I have worked in the music industry since 1996. In 1998
I joined Belle and Sebastian full time,
having played as session musician on the first two
albums. Belle and Sebastian have sold over one million
records in the US alone, and toured the world several
times over, including sold out shows at London's Albert
Hall and Los Angeles' Hollywood Bowl. The band have
filled headline slots at Japan's Fuji Rock, Spain's Summercase and the UK's Latitude festivals. Our most recent
album, Write About Love, peaked in the UK charts at #8,
and on the US Billboard at #15.
To date, Belle and Sebastian have produced 8 studio albums,
13 EPs, a live album and DVD, and worked with top record
producers, including Trevor Horn and Tony Hoffer. We famously beat Steps
to Best British Newcomers at the 1999 BRIT Awards and have been nominated
for the Mercury Music Prize and an Ivor Novello Award. In the 2005 List
magazine poll Belle and Sebastian were voted "Best Scottish Band of All Time".
As the years went on, I became more interested in arranging for the band, and for
other projects. I have also been in demand as session musician with many bands,
as a solo trumpet player, and as part of a brass
section.
In 2006, I conceived, curated and wrote a track for the
successful Colours are Brighter compilation
album for children, which was released on Rough Trade
Records. All proceeds went to Save the Children.
In 2011, my album of songs for under-fives, Down At The Zoo, went to number one
in the UK iTunes Children's Music charts on its first
week of release.
