A collection of demos from my website www.stringarranger.co.uk
For more information and to book me to write a stunning arrangement for your track please visit me there, or you can also hire me at www.SoundBetter.com

String Arranger

Let Me Go is the first song from autolemy's second album/novel 'Assisting Fate' - due April 2025. The song centres around two antagonists, Laura, an 11 year-old girl who is beginning to develop sexual feelings, and Jon, her 28 year-old stepfather - who has helped to encourage these feelings. With her desire to test her new found confidence, Laura tries to manipulate her stepfather in a scene within the book – which seriously backfires!

Whilst this song was recorded with one artist, the song is arranged as a back & forth between Jon and Laura, and explores each of their perspectives after what turns out to be a scene that is set to drastically affect both their lives forever.

Assisting Fate

Let Me Go (Ft. Drew Tyler) - From Assisting Fate - Due 2025

Be Someone is the second song from autolemy's second album/novel 'Assisting Fate' - due April 2025. The song centres around one of the main characters who has been taken away from a harmful family situation. His situation changes having now met his new parents – who also happen to be MI6 agents. As he begins to come out of his shell and flourish, he is becoming his original character again and begins to see a future for himself.

Few people can escape past difficulties. This song shows that with a little mental resilience, encouragement and love – we can all Be Someone.

Be Someone (Ft. Deza) - From Assisting Fate - Due 2025

Tell The World About You is the third song from autolemy's second album/novel 'Assisting Fate' - due April 2025. The song centres around one of the main characters, Laura, who begins senior school she finds herself unpopular with the girls in her year group. She receives advice to watch and emulate what the popular girls do, which she heeds well. After flirting and seeking the attentions of boys two years her senior, she is intoxicated with her new found confidence and sexuality.

Isn’t it thrilling when we become popular or needed for a reason? It’s a potent drug that just makes you want to tell the world, fills you with purpose and makes you feel amazing – while it lasts.

Tell The World About You (Ft. Teerare/Drew Tyler) - From Assisting Fate - Due 2025

Given Up is the eighth song from autolemy's second album/novel 'Assisting Fate' - due April 2025. Having ended up separated from her family and placed in care, one of the main antagonists of the story, Laura, writes to her mother to ask for forgiveness. Unfortunately, her mother replies with the most toxic of responses.

When you’ve done everything you can do to seek forgiveness for a wrongdoing but are still rebuked, it is not wise to remain a beggar. This song is about cutting toxic ties in ones’ life and moving on.

Given Up (Ft. Drew Tyler) - From Assisting Fate - Due 2025

I’m a Psycho Now is the fourth song from autolemy's second album/novel 'Assisting Fate' - due April 2025. The song centres around Nancy, a retired director of MI6. Such a formidable woman, she is only underestimated by those who truly don’t know her background, or haven’t worked for her in the past. Before, during and after World War II, she had learned to become the ruthless hammer her alter-ego represented. 

This song represents the harder and vengeful side of humanity... the side we feel when those closest to us have wronged us!

I'm A Psycho Now (Ft. Hamza Zalach) - From Assisting Fate - Due 2025

5:50 AM is the sixth song from autolemy's second album/novel 'Assisting Fate' - due April 2025. The song takes place around time as the police, social workers and press prepare and get into position to raid the home of the King family.

This synthwave instrumental serves as a backdrop as all hell breaks loose when two of the main protagonists are arrested.

5:50AM - From Assisting Fate - Due 2025

And I Wonder is the fifth song from autolemy's second album/novel 'Assisting Fate' - due April 2025. The song centres around one of the lead protagonists, Laura. After reading a newspaper headline about the death of ‘Lee,’ once her brother; the responsibility for his demise weighs heavy on her conscience as she walks to school reflecting on the part she played – fearing for her soul. 

Regret: a feeling of sadness, repentance, or disappointment over an occurrence or something that one has done or failed to do. The character wonders whether they will end up in heaven or hell?

And I Wonder (Ft. Cass Begg) - From Assisting Fate - Due 2025

Sight in Time was written in 1985 - took 33 years to get it recorded.
It is a song about silencing guilt, the most abused emotion, keeping us all trapped under condemnation.

Stephen Austin Roberts has been my friend since 1962. He led me into playing Guitar at at age 14, taught & encouraged. It took us almost 40 years to re-connect. Here we are, together again.

