Rob Kelly is a composer, music producer and multi-instrumentalist based in London.
Published by Audio Network and EMI Production Music, Rob is a creatively and technically versatile composer, comfortable writing and producing music in a wide range of styles. His music is broadcast daily on TV shows throughout the world. A full biography is available here.
A former director of AIR Lyndhurst and Strongroom Studios, he is also an extensively experienced recording and mix engineer who has worked with several of Europe and America's leading film and TV composers and with well known artists and bands across numerous genres. Engineering and production credits are available here.
June 2018 - Synaptic Counterpoint for the Motor Neurone Disease Association
Released 21.6.18 for Motor Neurone Disease awareness day, Synaptic Counterpoint is a new composition for saxophone quintet and tuned percussion. 100% of proceeds from the sale, streaming and broadcast of the music are being donated to the Motor Neurone Disease Association (registered charity no. 294354) to support their work into finding a cure for this fatal disease that currently kills 6 people a day in the UK.
Inspired by some images of her research, I wrote the piece for my friend Jenny Greig, a neuroscientist working on the disease at the Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience at King’s College London. The piece features Jenny on soprano, alto and tenor saxophones, Josie Simmons on baritone sax and me on percussion, recorded at Strongroom Studios, London.
The music can be purchased for download and unlimited streaming via this Bandcamp player, our Bandcamp Page (or smartphone app), for as little as £1.50 (plus VAT for EU residents) Through the ‘name your price’ feature you can also choose to donate as much as you wish to support the MNDA’s work, so if you are able to donate a little more, it all goes to support research into finding a cure for the disease. However, VAT will be added to all transactions if you live in the EU so you may also wish to consider donating through my Just Giving page, on which no VAT is due.
The cover art and imagery on the Bandcamp page was created from images of motor neurons created in the lab from patient stem cells, taken by Jenny as part of her research (© Jenny Greig, Kings College London 2018) with graphic design by James Bergersen. The piece also features two custom-built Bütone drums (a type of steel ‘tank drum’) designed by James and me, and built by James.
Research and imaging was performed at King's College London. It was funded by a Medical Research Council CASE studentship in partnership with Vertex Pharmaceuticals
The music can also be purchased through iTunes and streamed on Spotify, Apple Music and the other streaming platforms. If you’ve enjoyed listening to it on the streaming services (or if you’d just like to support the work of the MNDA) I’d be very grateful if you’d consider making a donation to support the MNDA through this Just Giving page.
Jenny and I hope you enjoy the music and would be very grateful of any donation you can make to support the work of the Motor Neurone Disease Association!
Feb 2018 - The Caves Sessions
The Caves Sessions are now available. Three albums of new compositions for Audio Network recorded in the extraordinary acoustics of Chislehurst Caves with strings recorded at Abbey Road Studios. Available to licence from Audio Network, the project is also now streaming on Spotify and Apple Music.
The albums feature unusual instrumentation including waterphone, ancient brass, duduk, Theramin, Bütone tank drums, bag pipes, Tibetan horn and custom built software instruments I made from sampling instruments within the caves. Musicians include Grace Davidson (soprano), Paul Clarvis (percussion) and Tim Garland (bass clarinet) and low brass trio of Tom Briers (Tuba), Katrina Lauder (French Horn) and Sarah Mann (Bass Trombone).
A huge project that was years in the making, between the three albums there are over 650 mixes and stems available. Here’s a full write-up. The project was also featured in the April 2018 edition of Resolution Magazine.
