Michael J McEvoy

'Forget me Not' Soundtrack album released

2012-02-28T11:30:00.000Z

Just a quick shout out to say the Soundtrack album for a film I scored last year is now available on iTunes.
CLICK HERE and go to iTunes where you can hear tracks now.

Christmas, New Year and beyond

2012-01-31T09:51:00.000Z

Well we're now truly into the new year and the hope for springtime is creeping up...by beginning of February winter always seems to feel longer than it should be.
It's been a while since my last post - so here's a very quick catch up on what's been going on;
Had some great gigs with 70s funk band 'Push'.
The album was released in November and I've co-written the title track 'Band on a Mission' and 'Long Gone' which has the wonderfully soulful vocals of Hamish Stuart of AWB fame.
Here's a video put together by one of our fans...

We also did a live BBC Radio 6 broadcast on the Craig Charles Funk and Soul show which you can find it here - just search for PUSH.
Push is great fun! All the guys are old friends and bass player Ernie McKone is a long time collaborator who I continue to do a lot of writing and producing with - he's an incredibly talented musician.

Besides that I'm scoring CBBC series Dani's House series 5. That will take me through to mid February, then it's straignt into an exciting National Geographic series about the Oceans with director Gary Jognstone. More on that later!

Lots going on: 'Dani's House', 'Serve Cold' trailer and 'PUSH' album

2011-09-10T08:58:00.000+01:00

Well September's come 'round again and it feels like the beginning of another year...
'Dani's House' series 4 (BBC/Zodiak) is completed and about to begin broadcasting and (I think) I'm about to start scoring series 5 at the end of the month...

One of the cool things I've done on the side recently is the music and sound FX for a trailer. It's for a feature film project in the pipeline called 'SERVE COLD' written by director Luke Bradford - a very talented guy who I'm excited about working with!

Here's a link to the Trailer on YouTube:
The other thing on the boil is a new album with my North London compadres, PUSH. I've co-written four songs on the album, including the lyric/melody to the album's title track 'Band On A Mission'. Check out this video - kindly put together by a fan of the band. This track features the amazingly talented vocalist/percussionist (and X-factor finalist!) DANIEL PEARCE.

We'll be doing a bunch of gigs in November, including a couple of Craig Charles Funk and Soul Club nights - so check out the PUSH website for dates. If you like old skool funk (ala Tower of Power and James Brown) I promise you (or your money back!) you won't be disappointed!

Busy, busy, busy...

2011-08-21T23:40:00.000+01:00

Man! It's been an intense period! All good though - but feel bad I've not been able to update my blog. It's crazy these days trying to keep all the various broadcast devices up to the minute. Twitter, Facebook, my website... oh yeah, and I actually have to do some work from time to time.
Well this is going to be a splurge-: 'Dani's House' series 4 for Zodiak Media/BBC. I've working on that since end of March. 13 episodes almost done. Then starting series 5 end of September.

I went to the Ivor Novello awards with my gorgeous wife Tracey. It was a lovely occasion (I was on the judging panel for computer games score). I had a nice surprise when I discovered my main man Steve Winwood was getting a lifetime achievement award for his wonderful song catologue. It was great to connect with him briefly. Ben Drew (Plan B) deservedly won lots of awards and seems to have a really good head on his shoulders. Very talented and insightful young man. I hope he can keep his feet on the ground as huge success can be a dangerous energy.

Also, been working with PUSH (my old buddies from North London), the 70s style funk band I've worked with as a writer/arranger/keyboard player off and on for 15 years. We opened for George Clinton at Kentish Town Forum in June. Great crowd - great vibe. Check it out:

Finally, a big moment for Mary Leay.
SEG released her first EP called 'Making My Move'. It's available on iTunes.

Mixed by Nick Taylor at Air-Edel, recorded and co-produced by James Towler at Wincraft studios, and Produced and arranged by yours truely. I'm very proud of this!

Jamie's Dream School - series starts 2nd March 2011

2011-02-27T09:49:00.004Z

It's been a busy start to the year - and I'm sorry to say I've been a bit lazy with my blogging duties, so here's a quick check in to briefly mention some of stuff that's been going on.

Mary Leay has a hot new band of incredibly talented young guys. She's gigging around London now. Click HERE for her website to find dates, links to YouTube clips and her FaceBook group. Next date is this Weds 2nd at The Elgin, Ladbroke Grove - well worth a visit.

Also, I did string orchestrations for composer Andy Gray for a new CinemaNX film coming out later this year, TT3D: Closer to the Edge, which follows the Isle of Man's treacherous motorcycle race. Hair-raising stuff!

I've also been working with my old friend, director Gary Johnstone and editor Rick Aplin, on preliminary cuts of an amazing National Geographic series called Oceanus, which won't be finished until the end of this year - so watch this space.

