Nigel Watts Plumpkin
Professional
Biography
Biog: Having spent more than 30 years as a semi-pro performer, singer and drummer, and the last 20 of those running his own full-time graphics/multimedia business, Nigel has given up his day job to concentrate on perfecting the art of songwriting.
Nigel's long experience as a performer has given him a distinct advantage in the composition of music and audio for multimedia and picture, as he draws inspiration from a vast range of musical styles. His business experience has yielded a professional attitude and a respect for client deadlines. In 1998 he wrote an orchestral signature tune for Newbury Live, a festival of arts and music held across the Berkshire town during one weekend. Days later he was engaged in writing an ambient drum 'n' bass track for a Honda promo CD, commissioned by a local advertising agency, to launch the S2000 sports model. The track was affectionately named 'Fonda Honda', and featured some breathy vocals from Lynn, Nigel's wife.
For another client, he wrote a spoof 60s instrumental called 'Cheesy Cinema' to play as a navigation aid on an animated web site. It was written to sound like the background musak which might have been playing in cinemas during the interval.
One of his biggest commissions has been the music and SFX to accompany a prelim CD for Eidos Games to launch their new version of TombRaider, contracted through Rufus Stone Design & Public Relations Ltd. "The sound effects which Nigel produced for the Tomb Raider 4 promo CD for Eidos Games were about as close as is possible to the images I had in my mind while working on the graphic interface. Having spent some time in Egypt, during which I visited the street markets around Cairo, I was amazed at how convincing Nigel's compositional skills and audio work were. 'Tooting Car Man' is his name for the theme music which has a stunningly authentic Egyptian flavour." (Andy Morton, Creative Director)
Other projects of note include a four-minute PIANO SONATA for a private client, SOUND DESIGN for a computer screen-saver on the Honda HRV Joy Machine CD, and IDENTITY MUSIC for synchro to video, for technical and commercial businesses like AVK, Dialog Corporation, Ventro Life Sciences and MLP Training.
Perhaps his most ambitious project to date has been his album, "A Catalogue of Mysteries" (Master List DARW01, Virgin/Our Price), which was written, performed and produced in Nigel's studio at the end of 1997. The album is not mainstream pop and rock, but more a collection of strongly themed melodic rock ballads. Some of the material was written with a collaborator. To take a listen to the album, go to www.scorpiosongs.com and press the green button.
CLAIMS TO FAME Supported the Nashville Teens at The Wooden Bridge, Guildford, c.1982; played as drummer and Bvox for the Bushe Pilots, covers band headed by Tony Burrows of 'Love Grows...' fame; played in blues/rock band Bluefish with Chris Hook, ex-bass player with 70s chart band Voyager; sat in the same leather chair as Elton John, Robbie Williams, Jeff Beck...while mixing a demo in a Maidenhead studio; currently has the most un-rock 'n' roll name ever!
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- FONDA HONDA: Ident music: Launch of Honda 2000
- TOOTING CARMAN: Ethnic music for Eidos Games Tombraider4
- WILEY FLY: Theme music and soundtrack for animation
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