a very fun piece of music by a client with William's syndrome - ideas abound in this quirky song that delivers an important message about differences and perception.
With a client who arrived every week with a whole bag of brand new musical ideas, the challenge in producing this was selecting from the multitude of possibilities and containing them within a structure that honoured the client's vision and still made sense as a whole.
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The final song is 4 minutes of joyful 80's inspired synthyness that teeters on the edge of chaos but ultimately delivers it's objective - to show what people are capable of despite how they are perceived.
just be you
Just Be You is a song produced with pupils from the first year nurture groups at Castlebrae Community High School, the aim of the project was to improve their self-esteem, confidence, develop team working skills and form
positive relationships through music whilst also improving literacy and numeracy.​
This group progressed from no musical experience at all to writing, recording and releasing this song which they also performed live at The Queens Hall, with one pupil describing it as ‘the best night of our lives’.
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This project was also visited by, then Education Minister, John Swinney who said “The benefits of the whole process for self confidence and capability of young people people is enormous. It was a joy to see how much fulfilment the whole experience brought for them.”
my father
'My Father' is a track that was written and produced collaboratively with two pupils in a High School. The track explores difficult emotions and themes, providing an outlet for the expression of experiences which were hard to talk about. The two pupils had very different musical interests but we journeyed towards a way of working where each contributed equally and meaningfully, with one taking the lead on lyrics and structure while the other lead on sound design and production.
We released the track digitally and both pupils derived a tremendous amount of pride and confidence from their achievement.
born this way
'Born This Way' was a track written and produced with a client with complex intersecting needs. It reflects both pride and defiance, blending the client's love of country and pop music.
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As part of my work with this client we wrote, demo'd and released three original songs, created a professional electronic press kit - inc biography, media and photos and developed an access rider. All of which allowed this clients to move forward on her musical journey on her own terms. Giving people the tools and skills to work independently towards their goals is one of the most empowering things you can do for someone, when a client no longer 'needs' my involvement I know that there is a job well-done.
no time
No Time was written by a small group of pupils at Dunbar Grammar High School as part of a 'Band Jam' project. The students each contributed some of themselves to this track, from the haunting piano to a heavy riff in 7/8 and the MCR-esque chorus, everyone is audibly in there. They even roped in some friends for the occasional scream!
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This was a really meaningful project, in addition to producing some great music the group came to view the sessions as a safe space where they could breathe easy and be authentically themselves.
under the acacia tree
'Under The Acacia Tree' is an ABRSM Initial Grade piano piece reimagined. I had been working on it from a performance perspective with a multi-instrumental client when we discussed how unintentionally 'metal' it felt, this seemed like a great opportunity for creative exploration.
As we worked through the possibilities for the piece a sonic journey emerged which drew parallels from the clients very recent health difficulties, which had been costly in many aspects of life. The client had ideas for an additional mid-section which later proved to be our favourite part of the track - the section which was most 'of him'. No instrumental epic is complete without a video so we collaboratively worked on the feel and edit, making sure to showcase the client's skills and abilities while telling a story which felt hard but ultimately triumphant. His family, friends and even doctors were blown away by what he produced. This work felt pivotal in his journey back to health and sense of self. We continue to work together on original material, to be released soon!
the post apocalypse
'The Post-apocalypse' is a song written and recorded with pupils from Dunedin High School, Edinburgh. It tells the story of an imagined post-apocalyptic future where a species of santa-like alien postmen have invaded earth causing the demise of mankind, of course!
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Making this song was a real triumph in engaging silliness and laughter while building self-esteem and a sense of belonging. The vocalist on this track had selective-mutism and communicated with me via written notes over the first month or two of session, it remains a point of pride that we progressed to being able to do this and, even better, that following this project they went on to join the cast of a musical at the Edinburgh Fringe, then progressed to studying musical theatre at college.
Autogyro
'Autogyro' is a one minute loopable composition created in collaboration with some pupils from Oaklands Special School in Edinburgh for a concert they were performing in at The Queens Hall.
The piece was formed out of material captured during a jam session with technology instruments such as ipads, soundbeams, switches and skoogs.
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Maximum wattage
Maximum Wattage is a song written in collaboration with participants from Girls Rock School Edinburgh to celebrate the 60th birthday of one of their founders.
Once the writing process was finished, musical recordings and video clips were remotely sourced and I produced them as both and song and video which truly showcases the brilliantly unhinged energy and creativity of this crew!