As Greenborne’s first season reaches its explosive conclusion, there are some “unsung” heroes and heroines of the series that we couldn’t have done without – the singers, composers and bands who kindly let us use their music for community station Greenborne FM’s playlist.
Most frequently heard in the background of scenes set in Sandra and Chloe’s hairdresser/coffee shop, Arjun’s garage or on the jukebox in the Fox & Dragon, we thought it was time to showcase some of the other artists and performers who contributed to the sound of Greenborne, highlighting their work and sharing the places where you can hear their work and pick up their songs and albums.
Series Producer Helen Quigley has the lowdown on the acts of the Summer:
PRINCES TO KINGS
This is a fun one. A trio of brothers from the Pile family, these boys are going from strength to strength! Does the name sound familiar? It should. Drummer Finn Pile plays Greenborne’s Lewis Godwin… Two of their songs, What If You Were Mine and Here We Go
Again both had several plays in the series.
Zac, Finn and Josh initially started the band to raise awareness for epilepsy which affects their older brother, but they weren’t just successful on that front. TV appearances and some great new songs mean they’re going from strength to strength and they have a huge and growing following on social media.
JOHNNY ALTMAN
Another member of the cast also snuck in a couple of his own tracks. Hallucinating You and Never Too Late to Rock and Roll from the album of the same name, feature the dulcet tones of a certain Johnny Altman (John Altman), aka Alan Godwin…
HANNAH
Singer and composer Hannah Brine, (performing as Hannah or Hannah Magenta) is the talent behind a number of Greenborne FM’s tracks, including Circles, Porcelain, Carry a Little Piece and Perfect, co-writing with Adam Hope, Christopher Wortley, Luca Harb and former Yossarian frontman, Rob Shiels.
Hannah isn’t just a performer – She runs several choirs in London, teaches both privately and as part of the faculty at Mountview Academy and of course writes and performs her own music.
SLASHED SEAT AFFAIR
Slashed Seat Affair’s He’s The One has an interesting back story… originally commissioned as the theme tune to B7 Media’s audio reimagining of cult BBC sci-fi series Blake’s 7, Writer/Performers Ellie Mules and Darren Michaels’ rocking track has found a home on Greenborne FM.
TIM ARNOLD
Finally, Greenborne theme composer Tim Arnold also supplied a couple of songs – Hope Is like the Sun and Be There To Find You.
Onto the Essex contingent! OK, so I’m slightly biased here as I enlisted the help of local music fan and former booker Anver Anderson to help me source up and coming and working musicians from my local area.
PAOLO MORENA
Recruited from the local music scene where I live in Essex is loop artist Paolo Morena, whose song Saturday Night perfectly embodies a night out in Chelmsford. In a good way of course. The more wistful It’s Only Love you can absolutely imagine hearing on late night radio. Best known as TheMightySmall, Paolo is a one-man band for the 21stCentury. The live-looping approach to performance, wrangling loops in similarly compelling style to a professional spinner of plates whilst turning out perfectly crafted multi-instrumental electro/folk/rock mash-ups is a show to behold.
MATTHEW PHILLIPS: GHSTN
Another Essex boy, Matt Phillips’ (aka GHSTN) jaunty guitar led tracks resulted in Greenborne FM playlisting Tear It Up, a feelgood track perfect for the summer. Check out his other upbeat tracks including Head For The Sun – which will definitely make you nostalgic for summer holidays!
ANDY MCKAY
Andy Mckay’s Give Today a Smile is another of Greenborne FM’s regularly heard tracks. Andy says has been a prisoner of music for life and consequently has spent many years either playing in bands or inflicting his self-penned material on audiences up and down the country. And abroad. He once had the bare-faced cheek to perform an Edith Piaf standard to Parisians. In Paris. Twice on the same night. That he is still alive suggests that he got away with it. Currently he is the lead guitarist with ‘The White Gospel’ and also writing and recording for his latest project, ‘Understars’, which is electronic/synth-based compared to his earlier solo work.
Where available all the songs can be found via the artists’ own links and via Spotify, as part of the Greenborne FM playlist – It’s the best way to join in the Greenborne Music Festival from home – but you’ll have to make your own pies.
