Live shows & performances
Jimmy is a born entertainer, with a tasteful ear, a relaxed sort of confidence, and a big voice. Apart from his time fronting bands such as Earthwire and Jimmy K & The Collectibles, and busking all over the world, he's performed in musicals, choirs, charity concerts, weddings, and restaurants, including a regular stint at La Tasca in Coventry, where he once received a £20 tip from football manager Chris Coleman for his rendition of Hotel California.
Songwriting & production
Jimmy has been writing songs since the age of 10, in a wide variety of styles and genres. He has extensive experience working with all kinds of artists and writing to specific briefs. As the frontman of Earthwire (National Finalists Emergenza Battle of the Bands 2004), a frequent participant in (and sometime creator of) musical theatre, a proud holder of a songwriting degree from Belmont University, erstwhile in-house creative and producer for Songphonic, and the force behind Jimmy K & The Collectibles, Jimmy is available for all kinds of projects, including co-writing, and bespoke songs for special occasions.
scoring & arranging
As a musical theatre veteran who not only studied Songwriting, but has also written a pantomime, a fantasy musical, and an orchestral rock concept album, Jimmy is no stranger to epic, soaring instrumentation. Influenced early on by the holy trinity of John Williams, Howard Shore, and Hans Zimmer, as well as such varied artists as Goo Goo Dolls, Aerosmith, Frank Sinatra, Spice Girls, R Kelly, and George Michael, there are few styles which escape his grasp. If your song is lacking that extra punch, be it strings, horns, or the whole shebang, Sound & ymmiJ is happy to provide advice, MIDI, stems, and whatever other elements of the scoring and arrangement process you need to go all the way.
song reviews, assessments, & journalism
Jimmy's credentials as a music critic go all the way back to his humble beginnings on Soundclick, where he developed a solid reputation as a fair and thorough reviewer. This penchant for analysis and sound judgement has been a theme throughout his career, whether running A&R for Songphonic, assessing demos for Washington Street Publishing, or helping run feedback sessions in preparation for the inaugural Cafe 939 Berklee 5 Week Summer Performance Programme Writer's Nights. In addition to his long history of writing and analytical skills, honed by both a Bachelors in Philosophy and a second in Songwriting & Honours, Jimmy brings a broad and substantial knowledge of music and the industry, and an honest but sympathetic approach, to reviewing any song, event, or music business news, or guest blogging.
songwriting lessons
As a regular top-line writer, often working with vocalists who are not natural writers, Jimmy has plenty of practice helping people express what they're trying to say in the most lyrical way possible. On top of his experiences teaching in a variety of forums, this makes him well-suited to nurturing fledgling talents to new heights, employing and passing on techniques gained from diligent study during his Songwriting & Honours degree (Magna Cum Laude). He is available for reasonable rates and flexible hours, so if you have a passion that needs stoking, it's never too late!
Music supervision
Jimmy has long been fascinated by the amazing power of music to enhance visual storytelling. He studied music supervision under Sarah Gavigan at Belmont, and has experience with cue sheets from his time at Washington Street Publishing. With film, TV, gaming, and advertising throwing up ever more opportunities for sync, Jimmy is well placed to capitalise on this demand, using his expansive network of writers, performers, and creatives, curated from among the best music schools and industry professionals around, to access quality music spanning all genres.
SESSION WORK
From his years as a student at Belmont and a resident producer at Songphonic, Jimmy is an experienced studio musician. Proficient in guitar, bass, piano, and vocals, he's a quick study who can liven up any session with a strong sense of rhythm and a keen grasp of dynamics. If you're looking for an adaptable and easy-going professional with an accomplished ear and a sure touch, look no further - you've found him.
anything else
This list is by no means intended to be exhaustive. The weird and wonderful world of music is full of interesting developments and unexpected opportunities. Whether it's creating bespoke wedding playlists, lead generation and databasing, promotion and social media, event or project planning, music video appearances, or anything else you can think of that's in our skillset, if you've got an idea that's not listed here, reach out via the contact page, and let's explore the limits of the possible.