Renegadeviolin

Sheffield, United Kingdom

Billboard

I am a classically trained violinist who has drifted into the rock world. Taught to play violin under the tight reigns of Linda Langford - former Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra player and now conductor of Liverpool Youth Orchestra - I hail from a somewhat regimental and stringent approach to learning music, but now having found myself in the realms of jamming and jazz/psycadelic-style improv, I find this has served me very well in terms of technical ability on violin and confidence in performance.
In between the glorious and prestigious days of my childhood; as leader of Liverpool Youth Orchestra and member of Merseyside youth Orchestra, and the present; as a budding, experimental, rock violinist playing in Sheffield's underground circuits, there is a dark period during which I studied French at Sheffield University. A period in which I spent my time convincing myself that I was happy, while crying myself to sleep every other night. If it weren't for finding myself at the house of Marcus Cave of Goblin Productions through a friend of a friend in early May this year - where we first recorded an violin based jazz/blues record with Tim Crosby on guitar, Marcus on bass and Llewelyn Moss on keys - I would still be there.
But when given a choice, it is our duty to make the right one, if we are ever to do justice to freedom. With a bit of encouragement, I continued to make music throughout the Summer as part of projects which can be loosely put under the Goblin Productions umbrella.
Consequentially I met a whole range of different artists and musicians, from which yet more semi-serious projects sprouted.
On this website I am offering but a snippet of the music that has been made so far in these projects.
Forgiven is a song written by Steve Connolly as part of the collaboration called 'Sunchaser'. Marcus Cave is on bass, I on violin, Llewelyn Moss on keys and Steve on vocals and percussion. With the moody violin melodies and vocals, subtle piano and andante bass, this music has been described as "dark blues". I however, like to think that Sunchaser is also partial to a definite uplifting and upbeat feel. Some may beg to differ. Check it out for yourself at www.virb.com/sunchaser/ www.myspace.com/sunchasersheffield
I also play quite frequnetly with fellow improvisational violinist Rob Tarana. Although his musical style varies greatly from mine, I would say he has became an idol to me simply through his boldness of performance and presence. Like him or loathe him, his music will not go forgotten. www.virb.com/tarana
Sweat Bees is my most recent project in which I generally play violin, but am known to dabble with vocals, cello, ocarinas and anything else that finds its way into my grasp. Accompanying me is another violinist, a voaclist, a percussionist, a drummer, bassist and sound engineer Marcus, a keyboard player who can also play viola, and a mandolin player who can also play the violin. We have come miles since recording the Exerter Book, but have decided to put on hold the complete, polished album, 'News for the Hive', until after our debut gig on the 16th December, at the Redhouse. t's free improv. It changes every week. It's on the cusp of a wave.
Although I am very committed to the projects mentioned above, I am also currently building up a reputation as a session violinist. If you do hear of people in need, then I would appreciate it if you could pass the word on.
Thanks for taking the time to listen.