The Artists
Hayley Youell – Music / Collaborator / Sound
Hayley is a creative musician, singer/songwriter and composer based in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. She graduated with first class honours in Theatre, Film and Television from York St John in which she majored in sound design, directing and voice. As a musician, Hayley has collaborated on projects across genres, from Electronic Indie to Alt Rock, Folk and Jazz, touring nationally and internationally. Intrinsically curious and explorative with the potential of sound and music to create experiences and shift emotional states, Hayley has a keen interest in sound design and working responsively. She sensitively utilises different tools and technologies, from surround sound to raw voice to achieve this. It is with this passion that she became intrigued by the potential of music and sound to transform people’s lives which instigated her socially engaged practice almost a decade ago. Hayley has recently taken the leap to return to her own artistic work and has been successful in attracting music/sound commissions, funding and collaborators (cross-artforms) from across the country. From creating sound pieces for sculpture, song for multi-disciplinary theatre, evocative seascapes for Pirate exhibitions to promenade performance for ancient woodlands, she thrives on creating work that is responsive to people and place.
Andy Seward – Music / Producer / Engineer
Andy Seward is an electric/double bass player, record producer and recording engineer from the Dearne Valley, South Yorkshire, England. Probably locally best known for his work with folk superstar Kate Rusby, recording and mixing her seminal records (1999- 2007), including her Mercury Award nominated album Sleepless and as the double bass/banjo player in her live band. He has also worked extensively with virtuoso guitarist Martin Simpson, producing his critically acclaimed albums True Stories (2007), Purpose and Grace (2011), Other people Andy has worked with include Eddi Reader, John Tams, Phillip Selway, John McCusker, Richard Thompson, Roddy Woomble, Ade & Ella Edmondson, Billy Connolly, Kris Drever, Chris Wood, Andy Cutting, Jonny Dickinson, Maggie Boyle, Coope,Boyes & Simpson, Tim O’Brien, Danny Thompson, Heidi Talbot, Patrick Street, Breabach, Barrule, Ewen Caruthers and many others. He is also currently working as a Series Music Producer on a new series of Radio Ballads for BBC Radio2 commemorating the Great War which are broadcasted yearly on Armistice Day. Keen to bring local sounds to the mix he regularly collaborates with local talent. As part of this year’s ballad he has engaged Thurnscoe Male Harmonic Voice Choir to perform on the ballad.
James Lockey – Music / Film / Photography
James Lockey is a quarter part of alternative rock supergroup, Minor Victories. The band includes vocalist Rachel Goswell (Slowdive), guitarists Stuart Braithwaite (Mogwai) and Justin Lockey (Editors), with James on bass. James is also one half of HandHeldCineClub who have directed, shot, edited and produced music videos for all major music labels and their work has been broadcast worldwide with recognised acclaim. They have created works for Editors, The Vessels, The Staves, Lanterns on The Lake, and Band of Skulls to name a few.
The Commission
The trio of artists worked working together to create a new multidisciplinary artwork. Taking a contemporary spin on the radio ballad format, the team blended music, sound, voices and film created and captured locally to make something that celebrated the strength and crucial role of the River Dearne in shaping the landscape, heritage and community in the area.
The project included collaborations with local poet/songwriter Ray Hearne, nationally acclaimed Barry Coope and the quintessential ‘Thurnscoe Sound’, Thurnscoe Male Harmonic Voice Choir.
To view their final piecevisit:- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRi67FQcqn0&feature=youtu.be