The following tribute has been posted on social media by Demerara Records head and composer Neil March to XTended Radio and its founder Bert Konning who announced the station’s closure today. 

‘I am sad to hear from Bert Konning that he has taken the unique XTended Radio off air for the foreseeable future. Bert explained his reasons in an email to me but I will not be divulging those on here.

I just want to say a massive thank you on behalf of myself and other artists whose music I have released and promoted through my label Demerara Records and in my media promo role as DPT Music Digital. Bert worked tirelessly to support new music and give upcoming artists the opportunity to be played repeatedly on XTended and to be heard by his considerable following. He will be missed. I wish Bert all the best in whatever he does next and maybe someday we will see XTended back on line. :)’

Following such a positive response to the new track released onto social media by Demerara Records Composer and Recording Artist Neil March the label has agreed to release it as a single. Prelude will be out worldwide on 15th January 2018. Neil describes it as ‘Electro-Classical Futurism laced with experimental and pop sensibilities’.

You can check out the YouTube video here.

And hear it on Soundcloud here.

While he waits for arrangements to be sorted out in relation to the proposed new album Demerara Records and BBC Introducing Composer and Recording Artist Neil March has put another new track up on both YouTube and Soundcloud. 

The track Prelude is credited to Neil March & The Music of Sound but only Neil appears on the recording which characteristically deploys environmental sounds both for pitch and effects.

Neil describes the track as Electro-Classical Futurism laced with experimental elements and Pop sensibilities. You can watch the video here.

You can also find the track on the Demerara Records Soundcloud page here.

Demerara Records and BBC Introducing Composer and Recording Artist Neil March now has a Soundcloud page dedicated entirely to his Library Music output; that is music tailored for use in soundtracks, documentaries, games and other media.

You can check it out here.

There is a new demo track by Demerara Records Composer & Recorded Artist Neil March. The BBC Introducing artist will be recording the track with his ensemble The Music of Sound on the forthcoming album Three Short Stories scheduled for release in Spring 2018.

The track combines characteristic real environmental sounds used to harmonise with the instrumental parts to create a unique soundscape.

Check it out here.

The Unfinished Exhibition took place at the Barbican Exhibition Centre on Friday (24th November 2017). It featured a number of installations and performances by postgraduate students from Guildhall School of Music & Drama.

There were a good few intriguing and original performances and installations throughout the afternoon including powerful and highly personal interactive works by Dilara Aydin-Corbett and Clara Yang which it would be impossible to attempt to describe in a short article but which provoked a range of responses and emotions with those who chose to interact with them.

Musical highlight of the afternoon was a compelling and beautifully crafted chamber work by postgraduate fellow of Guildhall and talented composer Geoffa Fells. Her command of dissonant harmonic language, counterpoint and individual techniques combined cleverly with the accompanying visual imagery. We will be keeping a look out to see how her career develops but she has the potential to be an important voice in the continuing evolution of British Contemporary Music.

There was also an impressive a capella performance involving female and male voices using drones and noises instead of lyrics (possibly including improvisatory elements) to build an intriguing sound world and cool harmonies.

All in all it was a varied and impressive exhibition that underlined the commitment to thought-provoking creativity amongst Guildhall’s prodigiously talented postgraduate set.

Ssshhh don’t tell anyone but it looks like the mini-tour of UK venues we have been posting bits of news about for 2018 might see two BBC Introducing and Latitude 2017-playing acts; namely Neil March & The Music of Sound (as expected since it is their tour!) and stunning classical guitar virtuoso and composer Valerie Hartzell. And as if that isn’t a mouth-watering enough prospect, they will hopefully be joined on the bill by TIC, the amazing and utterly unique improvisatory choir formed by composer and singer Jenni Roditi.

Now we reckon that is a pretty impressive spectrum of exciting original contemporary classical and art music available in one place.

So watch this space for more news soon folks!