Finally, I had the pleasure of assisting Jazzie B on a new Jamie Oliver series called Jamie's Dream School which starts airing on C4 from 2nd March. Let's hope Jamie can do for education what he did for food!

Summer In Transylvania begins broadcasting on Nick TV

2010-10-30T10:06:00.003+01:00

On Halloween 2010 Summer in Transylvania begins broadcasting on Nickelodeon TV. Episode 1 was shown everyday at 5:30pm during half-term break the week before.

The 20 part series was a really fun project and I had a great time working closely with producer Candida Julian-Jones, who incidentally co-wrote the theme song with me.
The Theme Song was mixed by Nick Taylor at Air-Edel studios, with Crispin 'the Pump' Taylor on drums and yours truly on guitars, bass, backing vocals and keyboards.
The music is made up of theme related stings, underscore, and background tracks that play during the many parties, clubs, live band performances and in the famous 'Stakeout' cafe.
I involved two great vocalists on some of the background songs - Duncan Byiers and Mary Leay. Mary also co-wrote a few of the songs with me.
Sophie Stuckey (who plays the part of Summer) did a fantastic job recording the lead vocal on the Theme Song, 'Summer ion Transylvania', and was a joy to work with in the studio. She's got a lovely voice and I think you'll be hearing much more from her in the future!

615 Music Library - 60s British Rock

2010-09-16T23:35:00.002+01:00

Check out this tasty little promo, put together by the guys at 615 Music in Nashville, TN.

It features cohorts Hugo Degenhardt (drums) and Nick Taylor (engineer) who co-wrote and helped put the tunes together.

Terra Cognita - New album available

2010-07-11T13:50:00.013+01:00

In my downtime I've been working on a side project - Terra Cognita.
The music grew out of my love of nature and is a celebration of its and beauty.
The download includes amazing photos by Royal Geographical Society photographer Carole Rawlinson and my brother Mark.
There are some great musicians performing on the tracks including Brazilian percussionist Airto Moreira.
Download Terra Cognita here:

Forget Me Not at LIFF 2010

2010-04-26T15:54:00.000+01:00

'Forget Me Not' won 'Best Film' award at LIFF 2010!

Here's a review in Screen Daily by Mark Adams, chief film critic: Forget Me Not - SCREENDAILY

Recording at Abbey Road Studio 2 with Hugo Degenhardt

2010-04-06T00:20:00.002+01:00

I spent Good Friday laying down backing tracks for a project I'm producing for 615 Music, Nashville. Working with a fantastic drummer named Hugo Degenhardt and an ace engineer Nick Taylor, we had the wonderful privilege of recording in Studio 2 where The Beatles did most of their recording. Using vintage mics (Blumlein, Coles, C12, U47s) Nick got an awesome sound!
Here's a little film of Hugo and I putting one of the backing tracks down:

Mary Leay's website goes live!

2010-03-14T00:39:00.001Z

We're getting closer by the day.... Mary's album is nearing completion and her website is now online.

There's also a very cool little film made by John Mills (Director on 'Live From Abbey Road' seies / C4) about Mary, made at Wincraft Studio where we've recorded all the material. The features the core team of James Towler (Engineer/Co-Producer), Miles Bould (Drums) and yours truly. We're working on tune that features Jane Fenton, a wondeful Cellist I've known for many years.
Check it out!
Mary Leay recording at Wincraft

'The Definitive Biography' of Ian Dury (by Will Birch)

2010-02-03T23:12:00.008Z

Just finished chapter 3 of this book - fascinating and engrossing...

Will Birch, the author, did an incredible amount of detailed research - he even sought me out to get my perspective regarding the 2 year period Ian and I worked together on the album '4,000 Weeks Holiday'.

The book launch party was at the Groucho club on the 27th Jan - and it was a entertaining trip down a rather misty memory lane. I met up with some people I hadn't seen for a very long.... so long actually, I'm not going to say! Mari Wilson, Jenny Cotton, Ed Speight, Chaz Jankel, Terry Davies, Andrew King, Tracey MacLeod...Baxter turned up very late too.
It was a lovely reunion...all of us graduates of the 'Dury Experience'. Fond memories and stories were shared. A good night!
Here's a picture of me and Will Birch at the party (photo by Terry Lott)

At the Dub for 'Just Ines', at The Korda Theatre, Shepperton

2010-01-12T15:04:00.008Z

Right now I'm sitting in a very cosy couch in the Korda Theatre, Shepperton Studios...nice! Smart move these cosy couches...
It's been an intense, but satisfyingly creative 3 weeks since I first watched the fine cut of 'Just Ines', Marcel Grant's 3rd feature film which stars French actress Caroline Ducey (Romance).

