Having done the usual piano lessons from an early age, and having grown up in a home with a musical father’s encouragement, I took up brass instruments in the form of euphonium and trombone once at secondary school. I probably would have taken this beyond Grade 5, but at the age of 16, the drums were that much ‘cooler’ than brass instruments! Having said that though playing in brass bands and youth orchestras gave me a good grounding and real appreciation for parts, harmonies and how they all work together.
I then switched to keyboards from piano, and taught myself guitar, and began experimenting with writing material. With this going on in the background, I began playing in a gigging soul band playing kit. Rhythm then became my main focus and its relationship with the bass. Being half West Indian (Trin-glish!), I began musically exploring this side of my heritage in the form of reggae, soca and soul music. I had always had a real ear and appreciation for Jazz of all types, and in late teens jazz funk was really where it was at for me - all of these influences are clearly evident in my writing style today – but you can judge that for yourself!
Although today my strongest performance instrument is playing kit, I have in the last few years introduced congas into my instrument pool, and more recently a steel pan the last time I came back from Trinidad – I have had great fun starting to introduce these into some recent tracks.
A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to write some songs for a gospel choir, and then musically directed and conducted their performance to audiences of a few hundred, at a couple of events in Cambridge – a very satisfying and encouraging experience.
Although I have always composed music in one way or another, it is only in the last few years that this has really come together in a meaningful way. Over this period, material has started to build up, and besides the many complete songs, I also have disc upon disc of grooves and basic ideas for numerous others that I am desperate to do something with.
Primarily, I am now looking for publishing deals, but am open to any way of generating income from my music. I like the idea of collaboration, and would welcome opportunities to work with lyricists, other composers or producers, and particularly singer/songwriters, in developing material for demos or publication – I’m really looking forward to finding out how these opportunities will turn out in the near future.
