The SoundSpring Podcast: Guided Musical Journeys With Creative Musicians of Today

Episode 10  features Ray Hearne, a unique and brilliant musician who spans multiple genres.

He is currently best known for his work as drummer and writer in British progressive-metal band Haken. Haken have taken the prog world by storm over the last decade and won the hearts of millions of fans, including myself! 


Ray's playing has gained a huge reputation, gaining places in the top 20 prog drummers of the millennium in Rhythm magazine and a place within the top 10 drummers in the world on Music Radar. Praise has not only come from the fans, but also from giants of the genre such as Mike Portnoy and Jordan Rudess. 


Haken have headlined tours in Europe, Australia and the USA and toured some of the biggest prog names on the planet such as Between the Buried and Me, Leprous, the Neal Morse Band, and Devin Townsend.

You may think that this globe-trotting, poll-winning CV is extensive enough for a young musician, but Ray has a trick up his sleeve...whilst Ray and I studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama together, his principal study was in fact, the tuba! 


Even though he was releasing albums and touring with Haken, Ray graduated with a first-class degree and started performing as principal tuba with some of the top orchestras in the world, such as the London Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales and the London Symphony Orchestra. 


To round things off and prove his versatility, Ray's tuba playing also features on one of my favourite recent jazz albums, Miguel Gorodi's 'Apophenia.' This album has some of the most complex and demanding writing I've ever heard and it's well worth listening to!

In March, I'll be chatting to Pete Letanka and I just had to mention the amazing work he has been doing with the Anne Frank Trust. On the 25th January a short film called 'I Imagine That' was released on Holocaust Rememberance Day. Alongside Katherine Wilde, Amina Jama, the English National Opera and young pupils from two schools, the film gives voice to young people and to their hopes for a future society free from prejudice and discrimination. I will put the link to the video in the shownotes. It's powerful and beautiful so please give it your time if you have some to spare.

We also have a quick cameo from former SoundSpring guests Minihi...tune in to find out what they might be up to!

New music from Minihi: https://unperceivedrecords.bandcamp.com/track/lost-takeno

Tommy x


www.facebook.com/rayhearnemusic

hakenmusic.com

www.soundspring.co.uk

www.tommy-andrews.co.uk

Artwork by Katie Stevenson: katiestevensoncreative.myportfolio.com 

This episode features a regular musical companion and good friend, Tom Green.


Winner of the 2013 Dankworth Prize for Jazz Composition and 2017 Eddie Harvey Arranger's Award, Tom is a trombonist, composer and arranger described as"a new rising star in the British jazz scene" by Jazz FM. I am incredibly lucky to play Tom's stunning music, surrounded by some of my favourite musicians in his much-celebrated septet.

Tom's 2nd album with this group, titled "Tipping Point" was relased in April 2020 on Tom's own record label, called Spark! We'll be exploring a track called 'Equillibrium' from Tom's first album 'Skyline.' This was recorded before I joined the band and features Tom on trombone, James Davison on Trumpet and Flugelhorn, Matthew Herd on alto saxophone, sam miles on tenor saxophone, sam james on piano, former SoundSpring guest misha mullov-abbado on bass and scott chapman on drums.

Tom and I also share a strong passion for the outdoors and the environment and we've shared hiking, mountaineering and wild camping adventures to some amazing locations. Actually, not long after this was recorded, Tom met up with me whilst I was mid-way through a multi-day hike and we had an awesome night star-gazing and sleeping out in our hammocks in the hills of the North Downs.

www.tomgreen.org.uk

www.sparklabel.com

www.soundspring.co.uk

www.tommy-andrews.co.uk

Tommy x

This week's episode features writer, speaker and coach Dr. Mandy Lehto. 

We'll be discussing how we can make 2021 our most creative and productive year to date. Mandy spends much of her time empowering people with the tools and courage to live their lives with more purpose and authenticity, so if you're dreaming big for next year, this is the episode for you! 

Mandy's work has featured in The Sunday Times, Psychology Today, the Huffington Post, eFinancial News, Top Santé and CNBC. She also writes columns for Psychologies magazine and hosts her own podcast, The Moxiecast. 

As a speaker, she gets invited to some of the world's biggest corporations and institutions, such as IBM, Lloyd’s of London, Rothschild, Bulgari, Nestle, Citi and the London School of Economics. As if that wasn't enough, she is also in the process of completing a memoir! 

I challenge you to name me a more inspiring, kind and genuine soul, so it's with my great pleasure that we can start 2021 in the wholesome presence of Dr. Mandy Lehto.

www.mandylehto.com

www.soundspring.co.uk

www.tommy-andrews.co.uk

Tommy x

Episode 7 features the immense talent and dulcet tones of Daisy Chute.

While her musical roots were born out of her Scottish/American heritage, Daisy has had forays and extensive training in both the jazz and classical genres. Her first album was a critically-acclaimed jazz record released at just age 15.

Shortly after, she was enlisted to be a lead singer in Decca’s platinum-selling, brit-nominated classical group All Angels with whom she released 3 albums.

Nowadays, Daisy has returned to her folk/americana roots and is spending most of her time songwriting, selling out venues and festivals and recording for her own projects. Daisy has also worked on countless soundtracks for films, TV shows and games as well as for bands like Radiohead andTwo Door Cinema Club.

She is also the co-founder ofHEARD Collective - an artist collective who promote and support women in music, and the co-writer ofCOVEN - a gig theatre show about witches.

www.daisychute.com

www.soundspring.co.uk

www.tommy-andrews.co.uk

This week's episode features writer, speaker and coach Dr. Mandy Lehto. 

