About

We’re currently a studio based duo situated in leafy Great Malvern, England. From our subterranean garden flat we write and record music which is influenced not only by traditional English folk, but psychedelia, math rock, and experimental composers. Our 2010 self released record ‘Stories For Emily’ was well received by critics from such esteemed publications as R2 Rock n Reel & Shindig Magazine as well as Sideways Through Sound, Folkwords, Mick Mercer and a plethora of other e-zines and websites. With any luck we'll match or better this with a selection of new recordings now underway.

'SF Emily' and the 2009 solo effort 'Trapped at Sea, feature notible contributions from; Thomas Collison, John-Joe Murray, Holly Jeffery, George Clarke, Dom Huxley, Joel Garabedian, Craigus Barry, Andrew Keith-Lucas & Stephanie Trussler.

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Here's a bit about my musical background for those who are interested......

I was born in Exeter, Devon in 1980, but moved to the South East of England at a very young age where I grew up on a dairy farm.

Despite not coming from a very musical family, I was keen to learn guitar. So I started having lessons at about age 11, and managed to chalk up classical grades 1-5. I packed in the lessons at 15, but music and music technology remained my main academic focus through school, college and university.

Throughout my teens I played in various bands, starting with 6 piece pop/rock outfit Warped at age 13. We were the laughing stock of our school and played regularly in assemblies, summer fetes, church halls and other happening underground venues! The highlight of this group was getting a demo review in an edition of Guitarist Magazine. I seem to remember that they spent more time ridiculing of our names than talking about the music! RIGHT: This fetching promo shot was taken in early 1996 I think (yes we had a saxophone player!).

At 16 I moved onto indie/rock trio Toyskin where I sang lead vocals for the first time. Toyskin eventually grew to a five piece and amongst various recordings, released a split 7” single in 1998 called 'Prize Every Time'. This got a few spins on BBC Radio One during the autumn months from Joe Wiley and John Peel. We gigged around the South East and London a fair bit and even graced the stage of prestigious Black Horse Festival, but never really left any impact. In December 2008 Toyskin reformed for a one off reunion gig in Hastings.

From early 1998-August 1999 I worked at South Coast Recording Studio as an engineer. The money was non exisitant, but it was an enjoyable experience and I got work with all sorts of groups; Rock n Roll, Dub, Punk, Folk, Pub-Rock and once, an amazing Captain Beefheart tribute act! It was this, combined with my love of home recording that built up my knowledge of engineering and production. I still love working with other artists, trying to get the best out of them on 'tape'.

In 1999 I moved to Derby to study Music Technology at university. During this period I formed noisy 'post-college-rock' band A Series of Wheels. Although we were rather slack at practicing we did play a fair few gigs including a short tour of Holland in 2001. ASOW also recorded 2 full length albums.

While in Derby I also founded 'The Octane Foil Recording Company' who put out a handful of records including a 12" album by dutch pop gods John Wayne Shot Me and a compilation 7” featuring, amoungst others, the excellent Charlottefield.

Following university I took a couple of years out from making music until I moved to Great Malvern in 2005. Shortly after relocating I joined fledgling band Gamble Gamble on bass. We gigged hard for a couple of years over the midlands and self released 2 EPs, but by the autumn of 2008 it had run its course and the band split.

Following this long stream of bands I decided that it was time to start recording and performing under my own name. In September 2008 I began work on 'Trapped at Sea' in my small home studio and took tenetive steps onto the local acoustic circuit in February 2009.

Shortly after this my long term partner Natasha picked up the piano accordian to both accompany me live, and develop a key input in future recordings.