The editor, Kant Pan (The Crying Game), who I met while working on a film we did during summer 2009 called 'Forget Me Not', phoned me up a week before Christmas and invited me in to meet Marcel.
After watching the film, I did a few demos that Marcel liked, and he asked me to score the movie.
(In photo, left to right: Kant, Mike and Marcel at Korda)

I mixed the music in 5.1 with James Towler at Steve Winwood's Studio in the Cotswolds, Wincraft - and it's sounding great here in the Korda!
(Mike and James outside the doorway into Wincraft Studio - the snow was beautiful!)

At Miloco Studio (The Pool) recording strings on my score for 'Just Ines' (Director Marcel Grant)

2010-01-01T23:35:00.014Z

I got a great Xmas present from my lovely Tracey - a FlipHD pocket camera!
Here's a short clip of me working with a great friend and wonderful cellist, Jane Fenton, with James Towler engineering and our assistant, Joe.

Apple Store Talk on 'Me and Orson Welles'

2009-12-18T11:18:00.002Z

On Tuesday I did a talk at the Apple Store, Regents Street, about the process that took place while working on 'Me and Orson Welles'. They have a great series of talks with film makers and creatives - all free, on a first come, first serve basis. Go Apple Mac!!!

I had a lot of fun and it was well attended. Robin Lingwood organised it on the recommendation of one of my star pupils from Royal College of Music, Anne Chmelewsky, who incidentally has a credit on the film for her work helping me prepare parts and scores (thanks Anne!). Anne was there with another talented composer I taught, Maria Vatenia. It was nice to see some familiar faces and have some interesting, probing questions.

Darren Millard was great help setting me up, copying my Keynote document and plugging me into the 'system' there - very together and well organised (am I surprised? Absolutely not! This is Apple we're talking about. I'd never use any other computer!). So thanks goes out to Darren.
Also, my Dad, Joseph P McEvoy, was there - as was my wife Tracey. My Dad has his book coming out on Constable Robinson on January 20th 2010 - 'A Brief History of the Universe' (from Ancient Babylon to the Big Bang), and I got an advance copy after the talk...a little light Christmas reading-:)

Thanks also to all the other people who came along - Segun, Egberto, and a special big thanks goes out to Olivia Dixon and Steve Molesworth from the 'Screen Music Network' who helped promote the event for me...nice one guys!

Me and Orson Welles Soundtrack CD released

2009-11-30T22:09:00.003Z

The CD was released today...a nice little write up on ScreenSounds Blog!

just to prove a point... TOP circa 2008

2009-11-22T14:32:00.000Z

Tower of Power! ol' skool pros of the soul-funk gruv

2009-11-22T14:23:00.000Z

Man! What a kickass band! The horns were so sweet, tight, laid back in the pocket. The vibe was retro - that old fashion revue type approach that is just pure entertainment...but the music packs virtuoistic punch of the prime cut order! They may be in their 50s and 60s (years old) but thev 41 years they've been strutting their damn funky stuff has surely paid off.
And the crowd was a nice balanced mix. Lots of the young bloods as well as 40 somethings like yours truly.
Just goes to show 'you can't keep a good (real, live) groove down'. It's always going to rise up and shake the butt of the people!!! Go TOP!
Here's some vintage TOP....

friends of the earth international — Friends of the Earth International

2009-11-17T12:01:00.001Z

friends of the earth international — Friends of the Earth International
Sign the petition!

What a week! Me and Orson Welles UK Premiere!

2009-11-16T00:04:00.000Z

Well, tonight I was rehearsing with my bro Mark and and another great musician Roger Goslyn (from Jools Holland Band) in Westminster Abbey! I kid you not!! We're providing music for a theatrical performance in the Abbey this coming Tuesday, the 17th November, called 'Elizabeth Redux'. It's pretty amazing hanging out in Westminster Abbey with my guitar slung across my shoulder.
On my way home (by tube) I changed at Camden Town and saw my first 'Me and Orson Welles' promotional poster. (see photo, with me lookin a bit tire...it was 11:20 pm on Sunday night...).

It's only a few days until the London premiere - my home girls, Tracey and Em, are getting excited - as is your truely!
So, a week to remember on the cards - a performance in Westminster Abbey and the UK premiere of Me and Orson Welles. I'm blessed... and I'm grateful....X

My 'YouTube' Channel!

2009-11-05T12:55:00.002Z

I've been having fun looking back on bits and pieces of my work - all stuff I found on YouTube - and decided I might as well start my very own 'Channel' with all the different things I've done over the years that have been posted. Hope you enjoy it!

a week of things coming together...with time and c.a.r.e.

