About Jamie
Born in 1984, Jamie grew up in Surrey. He has been heavily involved in music from an early age, first playing a piano at age 3 and with lessons from age 8. Then, approximately aged 15, he made his first forays into composition. His interest in music subsequently deepened, and he completed his BA (Hons) Music at the University of Leeds with an excellent 2:1, coming 6th out of nearly 100 in the year group. He took a year out before resuming his studies, in the form of an MA Composition for Film and TV at Kingston University.
Jamie's primary instrument is the piano. His secure musicianship shows as he has been playing for over 30 years. On top of that, he is an adaptable, versatile composer willing to experiment, be creative with his usage of time and space, and to think laterally in terms of providing coherent music to client requirements.
Jamie has been privileged to have had opportunities to compose for the Presteigne Festival, the Tactus Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Leeds University Liturgical Choir, Leeds University Union Musical Theatre Orchestra, and Kingston University Gamelan ensemble. Whilst at Kingston University, he created and directed a function band, Modulus.
Career highlights include:
2003: Jamie performed weekly 3 hour solo piano sets to elderly care home residents as part of the voluntary Bridge the Gap project at Leeds University.
2005: Jamie composed the music for Goats and Tigers, a video game and app developed with two of his housemates.
2008: Jamie’s avant-garde multiphonic solo saxophone piece Propagation I was shortlisted and selected by the Taukay Music Publishing House and Delta Produzioni Associazione Culturale – no mean achievement considering just 60 selections were made from over 700 worldwide entries. This was choreographed and performed by Arearea at the San Giorgio Theatre in Udine.
2010: Jamie transcribed two cabaret pieces for BBC Radio 4
2012: Goats and Tigers is launched successfully on iTunes and Android, with both a free and premium version available.
2015: Jamie accompanied a high school string orchestra at Twickenham Academy in their Christmas spectacular, and performed to large crowds in Twickenham during the Six Nations rugby.
2016: Jamie performed at the Able-Unique Variety Show held at Epsom Playhouse in May, with the Mayor and Mayoress of Epsom and Ewell in attendance. A spectacular 2016 was capped with the wedding gig of a lifetime at the penthouse suite of The Dorchester, right next to Hyde Park’s magical Winter Wonderland, on December 19th.
2017: Another slew of gigs, culminating in a homecoming Kill The Witness show at the now closed Cricketers.
2018: Two pieces, Jill and Lament, were used in the short feature film Screwdriver, following a collaboration with two young first-time directors. The film went on to be shortlisted at 3 film festivals. Kill the Witness shot a music video for the single Poison at the Hippodrome in Kingston upon Thames. (Watch it here) We were the last band to do so before the venue permanently closed for demolition/redevelopment.
2019: The physical release of Chaise Longue followed up with local performances, along with several more performances at the annual Kingston Christmas Market.
2020: Chaise Longue album launch night on Feb 9th at The Grey Horse/Ram Jam Club, in Kingston.
Besides the above highlights, he regularly appears at open mic nights, functions and weddings across London and Surrey, including venues in Kingston, Richmond and Surbiton.