About James Southwick
British pianist and composer James Southwick first began playing the piano at the age of 8 when his parents inherited an ancient upright piano that was forever just out of tune. Lessons began, but were mercifully short-lived. He did find however that he loved playing at home, making stuff up, naturally teaching himself, and so began a lifelong relationship with the piano.
He would often hide away at school into the music room to play, where he could find some sanctuary. On leaving home at the age of 18 moving to Cambridge he would seek out pianos and for many years played a baby grand he found in a church. Here he felt for the first time the deeper experience of sharing his compositions and improvisations with strangers, as they shared the space, one interacting with the other.
Playing the piano has always been a place of refuge, creativity, self-expression and connection, and it continues to be to this day. At a deeper level it helps express the unexpressable, to paint in sound and silence, that which stirs, upsets, nurtures and plays inside us all.
A repeated theme of his work is the seeking to come home to ourselves, and he invites you to stay a moment and rest. Audience members both often cry and tell him his playing reminds them of Ludovico Einaudi!
Take a breath. Be still. Fall deeply your into own arms.
Take hold of your own hand that is always outstretched waiting for you to come home.
I'll meet you there.
His latest album ‘Blue’ explores love lost.
..........
Collaborations - get in touch and share your vision!
As well as performing at festivals and events like Sofar Sounds, I've collaborated in workshops and wellbeing retreats with personal development coaches, and dance, yoga, meditation and Contact Improvisation teachers to name a few.
There is a unique power to live music to transform an event into a deeply personal, impactful and memorable experience. As well as being able to play solo, weaving my performance into a retreat or event, I can offer a ‘duet,’ tuning into the words and energy of a practitioner, who in turn interacts with the music and the whole experience transcends to a new level.
I've also created bespoke musical pieces to accompany poets and guided meditations for commissioning authors, coaches and Yoga Nidra Teachers.
www.jamessouthwick.com