Today I’m presenting you with the composer and piano player Richard Lawrence and his project Gifts From Crows. Richard lives in Chester, and old Roman city in the north of England, and Gifts From Crows is his neo classical project,

The track Fragments of light was released as a single on the 14th of October, but will also be part of an upcoming album.

Tell us something about your track Fragments of Light!
We long to stand wholly in the light, without shadows and for everything to be known but life is never really like that. Mostly we piece together meaning from the fragments available to us, of hope, of beauty, of love and fortunately these fragments are mostly enough. 

The Leonard Cohen lyric goes, ‘There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.’ ‘Fragments of Light’ is my way of saying something like that. The piece is in the unusual 7/8 time signature.

Thanks for sending me this Richard!

Today I’m presenting you with the track Storytime by the American composer and piano player Jeff Kinder. Jeff started to play the piano at the age of six and write his first tunes as a teenager. He has released music for the past eleven years.

The track Storytime was released as a single on the 20th of September, 2022.

Tell us something about your track Storytime!
This song is from a series called the “Watercolor Project”. Storytime is a part of the Watercolor Project because like the other songs from this collection, it has a laid-back relaxing feel and makes me remember hearing a good book read aloud at bedtime as a child.  

Thank you for sending me this, Jeff!

Today I’m presenting you with the track Old shelter by the Belgian composer and piano player Adriaan Swerts. Adriaan started playing the piano and the clarinet as a kid but found the restrictions of his traditional musical education unfulfilling. In 2007, he had a life-threatening accident which caused a lifelong disability. Because of his injuries, he constantly suffers from pain, but music helps him to deal with this suffering.

The track Old shelter was released as a single on the 30th of September, 2022. It will also be part of an upcoming album.

Tell us something about your track Old Shelter!
Old Shelter is a song I wrote during hard times in my life after my accident happened. I was on a holiday in a house, I was not feeling good and there was an upright piano. Since it was warm outside, the doors were wide open, so you can really hear the birds singing in the background. I just started composing this music and immediately recorded it: and the music felt like an old shelter that could comfort me, a place where I could wait until the metaphorical rain was over. In the end I think it was unconsciously written as an appreciation for what music means to me and I hope that this composition can now be of comfort for everyone who might experience hardships right now. 

Thank you very much for this Adriaan!

Today I’m presenting you with the track Tide by the composer and piano player Nick Matteo from Switzerland. Nick started to play the piano as a kid, but gave up. He later rediscovered the piano in his 20’s and started working as a musical resident.

I had long hours of intense work and playing the piano was my way to relax in the late evenings. I started to play random melodies at first and over the next months to years they started to take shape and turn into compositions. Later on I started sharing my music on Soundcloud and other social platforms and got in contact with some great artists who helped me expand my music style.

The track Tide was released as a single on the 30th of September, 2022.

Tell us something about your track Tide!
Tide is a pure piano piece with which I tried to get back to the roots of my music. It has a minimalistic approach and a melancholic touch to it. I’ve been working on the piece over the last few months, trying different types of variations. The hardest part was cutting it down to its essence.

Thanks for this Nick!!

Today I’m introducing you to the danish composer and piano player Arvid Holst and his track Stillestående. Arvid has been composing solo piano music on his felted upright piano since the 1990’s. He used to make more electronic music, but is now totally focused on making solo piano tunes.

The track Stillestående was released as a single on the 30th of September, 2022.

Tell us something about your track Stillestående!
“Stillestående” is my newest single, and in Danish “Stillestående” means “Standing still” We are always on our way to something… Always in a rush, to work, school, appointments… Sometimes we just need to stop, stand still. Listen to our surroundings, breathe… That’s what my piece is all about. Finding peace.

Thank you very much for this Arvid!

Today I’m presenting you with the track Silent Trilogy by the French composer and piano player Selma Mutal.

The track Silent trilogy was released as a single on the 30th of September, 2022, and is the soundtrack for the the silent movie with the same name

Tell us something about your track Silent Trilogy!
Silent Trilogy is a piece I composed for a silent movie. Actually is the main theme. The idea behind was to create a contemplative mood for the end credits. The director of the movie suggested I name the piece as the film title ‘Silent Trilogy’. 

Thank you Selma!

Today I’m presenting you with the track Autumn gold by the British composer and piano player Rich Townsend, aka. Samplehound; based in London. Rich has played the piano since the age of seven and is 61 now. He is now retired and making music and releasing it is now his main focus.

The track Autumn gold was released as a single on the 26th of September, 2022, but will also be part of an album next year.

Tell us something about your track Autumn gold!
I composed ‘Autumn Gold’ as the very first trees were turning orange here in the UK during September – horse chestnuts are the first trees to turn. Autumn is a beautiful season and I get to enjoy it walking through the woods close to where I live.

Thank you for this Rich!

Today I’m presenting you with the track Reverie by the British composer and piano player Helen Keeling-Marston from Hampshire in the UK. Helen started writing contemporary classical music a few years back and has played the piano since she was a child.

The track Reverie was released as a single on the 28th of September, 2022.

Tells us something about your track Reverie!
Reverie is a felt piano piece that I wrote to conjure up the feeling of being in an enjoyable dream / daydream. I wanted the piece to be smooth, calm and zen. I’m from the UK, so I think now might be a good time to be releasing a relaxing track given the current performance of the British pound. 

 Thanks for this Helen!

Today I’m presenting you withe the track River Bells by Gregory Paul Mineeff and Roger Everdeen.

The track was released as a single on the 29th of September, 2022.

Tell us something about your track River Bells!
River Bells started life as an initiative to find a different way of collaboration between artists. Originally, the idea was for Roger Evernden and Gregory Paul Mineeff to work together writing a composition as a duet for two pianos. It then evolved as both composers contributed ideas to create a piece for solo piano. Finally, each made adjustments to the completed work and then recorded their individual interpretations. 

Thank you very much for this!

Today I’m presenting you with the track Embodiment by the American composer and piano player Claire Bigley. Claire has played the piano since the age of seven and started recording about four years ago.

The track Embodiment was released as a single on the 22nd of September, 2022.

Tell us something about your track Embodiment!
This track was recorded at the end of June when Roe vs. Wade was overturned.   There was a lot of turmoil and disbelief around me regarding this decision.   I kept hearing the hymn, ‘Shall we gather at the River’ looping in my head at that time.  I knew if I didn’t record, it wouldn’t leave me be.   This hymn for me reminds me of the importance of community and how powerful it can be….especially when it is grounded in love.

Thank you for this Claire!