Recording strings for composers David Kelly, Philip Gulyer and Julian Gallant in AIR Studio 1 for Audio Network
Recording strings for composers David Kelly, Philip Gulyer and Julian Gallant in AIR Studio 1 for Audio Network
Recording composer and percussionist Joji Hirota playing Taiko Drum for Audio Network, Strongroom 1
Mixing Maze feat. Keira Knightly in 9 channel surround sound with artist and director Stuart Pearson-Wright, Strongroom Studio 2
Premiere of Stuart Pearson Wright's "Maze", a 2 screen 9 channel surround installation for which I did the sound design & mix, featuring Stuart & Keira Knightly
Recording orchestra in Lyndhurst Hall, Air Studios for EMI Production Music / Strongroom Productions album Cinematic Voices
Recording orchestra in Lyndhurst Hall, Air Studios for EMI Production Music / Strongroom Productions album Cinematic Voices
Recording choir in Lyndhurst Hall, Air Studios for EMI Production Music / Strongroom Productions album Cinematic Voices
With choir and composers in Lyndhurst Hall, Air Studios for EMI Production Music / Strongroom Productions album Cinematic Voices
Recording vocalist Anna Lena in the gallery, Lyndhurst Hall, Air Studios for EMI / Strongroom Productions Cinematic Voices
Recording vocals with Right Said Fred for score of "Meet Persuit Delange ", a feature comedy scored by Tim Garland
With Right Said Fred and composer Tim Garland in Strongroom 1 recording the score of UK feature "Meet Persuit Delange "
Recording brass with composer Tim Garland in Strongroom Studio 1 for score of UK feature "Meet Persuit Delange"
With Tom Bailey, recording orchestra for Audio Network Baroque Chamber Music project in Lyndhurst Hall, Air Studios.
Recording English Session Orchestra for Audio Network Baroque Chamber Music project in Lyndhurst Hall, Air Studios.
Playing a Bütone drum in Chislehurst Caves on soundtrack for “Remember Me”, a BBC 1 drama scored by Ruth Barrett
Nagra location recorder and coffee, recording in Chislehurst Caves for “Remember Me”, a BBC 1 drama scored by Ruth Barrett
Recording water effects in Chislehurst Caves on soundtrack for “Remember Me”, a BBC 1 drama scored by Ruth Barrett
Recording strings for composer Patrick Hawes in AIR Studio 1 for Audio Network World War 1 documentary project
Recording brass for composer Tim Garland in AIR Studio 1 for Audio Network World War 1 documentary project
Producing Trans-Siberian March Band's second album - AIR studio 1
Producing Trans-Siberian March Band's second album - AIR studio 1
Recording piano for Save the Children Christmas campaign with composer Peter Mayne in AIR Studio 1
Recording piano for Save the Children Christmas campaign with composer Peter Mayne in AIR Studio 1
Recording Grace Davidson, Ben Parry, Arnd L'Estrange and Nick Garrett for "Ninja Vocals", an a capella project for Audio Network
Playing percussion for Igor Gregoriev and Haydn Bendall in Abbey Road Studio 2 with Trans-Siberian March Band
Recording with Trans-Siberian March Band at Abbey Road Studio 2 for Igor Grigorev and Haydn Bendall
Recording overdubs for Strongroom Productions Cinematic Beauty in the hall at AIR, and being an idiot
Mixing Cinematic Beauty for EMI Production Music at Strongroom with Ruth Barrett
Recording my compositions for Cinematic Minimalism - EMI Production Music & Strongroom Productions
Percussionist Simone Rebello playing my compositions for Cinematic Minimalism - EMI Production Music & Strongroom Productions
Rehearsals for Trans-Siberian March Band / DJ Yoda collaboration
Playing percussion with DJ Yoda with TSMB, Shambala Festival 2012 main stage
Playing with DJ Yoda and Trans-Siberian March Band at The Roundhouse
Playing percussion with DJ Yoda and TSMB 2012 tour at Womad Festival Big Red Tent
DJ Yoda and TSMB 2012 tour - WOMAD Crowd
Performing with DJ Yoda and TSMB at Glastonbury 2013, the view from Hell (stage)
Playing with Trans-Siberian March Band and DJ Yoda at the Elgar Rooms, Royal Albert Hall
Playing with Trans-Siberian March Band and DJ Yoda at the Elgar Rooms, Royal Albert Hall
Playing 'cello with Suntrap at The National Theatre
Recording the Trans-Siberian March Band album "The Tractor Maker's Ball" in Strongroom 3
Presenting with Tony Platt, Rupert Coulson and Professor Dave Fisher at Guitar Recording Masterclass - Air Studios.
Interviewing Phil Manzanera, AIR Studios Guitar Recording Masterclass, with his famous red guitar.
Presenting an event with Apple UK on Red Digital Cinema Cameras & Apple Color Grading system for Air Post Production
Tuba player Tom Briers plays a Tibettan Mountain Horn in Chislehurst Caves
