Composition

#FoxOfTheDay

I Wrote a song in tribute to #FoxOfTheDay, which is a hashtag used by many people on Twitter and championed by Wildlife presenter and conservationist, Chris Packham. It has been a brilliant, positive way of reminding everyone just how wonderful foxes can be, and cheering up my newsfeed no end!

As usual, the lyrics came first. After I had written the first couple of lines to give the song context, the mellow jazz style felt very natural. The rhymes are playful and a casual musical style complements it. The final twist in the last verse is that Chris Packham actually wrote “I could think of comfier spots, but then again I’m not a fox”. A fun natural rhyme such as this had to be used!

All Is Forgiven

Twitter is an enjoyable Social Media tool because I tend to fill it with joyous tweets. I find it balances out the news stories and political updates. Aside from the pictures of artwork and cute videos of animals, the most inspiring tweets I get are from writers such as Gordana Biernat. Their wisdom and positivity shine off the screen.

As I was thinking of what to create music for, I read Gordana’s latest tweet about grief and felt compelled to adapt it to music. The quote explains how we can learn to let go of unexpressed emotions once it is too late to tell someone how much we love them. It’s both both a sad topic and a beautiful one.

For the music, I let the words guide me, the chords and melody finding the rhythm of the verse. It was an enjoyable, very visual experience, as Gordana’s words are so positive and spiritual. Finally, I added instruments, playing with percussion, piano and bass. This version has a latin grove that picks up in the middle section, but it could just as easily be left with just a piano. As for harmonies, it didn’t feel right to add any. I just let the words speak for themselves.

Song for Julia

I created this song as a gift for a client’s wife. He wanted it in time for her birthday, but the lyrics and the song choice (John Legend’s All of Me) meant that it turned into a very romantic piece. Serendipitously, her birthday is the same week as Valentine’s Day!

I wasn’t given a great deal of information on Julia at first as my client was only briefly available and wrote in direct messaging on social media. This meant that every bit of information was so valuable. I knew where they where they met, that Julia was a big fan of The Notebook movie, and that exciting events were happening in her daughter’s life. So that’s what I chose to customize. Oh, and that she sometimes affectionately says “love you to the moon and back”, so I had to use that!

All of Me is a wonderfully accessible song. Even though John Legend wrote the original with his wife in mind, the lyrics speak the language of love and transcend its original context to apply to anyone who feels love for their partner.

The Repair Shop

This is a tribute to the BBC’s inspirational program, The Repair Shop and its many talented craft experts that mend precious personal artefacts for people.

During the  COVID lockdowns, we happily consumed many, many episodes of The Repair Shop. We delighted in the stories of the objects owners, and how the crafts people always found a way to bring their objects back to their former glory.


Because so many people provide their skill and talents to the show, I created a series of mini-songs dedicated to each of the regular repair shop specialists. Coming up with the style and lyrics for each was a fun challenge.

My Partner, who loves the show just as much as I do, wrote a blog article about life lessons that we can take from the show.

 

Lionesses Bring It Home

I created this song to celebrate England Women Football Team’s triumph in the Euro 2022 tournament. It is the first time England has the won a major footballing tournament since 1966 and the first ever time for the women’s game. This is my tribute to the Lionesses’ incredible achievement.

I created the music and lyrics.
I do not own the copyright to the photos used in the video.

Lyrics
Verse 1:
While we were frying in July
In prowls the Lionesses
Fighting with the best and brightest
European sides

The stage is set, the games begin
Say, can you hear the people sing?!
The stadium’s roaring
With a Continental din.

Then why, can this Lioness pride fly?
What takes their game above ‘just try’?
Who lifts their eyes towards the sky?

Chorus:

In Wiegman we trust
In Wiegman we’re treated
Cause under Wiegman we’re undefeated Earps is/Mary’s a must
And Mead’s golden-booted
England, it’s coming home.

Verse 2:
In Game 1, Austria, they had a go
But the England team said, no!
Mead scored the only goal
And Stanway ran the show

In Game 2, Norway couldn’t close the door
The England forwards wanted more
Beth Mead bagged a hattrick
Eight nil the final score

In Game 3, Northern Ireland, tried to survive
But Russo took her chances
Another win as England scored five

Chorus

Verse 3:
In the Quarters, Spanish passing was sublime
One goal down, but Bright denied them any more
And Stanway’s screamer won the tie

In the Semis, Sweden kept it at stalemate
Until Mead turned on a plate
Kirby was top class
And Russo’s flick so great

Got Bronze, and now they’re for the gold
Taking on the best of foes
Will they play or will they fold?!

Chorus

Verse 4:
In the Final, Germany were without Popp But that didn’t stop their team
From slowing England in their tracks.

Walsh was the architect supreme
When Toone’s super-scoop succeeded
Kelly scored the winner
Completing the dream!

And now, that the tournament is won
What next for Wiegman’s girls?
Well, hold on,
Cause they’re taking on the world!

Chorus

Cardigan Bay Holiday in Song

This track is a musical and lyrical take on my trip to the Cardigan Bay area, Wales in April 2022. It was a lovely change of pace for us and a chance to explore nature and the incredible scenery this area has in abundance. Towns such as Lampeter, Aberaeron and Cardigan were also great escapes and combined culture, with fantastic cakes and crafts.

The photos in the video are all taken by me, except for the ones of McCowan’s Café, Vlad-Art and Crwst Café, which generously gave me their permission to use in this video.

We’d thoroughly recommend the following places that we visited during our stay in Mid-West Wales:

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