Tim Arnold (musician)

Tim Arnold (born 3 July 1975) is an English singer-songwriter, composer, producer musician and film maker from London. His music has been compared to David Bowie and he is the last musician to collaborate with David Bowie and Kate Bush mentor Lindsay Kemp.

He is also an active campaigner for the preservation of the London district known as Soho and its role in the enhancement of the performing arts. He is the founder of Save Soho, a coalition of performers including Stephen Fry and Benedict Cumberbatch, residents and politicians that came together out of concern for the future of Soho’s historic role as a national platform for the performing arts.

He has been critical of Spotify, after removing his discography from the streaming service in December 2021 in protest of the company's investment in a military defence company.
Arnold is also a film composer and created original music for Iggy Pop in the 2016 feature film ''Blood Orange''.
He first achieved success as the singer and songwriter of Britpop band Jocasta in the mid-1990s. He runs the record label TA Music, and has released twenty five albums. He is also author and composer of the musical Secrets of Soho.
and is winner of BBC Radio London Album of the year 2015 for his album ''The Soho Hobo''.

Early life

Tim Arnold's childhood was spent travelling through Europe, as his mother, Polly Perkins, performed cabaret in theatres and nightclubs. Between the ages of eight and fourteen, he lived in France, Spain and the UK.Larkin, Colin (1998) ''The Virgin Encyclopedia of Indie & New Wave'', Virgin Books, , p. 229

Arnold has stated he believes in magic after meeting a Pagan "witch" at the age of nine.

At fourteen years old, he enrolled as a bard in The Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids. The teachings inspired him to leave his mother's home in Spain and return alone to England to study at the Rudolf Steiner School, where he formed the band Jocasta with best friend Jack Reynolds.

Career

Jocasta

In 1994, Arnold and the band moved from Hertfordshire to London. Jocasta had chart hits with "Go" and "Change Me" in 1997. The band's only album, ''No Coincidence'' was released in June 1997, but they disbanded soon after its release.

Solo career

''Shakespeare's Globe'' (1998–1999)

In 1999 he signed a publishing deal with V2 Music, and also became Master of Music at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, composing original music for Peter Oswald's 'Augustine's Oak', a new verse play written especially for the Globe.

''Universal Music'' (2000–2003)

In 2000 his new band called Spearshaker recorded several songs at Rockfield Studios in Monmouth, Wales, which would later be released on Arnold's solo album 'En Route'. In 2001, Arnold left V2 and signed to Universal Music Publishing. For two years, he wrote and produced music for newly signed artists at Universal, mostly pop, R&B, garage and hip hop.

''Thailand'' (2003–2004)

In 2003 Arnold travelled to the Wat Tham Krabok Buddhist monastery in Thailand, where he was successfully treated for drug addiction.Singh, Anita (2009)
Bafta Television Awards: EastEnders' June Brown lands first nomination
, ''The Daily Telegraph'', 24 March 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2011 Life at the monastery had a profound effect on Arnold who subsequently left London and moved to Thailand to live in the monastery, where the monks built him a recording studio.Nauman, Zoe (2010) "", Sunday Mirror, 13 June 2004

He recorded his debut solo album Lokutara with the monks who cured him,Beaumont, Mark (2004) "", NME, 5 June 2004 in which the music was created by following cracks in the earth, which metamorphosed into pop rock melodies.Baker, Trevor (2004)
Dot to Doherty's rescue: Trevor Baker wishes Pete a recovery without inspiration
, ''The Guardian'', 12 June 2004. Retrieved 2 May 2011

''Soho Years - Part One'' (2004–2009)

A Tham Krabok success story,Gagliardi, Jason (2004) "", Sunday Telegraph, 25 July 2004 Arnold returned to the UK in 2004. Over the following 18 months, he recorded and released 6 solo albums, including '' Secrets of Soho'' recorded in Francis Bacon's spiritual home ( The Colony Room).

''Sonnet 155'' (2008-2010)

Arnold embarked on his 11th solo album ''Sonnet 155'' by writing over 30 letters to Shakespearean actors, including Ian McKellen, Derek Jacobi, Pete Postlethwaite, Richard Briers, Janet Suzman and Emma Thompson in the hope that they would provide further inspiration and help turn ideas into songs. The responses he received became the basis for many of Arnold's songs. The album is a rock/classical crossover all driven by Shakespearean themes.Churchill, Nick (2010) "", Bournemouth Echo, 19 March 2010Hodson, Maria (2010) "", The Stage, 29 April 2010

Sonnet 155 previewed to standing ovations at the Almeida Theatre, London (2 & 9 May 2010), a cross-media performance, including contributions from actors Richard Briers, Paul McGann, Benedict Cumberbatch and Lisa Dillon.Midgley, Emma (2010)
Reading sound producer in Shakespearean music venture
, BBC
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