Testament Tales

Nick was commissioned to compose and produce the score for ‘The Story of Samuel – Testament Tales’ pilot episode. The 15 minute episode is devised by Reverend Simon Buckley and told in a fun and contemporary style through Simon’s beautifully designed puppets, which give a nod towards the muppets. Simon is a TV puppeteer of many famous kids’ favourites including Nobby the Sheep, Emu and Kevin the Koala. After discussions with Simon, Nick spent about a month composing the themes for each of the main 5 characters, including the voice of God! He also ‘wrote the theme tune’ and the incidental music and musical accents that highlight action moments such as Samuel bouncing up the stairs in his sleeping bag. Once Simon was happy with what he heard, Nick then synchronised each segment of music to the relevant moment on screen.

Simon says "I approached Nick to underscore a pilot for a series of children’s DVDs called Testament Tales, using puppets and animated backgrounds to tell Bible stories in a fun, quirky and engaging ‘non-preachy’ way. I thought I was probably the client from hell as I knew what I wanted but found it hard to put into words what was in my mind. Having watched an edit of the programme Nick instinctively understood what was required and produced an original range of idents, motifs and music tracks that enhances the piece beyond my expectations. Easy to work with, and sensitive to the needs of the project and the tastes of its intended audience Nick has produced a wide variety of material that ranges from the witty and funky to the beautifully melodic. I am delighted with his work and will certainly hope to engage his talents again in the future."

In order to promote ‘Testament Tales’ and secure funding for the series, Simon is now test driving the pilot with different groups of children, from youth groups to church groups to primary schools, collecting feedback. The comments have been extremely positive including from the office of The Archbishop of Canterbury.

Nick says "I really enjoyed scoring ‘Testament Tales’ and working with Simon. I have always been a fan of film music and love the way in which scores can bring further depth to scenes, emotionally or with action. The themes that I wrote for this project are fun, instant and melodic. Plus Simon wanted a quirky twist which would appeal to kids and tie in with the contemporary references used in the story-telling, Can’t wait to work on the rest of the series!"

Nick attended a low-key premiere of ‘Testament Tales’ in South West London on 23rd November and got a chance to meet the rest of the cast and crew.

‘Treat Yourself’ (2008)

An electronic pop album of ’bumper sticker’ tracks, simple yet abstract ideas mixed with layered electronica from ambient to dance music. Influenced by Moby, Mylo, Daft Punk, William Orbit, Fluke and pop music. A concept album set in London from Friday to Saturday morning. Poptron is a collective project featuring many performers, the album has been written and recorded by Nick Reeve in his Stockwell studio. Nick has taken an untraditional approach when writing these songs. He has built the songs over time, allowing the ideas to evolve with additional input from the collective members of Poptron. The title track ‘Treat Yourself’ is currently being used for a pilot of a new show for MTV America and the instrumental track ’How ’bout it?’ was recently used on a London Marathon promotional video for Action Aid featuring Paddington Bear. The single ‘Treat Yourself’ will shortly be available to download including remixes by DJ John EV. Future singles, remixes as well as the album are coming soon.

Mama Razzi (2000 onwards)

In 2000, Harriet Cater and Nick Reeve conceived Mama Razzi, for which Nick is the sole composer. A sophisticated pop/dance act that drew influences as far ranging as Daft Punk to Kate Bush. Mama Razzi scored 2 successful club releases through Susu Records gaining Europe-wide DJ and radio play listing as well as selling several thousand copies each. Both singles are available on 12" vinyl and CD compilations.

‘Show Me Love’ (2004) was a Top 10 UK Club hit and featured in many DJ selections on radio (including BBC and KISS KM) and on dance floors across Europe. Originally written in 1996, ‘Show Me Love’ started life as an acoustic song for his singer friend Asia Schoztak-Walker. However, it was in early 2001 that Harriet and Nick hooked up with local DJ/Producer Joelle Reefer to record ‘Show Me Love’ in a Camberwell bedsit studio apartment. Even though ‘Show Me Love’ is a dance track, Nick’s passion for live instruments was essential to the Mama Razzi sound and he scored string parts and enlisted The Galaxy Quartet from The Royal Academy of Music to perform. The demo was heard by Diane Charlemagne, at that time on world tour with Moby as his lead vocalist. Diane jumped on board lending her vocal production skills and her stunning voice to the backing vocals. Mama Razzi were signed to SUsu Records on the strength of this orignal recording.

‘Show Me Love’ is available through iTunes

‘As I Kiss You’ (2006) has become an acclaimed 12” vinyl club release and went to no.1 twice on a national Greek radio station chart. Nick wrote this song one afternoon whilst walking home from Brixton gym. He transformed this inspirational moment into Mama Razzi‘s second single. The song effortlessly translates from ‘A Massive Peak Time Vocal Houser!’ (Glasgow’s Levelone Records) to an intimate acoustic duet, a signature of Mama Razzi’s live show. For the club release, ‘As I Kiss You’ was epically remixed by Mac Quayle, Grammy nominated US producer who is quoted as saying ‘there was musicianship in this song’. 

Both releases were produced by top UK producer Richard Earnshaw. Diane continued to work with Mama Razzi and can also be heard singing backing vocals on ‘As I Kiss You’ and their unreleased track ‘Don’t Come Back’. Mama Razzi were signed to Susu Records in 2002 and a multitude of remixes were commissioned, including by Electribe 101 and Groovefinder. Both songs have proven to be popular with remixers and versatile.

Harriet and Nick always conceived Mama Razzi as a live, song based act and took their acoustic set to various venues across London in 2004 and 2005 as well as performing on the Main Stage at Manchester Pride in 2005. Nick wrote over 30 songs for Mama Razzi, including ‘A Little Bit of Summer’ which was recently reworked and performed at the Nick Reeve Music charity concerts ‘Future/Retro‘ and ‘Colours Of Time‘. www.mamarazzi.co.uk  

Antigone – The Musical (1997 – 1999)

Nick composed, scored and musically directed the music to ‘Antigone’, a 2 hour sung through musical opera based on the Greek tragedy. ‘Powerful stuff for a modern musical, and composer Nick Reeve has brilliantly scored the accompaniment…..reminiscent in some ways of Stravinsky’s scoring…’ (Croydon Advertiser). Sylvia Denning, his long time friend and professional theatre director, wrote the libretto. Nick drew on his love for romantic, epic yet accessible melodies to bring this classic Greek story to life. Antigone spawned a studio album, a West End Charity concert and a successful run at the Wimbledon Studio Theatre in the summer of 1999. The cast were made up of stars of many west end shows including ‘Blood Brothers’, ‘Miss Saigon’ and ‘Les Miserables’ accompanied by a string ensemble from the Royal Academy of Music conducted by Justin Carter. Antigone was recognised by audiences and critics as a success as well as being supported by the Hellenic Foundation. Sylvia and Nick aim to revive the show one day!