Biography
Download Philip's Curriculum Vitae
After successfully graduating from Napier University, with BA (Hons) Popular Music, Philip’s musical career led him into the world of composing music for screen. Having studied guitar performance for the first three years of his degree, Philip came across an opportunity to score a short student film at the end of his 3rd year called Drifters (2005), directed by Ryan Blackwood. Thus for his 4th and final year at Napier, Philip studied Film Music Composition for his major dissertation.
Over the next five years, Philip would go onto score over 25 short films, television adverts, documentaries and corporate videos. He composes in his own home grown studio, with professional equipment, including a Sontronics STC-2X condensing microphone, Shure Beta 58 dynamic microphone, EWQL sample libraries, Cubase 5, as well as a pool of talented musicians.
Philip has now composed music that has been played all over the globe, from NHS DVDs, industrial museums, ITV, Channel 4, through to major film festivals, such as the Edinburgh Film Festival and Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival.
In 2008, Philip scored the short drama Sacrifice (2008), directed by Steve Looker. A very powerful and moving film set in Manchester, about 2 brother's wish for a better life. The film went onto win 2 awards at the 2009 Limelight Film & Arts Awards, in the categories; Best Drama and Best Film.
In 2010, Philip got his break into feature films, by beating out 40 other composers to score the action-drama The Ghost In The Machine (2011), directed by Jonathan Dupont. This gave Philip the chance to write everything from big orchestral action to sweeping love themes. It was a massive commitment and took 3 months to complete. This was followed soon after by another feature film Desperate Measures (2011), director Steve Looker asking Philip back to provide a score that was big on emotion and drama. Both films are scheduled for release later this year.
Whether it be a documentary, film or commercial, Philip's success has proved that his music has the power to convey the message, sell what's on screen and underline the unspoken emotion and he always composes with the intent of making the audience connect to whatever they are watching.