2009-10-09T21:42:00.006+01:00

this week it felt like a lot of things i've been working on came together... series 3 'live from abbey road' starts tomorrow - with the new title music i wrote and produced! mixed by nick taylor and drums by hugo degenhardt. great guys-:) extremely creative and i love working with them.

but the really cool thing is that i've signed a deal with tom glagow's jazz label, C.A.R.E. he's a lover of jazz/world/new music. i'm grateful that people like him are still out there... an experienced music business executive who has an opinion that he believes in enought to 'go for it' and get behind a project he loves!
The album will be out in spring 2010 -it's called 'terra cognita'. the music has been a labour of love, something i've been working on in my spare time over the past 3 years - all compositions have been inspired by the nature, the climate change issues we face in our environment, and the healing/spiritual power of earth....
you can hear some tracks on myspace.
it's all good!

my buddy Brent Leung here for RAINDANCE FILM FESTIVAL

2009-10-02T14:39:00.014+01:00

a film-maker friend, brent leung, stayed with me here overnight yesterday evening because his film, the controversial 'HOUSE OF NUMBERS' was being shown at london's RAINDANCE film festival.

we hung out together and went to his film. it was interesting to see the film, especially after reading some of the passionate and sometimes agressive opinions by some of the press - but what was most interesting was that it didn't strike me as denialist (the claim made by many...) - though i could clearly see how a 'true denialist' could use it as 'evidence' to support their ideas.
my feeling about the film was that it highlighted some of the confusion i (and probably many people...) truely feel about how, why and what HIV-AIDS is! it didn't resolve anything particularily, but it carefully went through all the big questions related to the subject...questions which it seemed pretty clear to me (by the reactions of medical experts) don't have straightforward clear cut ansewers and which probably are reassessed often within the field. it sort of reminded me of the reactiion to questions raised about the US polical response/reaction to 911 - as it evolved from an attack by Osama Bin Laden to the 'axis of evil'. being in the usa at the time was wierd....i often felt judged by certain people (republicans usally...) if i questioned the bush administrations agenda - as if it's a betrayal of my country to question the leadership (basically wanting them to be accountable) and decisions being made...

tracking sessions no. 2 with mary leay @ wincraft studios

2009-09-27T20:04:00.002+01:00

what a great session we had with james towler at wincraft! totally beautiful vibe - in the cotswolds, lovely fresh air, no distractions... just into the music. miles bould on drums locked into the vibe perfectly. no click tracks, just instruments/people moving dynamically together. we laid down astrong foundations - 2 days of overdubs start tomorrow! it's shaping up into a classic album...

(left to right: miles bould, mary and me)

ahhh...my new studio, near the heath!

2009-09-20T15:27:00.000+01:00

i'm finally settled into my new studio space. it's going to be a nice change from the westend - as much as i enjoyed the energy of central london, i feel like i'm at a point where the focus i want to have is only going to come if i can visit the trees regularily. fresh air - good for the brain!
here's a picture;

moving on...bye bye denmark st.

2009-09-02T23:16:00.003+01:00

well, it's been 4 years in denmark st. many wonderful songs have been written (mary -:) and 5 feature film scores worked on (vexille, the heavy, nothing like the holidays, me and orson welles, and forget me not).

it's been a great vibe being in the thick of the urban energy, but i'm at a point where the daily underground ride to tottenham court road - being forced to stand way too close to perfect strangers - is getting to me.
the carbon content in the vicinity is too intense; it's time to move on...

fairport's croprody convention 2009

2009-08-14T12:26:00.009+01:00

a wicked gig last night!
steve winwood at croprody - with a killer band; richard bailey (drums), jose neto (guitar), paul booth (saxes/flute) and carl vanderbosh (percussion).
mary (leay) and i went as guests of james towler who's steve front of house sound guy.
james is co-producing mary's album with me. a fantastic engineer who was given the award of 'Recording Engineer of the Year' from the Music Producers Guild for 2009 .

me and mary will be up at wincraft studios from the end of september to record more tracks for mary's album...

it's all going off!

2009-08-12T23:28:00.000+01:00

what can i say...it's been an incredible period.
'live from abbey road', finished my 'terra cognita' album and the score for upcoming feature film 'forget me not' - so now it's my time to rest for a minute or two...

the new 'live from abbey road' open title music was great fun - drums played by hugo degenhardt (of the bootleg beatles) and mixed by my man nick taylor (house engine at 'air-edel studios'). he came over to mix the piece at abbey road studio 2.

nick also recorded the piano and hammond b3 (apparently the same piano played by sir paul on 'lady madonna').

in photo r > l ; john mills (director), hugo degenhardt (drums), nick taylor (engineer) and yours truly at the keys.