Exceptional player with 30 years experience. Worked with some of the best artists over a variety of genres from Rock to Punk, Jazz to Blues, Prog to Classics, stadiums to piano bars. The founder of the group mobiUS where I composed, played and mixed on the album “Make the Promise” which has achieved worldwide acclaim
I am Tim Newcombe. I have played the piano since the age of 5 years and am classically trained through the Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music. Throughout my musical career i have played with a variety of artists and performers including Billie Davies, The Foundations, recorded with Trevor Horne at Clash Records in London through to contemporary artists. I have performed at venues across the world, both as a session performer and as a permanent band member and am currently recording with White Knight records. I have played in every genre including classical. Currently `I write and perform with my own progressive rock band as well as a Celtic punk band called ‘The Clan of Celts”. I have composed and provided material and arrangements projects for independent artists and groups. I record using Logic Pro and have the finest collection of virtual instruments in my studio. I also play a Nord Stage 2 and Korg M50 which provides a comprehensive, eclectic and exciting variety whether it being ambient and analog, or pure classical. Whatever your project, whatever your style, you can be confident that I will deliver your expectations.
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Languages
- English
4 Reviews
Endorse Tim Newcombe
I've worked with Tim as a sound engineer on a number of live music projects, including broadcast radio. Always a pleasure to work with, a consummate professional and an excellent player and composer.
Tim is an outstanding musician, he has exceptional talent in playing all genre's of music and has an amazing ear for its progression, his attention to detail is excellent and can enhance any tune put forward to him in understanding what you want put down, but also ideas to help boost a song with alternative ideas,
His years of playing experience is invaluable to anyone who wants a quality player ,but can also put other ideas into the mix.
A top playerTim contributed piano and brass sounds to our Dovetail Joints' album Goosepimple Bones. He augmented and vitalised the tracks. A top man.
I've worked with Tim on a number of projects & used him as session played for artists that I'm producing. He'll give you exactly what you want & probably a whole load of other great options. Quick turnaround, very professional & a great guy too. He's my go to keyboard player for any style.
Interview with Tim Newcombe
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: My first album with mobiUS. I composed all the music and there is a lot of me in the album
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: At the moment i’m working on a follow up album ro mobiUS’s “Make the Promise”.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Chloe - the guitarist I just met on holiday! Didn’t catch her last name, but heard her tracks and gratefully received her recommendation for SoundBetter
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Both, either! Each has its place, each has its feel. To discount one would be to limit your offering.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: What a question! I love playing, getting involved with the music itself. I love the warp and weft of musical flows. The leaps in cadence, the plunges of chord progressions. The underlying messages and the appreciation of a discerning audience.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: They mainly ask whether i can supply the required instrumentation. For example, my ladt work involved the use of a banjo. My reply was that I can supply snd authentically provide music from every instrument worldwide.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: People think i’m bound to one genre. However i love playing in any genre
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What are they trying to achieve. Who are their audience, where will this be performed
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Look for experience, for technical ability and for someone who enjoys the music
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: A Yamaha Grand piano (without a doubt) My collection of VST instruments A full range PA for crystal clear reproduction My Nord Keyboard and of course, My logic Pro DAW to take musical advantage of the desert island
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I started at the age of 5 years. I had a rickety old piano that would vaguely pop out a tune. I trained classically achieving all my piano grades through school. From there i joined a blues group, toured the country with a rock band, recorded with Clash Records and sessioned for a variety of performers and bands. I built my studio up and now deliver high quality music to the industry
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: I will deliver their musical expectations and exceed their requirements
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Eclectic, melodic, harmonic and accomplished
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: I’m a big Floyd fan, and to work with David Gilmour would be an honour
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Start quietly and feel the music.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: I have worked on all genres other than Rap
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: I’m love to bring expression to a track. To add that “light and shade”. though piano and keys
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: Depth, inspiration, professionalism and a uniqueness the allows the track to stand head and shoulders above the rest
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: This depends on the job. I mainly have a template of my favourite sounds on Logic. I listen to the ideas presented to me in all variety of places - walking the dog, driving the car etc before committing the first note to the mix.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: At the centre is my trusty Mac. On here is Logic and Native Instruments and a plethora of synths pianos and organs. I have A Nord and a Korg M50 (the C3 Organs and Stereo analog strings on the M50 are to die for!) All are connected together with a Presonus AI and various midi mixing hardware.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Ihave worked closely with many other musicians over the course of my career. I’m currently very into the works of Jordan Rudess of Dream Theatre whose style is similar to my own.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Over the past few months, i’ve been asked to provide keyboard and piano tracks to lift a song. The briefs have been precise, in some cases, or left to my creativity in others.
I was the Composer, piano and keys player, mixing engineer in this production
- PianoAverage price - $70 per song
- Keyboards - SynthAverage price - $70 per song
- Songwriter - MusicAverage price - $70 per song
I’m happy to carry out a reasonable number of edits and alterations. Always happy to discuss the music and desired outcome/feel etc. 3-5 working days turnaround.
- Jordan Rudess
- Jools Holland
- Stevie Wonder
- Nord Stage 2
- Korg M50
- Logic Pro X
- Native Instruments vsts inc. London Symphony Strings
- Alecia Keys Piano
- Massive-x synth
- Scarbee EP
- Hammond B4
- Kontakt studio etc.
- Always Good!Oct 28, 2022
Got some excellent muso friends. Today I have some e.q ing? work on a couple of tracks for a friend. Good to resurrect some of the favourite Logic Plugins
- RehearsalOct 27, 2022
Gig at the Fiddlers Elbow in Camden (London) with mobiUS on Sunday, so a polish up of the set today
- YawnOct 20, 2022
Early start. Got some reconfiguration to carry out on the studio before I start. First though - coffee!
- All about the BassOct 19, 2022
The bones of Gold and Blue have been laid down on my DAW. All keys parts tracked and now waiting for the Bass player to do his magic on a fretless and send me the stems
- Massive-XOct 14, 2022
What an incredible versatile Synth this is. Just spent a few hours designing new sounds for album two. Now probably my favourite soft synth.
- New mobiUS albumOct 12, 2022
Top secret idea, but i’m four tracks into the new mobiUS album. Very exciting and working with top quality professional musicians. Looking forward to its release!
- Tenerife Impromptu PerformanceOct 11, 2022
On holiday with my wife in Tenerife, and came across an amazing trumpet player, performing in a restaurant by the name of Ruben Bachicha Sica. He had a keyboard with him and invited me up for an impromptu jazz session. Was a wonderful if unexpected gig, with the full moon overhead and the lights of Playa de los Christianos reflecting in the sea.
