The acoustic backing track specialists providing pro tracks for singers, recording artists and musicians. Perfect for weddings, events, social media posts and more

Alex Baranowski is a composer based in London, and a graduate of Paul McCartney’s LIPA.

He was nominated for a Tony award for The Cripple of Inishmaan on Broadway (working with Michael Grandage and Martin McDonagh); won a Music + Sound Award for his score to BAFTA nominated film McCullin; and his ballet adaption of 1984 for Northern Ballet recently won the prestigious South Bank Award for dance after a sold out run at Sadler’s Wells.

He is presently working on a number of film projects and completing his first album.

Gloomy pastoral songwriter and producer, deep in rural Somerset.
One half of Gloom Index.

#Singer-Songwriter #AdultContemporary #AcousticFolk, #Folk, #Americana, #Roots, #BritishFolk, #PopRock, #AltRock

Sunset | Darkness | Sunrise 
“a concept EP that threads heartbreak, healing and hope through soaring arrangements and razor-sharp lyrical reflection… it’s a superb showcase of his compelling songwriting and performance panache.” Sarah Conway – Plastic
https://plasticmag.co.uk/2025/05/rob-finlay-releases-new-ep/

The first single Afterglow is a powerful anthem of reflection and hope, blending folk-infused storytelling with a lush, expansive arrangement. It’s a song for anyone who has loved, lost, and found themselves again. 

“This song gives you that little glowy feeling inside… there’s something so settling about the song, so settling”. Kerrie Cosh – BBC Introducing
 
“Afterglow is an indie-pop anthem… it’s really good”. Roberto Perrone – BBC Three Counties

A new music video for Ballerina has just been released. This track is for anyone who’s ever had their heart broken and can’t shake the memory of that one person. It was filmed in Rob’s local towns of Letchworth Garden City and Hitchin.

“Ballerina dips into darker terrain with swirling guitars and percussive tension conjuring the feeling of being trapped between what was and what might never be again.” Return of Rock
https://returnofrock.com/review-rob-finlay-sunset-darkness-sunrise/

“Ballerina… poetic, powerful, and impossible to forget.” Timmy Farmer – Get Some Magazine
https://getsomemagazine.com/blog/zlef91a88wacwed8kg9le5fxjgbtj0

A Visionary Voice in Modern Music

With a voice that soars between raw emotion and haunting beauty, Rob Finlay is a musician who defies simple categorisation. As Tom Robinson of BBC 6 Music aptly puts it, “Call Rob a songwriter or call him a singer – both of which he patently is – but not a singer-songwriter. He’s so much better than that.”

Drawing from an eclectic range of influences, including R.E.M., Tori Amos, Goo Goo Dolls, and Jeff Buckley, Rob crafts music that blends introspective lyricism with dynamic, genre-defying compositions. His sound channels the intensity of Bob Dylan (an influence since his Mum put headphones on her pregnant bump), the poetic depth of Leonard Cohen, and the raw honesty of traditional Irish folk music. Keith Ames, The Musician (MU Publication) said of Rob “He has the ability to weave unconventional elements into familiar genres… intriguing… gorgeous.”

Rob is a rare breed. Those that meet him can’t help but fall under his spell. An English gentleman, a grafter, an Irish poet, all rolled into one. He has a degree in Archaeology from Bristol University, has run a successful video production company for over 20 years and still finds time to write and record incredible music in his spare moments.

Film & TV in his blood: Rob grew up in Borehamwood, UK inheriting a passion for the British film industry from his Dad and Grandad, who were both set painters on TV series and feature films such as Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Harry Potter. His parents took him to rock festivals from the age of four, he started learning to play classical guitar at seven and wrote his first song at aged 13. Rob had local success with his band Captain Davenport, where he played at the iconic Elstree Studios bar for his 17th birthday before heading to Bristol University. 

He came home to play a memorable show at the Top of the Pops green room to entertain the BBC staff for Millennium night in 2000. Upon returning home from university he became an award-winning corporate filmmaker and has had many famous interactions, from drinking with Matt Damon, to accidentally winding up Hugh Grant, to having Ian McKellen dance for him. Throughout this time his desire to write and create music never left him.

A Legacy of Acclaimed Releases: Rob's debut album, These Words Aren’t Meant for Me, was hailed as “an album of uncompromising vision and beauty” by Todd Severin, The Ripple Effect. Colin Bailey of Folking.com said “Powerful, catchy, anthemic songs. Strong and memorable.” 

Highly syncable: The film industry sync panel at SXSW said Rob's music was highly syncable, around this time Sister to a Brother was synced on the hit reality TV show Breaking Amish and regularly garners listeners from around the world who discover his music through Shazam. 

He has been likened to Tim Buckley, Uriah Heep, Tom Waits, City and Colour, Billy Joel, with a sound undulating from 90s Indie Pop to American jangle.

A Stage Presence That Resonates: Rob has taken his music across the globe, performing all over the UK, Limerick (Ireland), Perth (Australia), Ghent (Belgium), Baños (Ecuador), and completed a three-month tour around the US, including New York and Los Angeles. He has graced major festival stages, including Standon Calling, The Great Escape, Roskilde, and SXSW. 

Resilience in the Face of Adversity: In June 2014, Rob became seriously ill due to an autoimmune attack following vaccinations, ahead of a planned work trip to film pink river dolphins in the Amazon Rainforest. The worst could have happened if it were not for the quick action of a doctor friend, but he has been left permanently deaf in his right ear, with constant tinnitus. The traumatic experience left Rob uncertain about his future in music, yet he has emerged stronger, proving that true artistry transcends physical limitations. His ability to channel pain and resilience into his music only adds to its emotional depth.

Half-Heard: His second release, the EP HALF-HEARD, was inspired by the events surrounding his sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL). The record is a concept work exploring the lives and stories of five women including Joan of Arc. It further cemented his reputation as an artist unafraid to push boundaries. 

A New Era Begins: Rob has taken the time to develop himself. He gave up drinking in 2011, has physically and mentally transformed, improving his health and building his confidence back up through circuit training and counselling. He has continued to build his successful production company Written Records Limited (recently directing three TV commercials for Co-op) and has otherwise been focusing on songwriting from his home studio in Hitchin (he converted his garage during Covid). He is set to release his third record, EP Sunset | Darkness | Sunrise, composed of four new songs: All Eyes Surrender, Afterglow, Ballerina, and In White this year. 

The EP charts the time in many people’s lives when they lose their  love and how they come to terms with that. It goes on to explore the wilderness years and finally re-discovering love and peace.

English singer songwriter. I went away for a bit but now I’m back. Hope you like the new songs.

Guitar With Shel provides online guitar courses, lessons and jam tracks for players of all levels.

sheldon-conrich is following