Steve Turner is a most talented musician, with a long string of musical accomplishments. In 2018, Steve toured with Jeff Lynne (ELO).
He kept me focused & correcting errors, long after I was ready to give up.

Sight In Time

Instrumental edit of string arrangement by www.stringarranger.co.uk 
Recorded by 24-piece string section in Nashville

Darlene Zschech - Awsome Wonder

Demo edit of string arrangement by www.stringarranger.co.uk 
recorded in London by 12-piece section

Jocelyn Brown - True Praises

Demo edit of string arrangement by www.stringarranger.co.uk 
Recorded in London by string quartet

The Kingdom Choir - Praise Belongs To Our God

Demo edit of string arrangement by www.stringarranger.co.uk 
Recorded using VST strings (plug-ins)

Forgotten Wings  - Jan Stroud

Demo edit of string arrangement by www.stringarranger.co.uk
Recorded as a remote session, violin and cello with VST piano

Goodbye My Knight - Annabel Bates

Demo edit of string arrangement by www.stringarranger.co.uk
Recorded at Air Studios, London - string quartet

Grace Ashton - The One Who

Don't Drop the Armour
(by Chris Charlesworth)

This song has been an idea for many years. Adapted it for these times.
Inspired & begun near Felekisi, Amanzimtoti, South Africa (Top of Old Main Rd, opposite the trading store) I was in awe of Maskanda Guitar Players (Zulu Walking Music), walking & playing their Bellini Guitars, in the most awesome tunings, with a stick & rubber bands for a capo.

Maskanda (or Maskandi) is a kind of Zulu folk music that is evolving with South African society. Ethekwini Online describes it as "The music played by the man on the move, the modern minstrel, today’s troubadour. It is the music of the man walking the long miles to court a bride, or to meet with his Chief; a means of transport. It is the music of the man who sings of his real life experiences, his daily joys and sorrows, his observations of the world. It’s the music of the man who’s got the Zulu blues."

Don't Drop The Armour

Ancestors (Family Tree) by Chris Charlesworth © July 2020
                                                   isiZulu Lyrics by Musa Mashiane

♦ Chris Charlesworth - Vocal, Guitar, Low Harmony (Cholsey, UK)

♦ Musa Mashiane - isiZulu Vocals, Harmonies (Thembisa, SA)
(Idols SA Top 6 finalist 2014)

♦ Sibusiso Victor Masondo - Bass (ex-Durban, SA, now Joburg)
(Friends First, Ray Phiri, Miriam Makeba, Béla Fleck, Mambazo)

♦ Ben Aylon - Percussion (Tel Aviv, Israel)
(Blake Mills, Didier Awadi, Khaira Arby)

♦ Steve Turner - Strings & Arrangement (London, UK)
(Jeff Lynne’s ELO (Live), Clannad (Nádúr), Darlene Zschech)

- Mixed by Chris Charlesworth at Pow’r Studios (Cholsey, UK)
- Mastered by Barry Meintjes at Sleepy Hollow Studios
(Pietermaritzburg, SA)
- Photo by Andrew Alston (Bundaberg, Australia)

Thanks for all the help, advice & support from :-
Heather Charlesworth, without you love I could not do this.
Barry Meintjes, Dave Kisch, Gary Schreiner, Tony Scott Steve Turner, Damon Sawyer.

isiZulu Lrics by Musa Mashiane

Ukubaluleka kom'ndeni (importance of the family)
Ukuthandana kom'ndeni  (Family love)
Ukuzwana kom'ndeni (Family unity)
Ukubambana kom'ndeni (Family support)

(Last part on the song)
Uthando wumanqoba (Love conquers all)
Ukuzwana wumanqoba (Unity is power)

Ancestors (FamilyTree)

I'm a composer and musician with a classical background and a successful career in pop music
I write distinctive, innovative string arrangements with a contemporary edge, tailored to your requirements
My commissions have covered pop & soul, gospel, R&B, african and indian, for independent artists & record labels, documentary & film makers
I write mostly for string sections, but am also an acomplished keyboard player & programmer and can produce authentic results using samples for those on a budget
As a producer and musician I've toured with Kylie and ELO, remixed for Michael Jackson and Luther Vandross and performed with Jay-Z and Beyoncé
I look forward to writing a stunning arrangement for your track.

PLEASE NOTE: I am very grateful to the copyright holders who's permission I sought to upload these short demos for the purposes of showcasing my string arranging and promoting their beautiful songs

Grace Ashton - The One Who

String Arranger

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