We'll be discussing how we can make 2021 our most creative and productive year to date. Mandy spends much of her time empowering people with the tools and courage to live their lives with more purpose and authenticity, so if you're dreaming big for next year, this is the episode for you! 

Mandy's work has featured in The Sunday Times, Psychology Today, the Huffington Post, eFinancial News, Top Santé and CNBC. She also writes columns for Psychologies magazine and hosts her own podcast, The Moxiecast. 

As a speaker, she gets invited to some of the world's biggest corporations and institutions, such as IBM, Lloyd’s of London, Rothschild, Bulgari, Nestle, Citi and the London School of Economics. As if that wasn't enough, she is also in the process of completing a memoir! 

I challenge you to name me a more inspiring, kind and genuine soul, so it's with my great pleasure that we can start 2021 in the wholesome presence of Dr. Mandy Lehto.

www.mandylehto.com

www.soundspring.co.uk

www.tommy-andrews.co.uk

Tommy x

Merry Christmas Listeners!!!

This week we have a Christmas Special featuring Andrew Cottee and his original score to accompany 'The Night Before Christmas.'

As one of the leading composer/arrangers of his generation, Andrew has worked for Sir Paul McCartney, Seth MacFarlane, Disney, 20th Century Fox and Quincy Jones.

His work can also be heard on major film and television releases such as 'Sing', 'Beyond The Sea' and 'The Orville' the latter recieving best original score for television from the International Film Music Critics Award (IFMCA).

Recently, he and his business partner Tom Croxon have established 'Dream Town Music,' providing music and musiciansfor film, television, theatre, recording artists, gaming, advertising, live concerts and events.

I've had the privilege of playing for Andrew and Tom's Christmas show over the last couple of years with the RTE Symphony Orchestra in Dublin and Wexford, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra in Glasgow, Ayr and Aberdeen and the Dream Town Orchestra's London debut at the Barbican.

Andrew Cottee

www.soundspring.co.uk

www.tommy-andrews.co.uk

Tommy x

Episode 4 features the fantastic work of  James B. Wilson.

James is an award-winning composer of contemporary classical music based in Bedfordshire, England. He studied, with a scholarship, at Royal Academy of Music under Gary Carpenter and David Sawer, and also took frequent lessons with Sir Peter Maxwell Davies.

The focus of this episode is on his piece 'The Green Fuse,' a work inspired by Dylan Thomas' poem ‘The force that through the green fuse drives the flower’ (1934.)

I first heard this piece whilst listening to the Chineke! Orchestra's album 'Spark Catchers,' and the vivid nature of James' writing immediately drew me in.

We also spend some time discussing James' experiences as a BAME (black and minority ethnic) composer, and I'm so grateful for his generous and powerful thoughts on the issues he and others still face in the arts.

We will also hear a special treat from musician, vocalist and speaker Michael L. Roberts, but you'll have to listen to find out what that is...!

'Spark Catchers' is available on NMC Recordings.

You can also stream it as part of the SoundSpring Podcast Playlist HERE: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6cl32u1lbyMzF26gpQC5V4?si=_2cukQaKQv-o19tbxnRINg

www.jamesbwilson.co.uk

www.michaellroberts360.com

www.soundspring.co.uk

www.tommy-andrews.co.uk

Tommy x

Today's episode, recorded on the 4th August 2020, features guitar virtuoso and composer Jake Willson.

Having studied jazz at Berklee and completing a PhD in classical composition, Jake brings serious artistry to his writing and playing. His performance resumé includes top solo artists as well as West End shows such as Hamilton and The Book of Mormon.

With his experience in education through JTC.com, Jake really knows how to articulate his processes and share his approach to writing.

Jake takes us through 'FanFiction,' the opening track from his debut album 'A Piece of the Action.'

Along the way we discuss his favourite compositional techniques, creating 3-layer textures, maintaining cohesion throughout wildly shifting styles and making tough decisions for the 'artistic whole.'

You can listen to the whole album here:
https://jakewillson.bandcamp.com/album/a-piece-of-the-action

Access Jake's amazing library of masterclasses here:

https://jtcguitar.com/store/artist/jake-willson

For more information on this and other episodes, visit:
https://www.soundspring.co.uk/the-soundspring-podcast

www.jakewillson.co.uk

www.soundspring.co.uk

www.tommy-andrews.co.uk 

This episode features musical power-couple Louise Anna Duggan and Zands Duggan, with their project 'Minihi.'

They joined me from Louise's home island of Jersey to chat about their piece 'Tokaido.'

As we listen to their musical portrayal of crossing Japan by bullet train, we also discuss the blending of classical and electronic soundscapes, the lure of percussion to the minimalist composer and clever techniques to create their signature textures.

You can listen to the whole track here: https://open.spotify.com/track/4JdKkncTLJUddgTUxUdyM8

For more information on this and other episodes, visit:
 https://www.soundspring.co.uk/the-soundspring-podcast

www.minihimusic.com

www.soundspring.co.uk

www.tommy-andrews.co.uk

Rising star Misha Mullov-Abbado takes us on a guided tour through 'Two Bridges' from his 'cello concerto 'Evolving Spring.'

As we listen to sections of the piece, we discuss the life events that fed into the composition, how to create a balance between improvised and notated music and our shared love for John Williams.

You can listen to the whole piece, performed live at London's Barbican here: https://soundcloud.com/misha-mullov-abbado/sets/evolving-spring-for-cello-and-orchestra

For more information on this and other episodes, visit https://www.soundspring.co.uk/the-soundspring-podcast

www.mishamullovabbado.com

www.soundspring.co.uk

www.tommy-andrews.co.uk