This track was made in Pure Data using samples of knives clanging together, and a kick made from an oscillator. It's the first time I have "played" a PD patch to make a piece

Dark Knives

My contribution to the amazing @CitiesandMemory Spring Project to remix a field recording from somewhere in the world far from myself.

It is always a privilege to hear foreign languages. We are so lucky to have access to a rich variety of languages in our world. In languages that we cannot understand, our brain automatically listens for patterns and rhythms to try to interpret the sounds. Market traders also bring a musical magic to their phrases. This original recording is so rich with patterns and musical phrases I barely needed to make any modifications, but I am also personally attracted to vocal sounds that have been speeded up or slowed down. In a way I feel that it highlights the de-humanisation that we are experiencing through various measuring and labelling that pervades our current society. If this sounds negative, maybe we are moving towards an era where this categorisation of a human being for the sake of digital data will truly bring us benefit and not just a means to further our path along the road to ultimate capitalism. I would love to hear a similar remix of english words created by someone who does not have semantic understanding of the words in the same way that I cannot understand this vietnamese but can be in awe of its rhythms and musicality.

HoChiMixCity

Another contribution to the fantastic @CitiesandMemory projects, this time remixing a beautiful nighttime recording from Dakota, USA.

The beautiful sounds in this rich night-time scene of the original recording made me think of how busy the microscopic life is in the natural world while we are sleeping. I wanted layers of sound to represent the different insects and animals as they go about their business of taking care of their microenvironment, all while we are in our cosy cocoon of sleep. 

The piece starts with the original recording that is gradually diluted with so much reverb that the crickets become a pitched sound. The listener is distracted from this transition by small punctuations of sound that develop, and lead the other animals into their nightly routine. Sweet dreams!

While you Sleep

These are Pure Data Patches that are played on the "Breathing Stone" while the device measures the user's ECG.

The concept is based on the Papworth Breathing Techniques used to help people calm from effects of stress.  

The music is designed to act as a timing guide for breaths in and breaths out (hence the breath sounds).

These patches are able to be adaptive, and therefore if the device is used many times, as the music is different, the music should not get boring (these tracks are recorded examples).

Stonepack1

This was an audition piece that won me a commission with Sound and Music to work with the fabulously talented Caitlin Shepherd on her thought-provoking installation "Discord" at Somerset House, London, UK in the Autumn of 2016.

HideInThe5th

This is my submission to the Alev Lenz Recompose Competition. A fantastic chance to take a perfect melody from her piece "Fishermen" out to play. I love the way the original melody repeats at a higher pitch each time, so had to keep that in my version. Definitely influenced by the fun to be had in Francis Poulenc's Sonata for Piano Four Hands, where your hands leap across your duet partners'!

Fishermen AlevLenz Recompose

This was my submission to a remix competition using the Cremona Quartet samples from Native Instruments. The sounds are so amazing, the instruments cut through the mix clearly, even standing out above other strings. I wanted to use the samples as much as possible, building into a layered texture with the melodic lines following each other.

Memories - I Had Plans Remix

I wanted to make a drone that felt like the cocoon of being deep in a forest. This was inspired by the music of Lawrence English.

Forest Cocoon

This is a more comforting piece designed to be uplifting, and as such starts around Eb minor and ends in Gb major.

Tinnitus2 - Tentative Comfort

Sometimes the sounds inside my head are scary.

eplans