Sheridan Tongue: Podcast Interview With BAFTA-Nominated Composer

 
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Sheridan Tongue is a BAFTA-nominated composer from Belfast known his global, award-winning work on drama series and documentaries alike. 

From scoring the mind of Stephen Hawkings, soundtracking 12 seasons of Silent Witness, to releasing music under the pseudonym IN-IS; Sheridan's creative work has taken him all over the world and back home again — most recently with BBC NI's series Spotlight On The Troubles: A Secret History. 

(Not bad for a guy who started busking with his saxophone outside BHS in Belfast as a teenager!) 

In today's episode we chat about:

  • How his early-experiences in NI shapes his work

  • The role experimentation plays in composing music

  • How he balances the commercial with the creative

  • And the greatest challenges/successes he's experienced along the way

This is a fascinating insight into one of Northern Ireland's most creative minds and a real encouragement to anyone who's thinking about starting off on their own creative journey.

Check it out.

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  • One thing most people don't know about you: In the 1980s I started a saxophone quartet in Belfast with friends from the City of Belfast School of Music and we used to busk outside British Home Stores in the centre of Belfast. Jim Prior the Secretary of State for NI at the time once threw some money into our sax case and we had our photos in the paper. We would get large crowds gathering around us when we played and we started getting booked to play at weddings and parties around Northern Ireland. It funded a new saxophone and my travels around Europe and was the first time I earned something from music.

  • Favourite Book: Animal Farm by George Orwell

  • Favourite Quote: Luck is when preparation and opportunity meet.

  • Anything else:

    I have just released a new under my artist name IN-IS featuring Irish singer Ailbhe Reddy:
    https://sheridantongue.com/new-in-is-single-daydream-feat-ailbhe-reddy/

    There will be an album out in October.

    For more about me:
    https://sheridantongue.com/

    I also have a YouTube channel where I post my music.
    https://www.youtube.com/sheridantonguemusic

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This episode is part of our mini-series in collaboration with Northern Irish Connections: Invest NI's Diaspora Outreach Program.

Find out information about moving back home and discover amazing diaspora stories by signing up to their free monthly newsletter at https://www.niconnections.com/

How To Listen

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Thanks again to Sheridan Tongue for taking the time to share his story with us.

See you next time.

— Matt

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Matthew ThompsonNIC