Family Christmas Songs – Our Favourites in English and Swedish

Team

The vocals were recorded over the course of a year, most of if it in the middle of a boiling hot summer in London.

Martin Fisher

Music Producer

Martin has been in charge of the music for this album. He has arranged, produced, mixed and mastered the album and also done backing vocals, played ukulele, guitar and percussion. Yes he is playing Santa in Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer.

Martin has been an actor for 25 years, and has worked extensively in theatre, TV and film, but these days focusses most of his attention on his home studio (SonicPond), and his 3 year old daughter, Mia. He met Guy in Buddy at the Victoria Palace 20 years ago, and Kristin 8 years ago doing voiceover work, and together they now try to create exciting music that both kids and adults can enjoy together equally.

Guy and Martin started MaKiNG Records 10 years ago, and have released many Musical Theatre based albums on that label. The Christmas Favourites album marks our second venture together with Kristin and Bilingual, and we’re very proud of it.

 

Sam Gale

Composer/Producer/Mixing Engineer (Nov 2015)

Sam has been apart of producing the initial arrangements and backing tracks.

Sam Gale is a composer, arranger and producer across television & film.  2015 has seen Sam compose music suites for series’ across Factual Entertainment, Sport and Comedy. Recent shows include: Posh Pawnbrokers (C4), Russell Howard’s Stand Up Central (CC), Our School (CBBC) & Holiday Makers (Sky1). He has also scored music soundtracks to Pottermore (Harry Potter Game) & Ibiza Undead. 

Sam’s commercials have included Budweiser, Rubicon, Superdrug, Fat Face, Russell Howard & Lee Nelson; and has produced and composed for artists such as Martynas, Band of Voices and the comedian Omid Djalili.

Formerly working in promotions at EMI and as a professional music consultant for some big names in consumer retail (including Top Man, Fat Face & Dorothy Perkins), Sam’s music industry insight and sonic branding expertise is reflected in his composition, particularly when composing to picture for dramatic scenes.

 

Kristin Hellberg

Singer – Native Swedish

Kristin grew up in Norrkoping Sweden. At 19 she moved to London to study Musical Theatre at the Arts Educational Schools. She started working as a performer and has since appeared in various West End shows (e.g. Showboat, Chess, Napoleon, Pirates of Penzance, Peter Pan) on TV (e.g Family Affairs) and recorded voiceovers  (e.g Nokia, Swatch, Clas Ohlson, TV8, MTV, Spotify).

She completed a BSc in Psychology at Goldsmiths College London followed by a MSc in Business Psychology at London Metropolitan University. Kristin lives in London with her husband and three children.

 

Charlie Langham

Singer – Native English

Charlie has lent her beautiful voice to the Bilingual By Music and recorded the English version of the Christmas songs.

Charlie graduated from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts with a BA (Hons) Musical Theatre in September 2014. During her final year of training, Elaine Paige auditioned and personally selected Charlie from a number of leading UK Drama Schools as “The next Rising Star of Musical Theatre”. Charlie was subsequently mentored by Paige and performed on her television show, ‘The Elaine Paige Show’, on Sky Arts. 

Post graduation, Theatre roles include: ‘Jenny,’ The Return of the Solder, Jermyn Street Theatre – (nominated for Best Musical in the West End Wilma awards) ‘Angel,’ PFYFH, UK Festival Tour. Film & TV roles include: ‘Harriet’, Association, Film. ‘Travelling girl’, Cosmos commercial. Charlie is the Managing Director and Principal of The Pauline Quirke Academy Richmond Limited. She is also a writer, and her first stage play is set to go into workshop January 2016.

“I’ll wrap up that complicated notion of Christmas, with dozens of fairy lights and Christmas tree’s, mistletoe and reindeers and put it simply in to three little words: Family, Food, Music. That’s what Christmas is, isn’t it? And from the first sounds of evensong through to the final guitar chord in an 80’s classic, Christmas music transports me to that dinner table, sat eating to my hearts content, surrounded by those I love.”

 

Duncan Lamont Jnr.

Musician

Duncan has really added a layer of magic to the Family Christmas Album with his tenor and baritone saxophone, clarinets, flutes, piccolo.

As a woodwind player, Duncan has worked extensively in London’s West End, most recently on “Chicago” and “Gypsy”.

He has backed many well known singers including Amy Winehouse, Natalie Cole and Barry White. For many years he played in Dame Shirley Bassey’s orchestra.

Duncan’s TV and film credits include “Iris”, “Only Fools and Horses” and “Eastenders” (BBC1), “Perfect World” (BBC 2), “Bob Martin” (ITV) and “Powers” (CBBC) and “Thomas The Tank Engine” (Channel 5).

He recorded several series of Radio 2’s “Live from the Stables” with Sir John Dankworth’s band and has performed with NYJO, BBC Big Band, Mike Westbrook and not forgetting the BBC Concert Orchestra playing baritone sax and kazoo!

As a music arranger, Duncan has written for “Parkinson” (ITV 1) and “Strictly Come Dancing” (BBC 1). He has provided arrangements for many singers, including Spandau Ballet’s Tony Hadley, Darius Campbell and Andy Abraham.

Karin Dahlbacka

Illustrator

Karin has a unique style of illustrating and her drawings are playful and inviting. Often characters are created simply by pen and ink. Karin loves to work with words and can make the text come alive and effectively tell a story.

Karin studied Illustration at the University of Westminster and has since been involved in many local projects. The best projects are when people work together to create something truly wonderful.

Karin has over ten years experience of working as a professional illustrator. Work has been published by Bloomsbury, The Real press, Sweabladet, Transmitter Magazine, SLWA publications. Projects include working on client led briefs in childrens nurseries, schools, bookshops and interior design shops where she helped create interesting and creative image solutions.

For more information see: http://karindahlbacka.blogspot.co.uk