Rob Lewis (composer)

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Rob Lewis
Rob Lewis. Photo: Rachel King
Background information
Born (1982-11-02) 2 November 1982 (age 41)
London, England
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Composer
  • Cellist
  • Record producer
Instrument(s)
  • Cello
  • Piano
  • Guitar
Years active2005–present
Labels
  • AWAL
  • The Ambient Zone
  • Just Music
Websiteroblewiscomposer.com

Rob Lewis (born 2 November 1982) is an English composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist. He gained critical acclaim for his compositions for looping cello, which formed the basis of his album "Momentum" released in 2018. In 2019, Lewis was commissioned by Google to compose a 60-minute soundtrack as part of an installation in Los Angeles. Excerpts from this composition formed his second album, "98", which was released in February 2020. In April 2022, he premiered "Tideway Tunnel To Tide", a composition created using sounds from the Tideway Tunnelling Construction process, as a live-streamed event. The work was subsequently released as a single in connection with the Thames Tideway Tunnel project.

TV and film[edit]

Lewis has composed soundtracks for numerous TV shows and short films including Hulu's Dead Asleep directed by Skye Borgman,[1] Channel 4's Inside the American Embassy,[2] Genderquake, and the independent feature documentary '‘Perception'’ following the work of Egyptian artist El Seed.[3] He has also collaborated with BAFTA winner David Holmes. He partnered with augmented reality company Magic Leap on their first in-house narrative film The Last Light due for showing at SXSW festival. In 2017 he scored H&M and Erdem's joint campaign directed by Baz Luhrmann.

Education[edit]

Lewis began playing the cello at the age of 6. He read music at University of Sussex, and cello at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama with teacher Selma Gokcen. He has taken masterclasses with Bernard Greenhouse, Raphael Wallfisch, and Karine Georgian.

Recordings[edit]

Released in 2018, his debut album Momentum is a collection of 10 tracks for looping cello inspired by nature, humanity and the constant strife between the two. The album received support on BBC 6 Music from Mary Anne Hobbs[4] and Tom Ravenscroft. It was also described as "Strikingly Beautiful" by Clash magazine.[5]

Momentum was featured in the show ‘Harmonic’,[6] performed at Kew Gardens, London in the summer of 2018. The show was created by Cirque Bijou and featured aerialist Korri Aulakh. It was subsequently performed in Shanghai in 2019 and Bristol Harbour Festival.[7] Lewis also performed Momentum at WOMAD festival.[8] The Ambient Zone also released two remixed versions of tracks from Momentum. "The Sea" from the album was captured as part of the 'Unpicked' series, recorded at Abbey Road Studios.

Lewis's second album 98 centres around the concept of cell regeneration and the evolution of mankind, with each track focusing on a different area of the human mind and body. It forms part of the 60-minute score Lewis composed for Google's Room 98.[9]

Music from Momentum and 98 has been used on a number of TV shows, adverts and films. Lewis's compositions have also featured on fashion shows by Gucci, Givenchy and Alexander McQueen

Tunnel To Tide[edit]

Lewis was commissioned to compose a new work entitled "Tunnel To Tide" for the Thames Tideway Scheme, a major infrastructure project designed to prevent sewage from entering the River Thames in London.

The composition, which premiered in April 2022, is a single piece that celebrates the ecological and social impact of the Thames Tideway Tunnel. The work features a variety of musical styles and instrumentation, including traditional orchestral elements, electronic sounds, and recordings of sounds from the Tideway Tunnelling construction process.

Lewis drew inspiration for the composition from the engineering feats required to build the Tideway Tunnel and the positive impact it will have on the River Thames. The work explores different aspects of the project, from the tunnel construction process to the eventual cleaner waters of the river.

The premiere of "Tideway Tunnel To Tide" was live-streamed worldwide and received widespread critical acclaim. The composition has been praised for its ability to capture the complex relationship between humans and the environment. In connection with the Thames Tideway Tunnel project, "Tideway Tunnel To Tide" was also released as a single. The work was featured in numerous major media outlets, including: Evening Standard,[10]The Independent,[11] The Times,[12] The Guardian.[13] Lewis has described the commission as a unique opportunity to combine his love of music with his interest in environmental issues.

Cellist[edit]

As a session musician and artist, Lewis has performed and collaborated with artists including Noel Gallagher,[14] Anna Calvi, Dave, SBTRKT, Ghostpoet,[14] Beardyman, Jason Mraz, Massive Attack and many more. He is endorsed by Yamaha Music.[15]

SmartScales iOS App[edit]

In 2015 Lewis co-founded Greater Heights Media to create the award-winning app ‘SmartScales’ . The App aims to make learning scales and arpeggios more accessible and enjoyable. In 2016, Apple made it ’Best New App’, and the app reached number 15 in the US and Asia app charts. The app also received five-star reviews from The Strad magazine, BBC Music Magazine and Sinfini Music.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Dead Asleep - Hulu". Hulu.com. 18 December 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  2. ^ "Inside the American Embassy – All 4". Channel4.com. 25 June 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  3. ^ Mark Molloy (15 April 2016). "Artist creates amazing mural across 50 buildings in Cairo". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  4. ^ "BBC Radio 6 Music – Mary Anne Hobbs, With The Last Poets". Bbc.co.uk. 19 May 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  5. ^ "Premiere: Rob Lewis – 'The Sea' | Videos | Clash Magazine". Clashmusic.com. 2 July 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  6. ^ "Bespoke show 'Harmonic' opens at Kew Gardens". Cirquebijou.co.uk. 25 May 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  7. ^ "Rob Lewis – Cello — Bristol Harbour Festival". Bristolharbourfestival.co.uk. 20 July 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  8. ^ "Womad 2018, Charlton Park, Wiltshire — rich pickings and the joys of 'poor man's music'". Financial Times. 30 July 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  9. ^ "Room 98 — Lisa Mishima". Lisamishima.com. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  10. ^ "Evening Standard". Standard.co,uk. 29 April 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  11. ^ "Independent". Independent.co,uk. 29 April 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  12. ^ Morrison, Richard. "The Times". TheTimes.co,uk. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  13. ^ "The Guardian". TheGuardian.co,uk. 29 April 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  14. ^ a b Rob Lewis. "Rob Lewis | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  15. ^ "Line 6 Europe – Rob Lewis is a composer, producer and". Facebook.com. Retrieved 26 May 2020.

External links[edit]

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