Earth Deserts

Alluring desert music with U.K production library MediaTracks (MTWorld Earth MML430).

Hear Sand Dunes:

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2023 Jul

Timelapse

Immersive, thoughtful, mesmeric pulses and rhythmic soundscapes, full of momentum and atmosphere. See the release on Evolution Media (EMM465).

Hear "Era Of Parallax":

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2023 Jun #61

Subterrain

Diving deep into realms shadowy and strange; “Subterrain” (Evolution Media Music EMM460) evokes caves, canyons and catacombs.

Hear "Catacomb":

 

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2023 Feb (#60)

Afro Timelapse

“Afro Timelapse” (Mama Dance MD314) references the African repetition aesthetic, minimalism, and trance and dub idioms for a genuinely eclectic collection of useful media music. Trippy, driving pulses and beds work well with travel and environmental programming and ideal for use with time-stretched or stop-frame techniques.

Hear "Hearken":

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2023 Feb

Romance & Relationships

Out now on Munich’s Minds and Music, this is “Romance & Relationships”. Sweet, but not saccharine. Sentimental, but not syrupy. Stirred, but not shaken.

For all your seduction cues, “Romance & Relationships” is your cuddliness one-stop shop.

Hear "Stay Awhile":

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2023 Jan

Dialects Of Longing

A collection of spoken indigenous soundscapes, associated with the celebrated cinematic documentary “The Wisdom Of Trauma”, featuring author and trauma activist Dr. Gabor Maté.

Hear The Melting Of The Big Ice (feat. Angaangaq Angakkorsuaq):

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2022 Nov

Elements Of Nature – Music For Greening

Charming and melodic soundscapes, speaking to the cycles and moods of our ecology and life.

Hear "Edinnu":

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2022 Nov

Ancient Worlds

A collection of mysterious music from ages past. Orchestral mixed with folk instrumentation and haunting voices take the listener on a journey to lands and adventures lost in the mists of time.

Hear "Passage Of The Ancients":

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2022 Oct

Dark Afro Soundscapes 2

Dark and eerie soundscapes featuring authentic African percussion, marimbas and bows.

Hear "Apocalypse Now and Again":

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2022 Jul

North African Melodic Soundscapes

Journey across the landscapes of North Africa with North African Melodic Soundscapes (MamaDance MD291), a richly cinematic collection of works inspired by the cultures and people of Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, and further afield, from the Mediterranean to the Bosporus.

Hear "Caravan":

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2022 Apr

Six Or Seven Spiritual Songs

Choral harmony, chants, chamber arrangements, colourful instrumentation, and nature soundscapes with ancient echoes and a contemporary aesthetic.

Hear "Down down down":

Read about the background to the texts and music.

2021 Dec

Mystical Africa - Sanscapes & Khoi Stories

A new collaboration with South African musical and cultural legend Tony Cedras, exploring themes of indigeneity and the land.

Hear "Brothers In Bass":

2021 Oct

Middle East

Taking you from the banks of the Nile to the deserts of Arabia and the foothills of Afghanistan and Pakistan, Middle East is the third in the Worldzone series of albums taking you on a massive musical journey around the globe.

Hear "Hayal":

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2021 July (#50)

Police Patrol

Powerful, dramatic, scary, whacky … “Police Patrol (MAM070)” is a new collection of crime-oriented music from Minds And Music.

Hear "Midnight Slasher":

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2021 June

Global Griot - West African Kora

“Global Griot” (Mama Dance MD260) is a compelling fusion of ancient and contemporary styles centring on the Kora, West Africa’s revered traditional harp. 

Hear "Sambou":

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2021 May

Classical Beauty (BAM-AL167)

 “Classical Beauty” is a new collection on BAM Music, BAM-AL167, with flowing, orchestral compositions with building pianos and strings.

Hear "Wuthering":

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2021 May

Wonders Of Nature: Deserts – Australia (EMM403)

Wonders Of Nature: Deserts – Australia (EMM403) features sparse yet expansive scores for nature documentary, travel, and location-specific drama; an ideal scene-setter for the vast deserts, unusual wildlife and also the tragic history of the Australian continent and its famed outback.

Hear "Red Sand Pursuit":

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2021 May

Wonders Of Nature: Deserts – Asia (EMM368)

 Wonders Of Nature: Deserts – Asia (EMM368) explores the deserts of Asia, from Arabia and the Middle East, to Central Asia, Mongolia and China.

Hear the "Threshold":

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2021 Mar

Wonders Of Nature: Deserts – Africa (EMM387)

Wonders Of Nature: Deserts – Africa (EMM387) uses indigenous winds, strings and percussion. It features music and sounds ranging from the Kalahari and the Namib in the South to the Saharan sounds of Mali and the West, and across the North to Egypt.

Hear "Sahara Cirrus Sky", an ideal scene-setter for desert scenes and themes:

Read and hear more.

2021 Mar

Bigger Than Me

Distilling 2 decades of songwriting into 12 tracks, this is classic independent songwriting, dispatches from a bard at the edges, and the outsider’s view on belonging, nostalgia, and hope.

Hear view and buy.

The title track: 

 

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2021 Feb

Afro Zen - Journey Within

New Age serenity meets African vitality in compilation “Afro Zen – Journey Within” from Mama Dance Music (MD255)

Hear "Wrapture":

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2021 Jan

Epic Adventures

A soaring orchestral track on “Epic Adventures (BOOM122)” speaks of the majesty of mountains.

2020 Dec

#NORDICNOIR (Story Recordings SRE015) is edgy, mysterious and provocative and rooted in dark Scandinavian drama. It’s a mixture of contemporary sound design, minimalist melodic, explosive percussion, and dissonant urban dystopias.

Hear "Secret Spies": 

Hear and read more.

2020 Oct (#40)

"Big Screen Africa - Spirit of the Land" (Mama Dance MDML239)  is a rousing collection of cinematic African orchestral music. It speaks of dignity, humanity and celebration with verve and charisma, expressed through the full emotional range of the orchestra.

Hear "Adventures Call": 

Hear and read more.

2020 Aug

"Wonders Of Nature: Micro Life" (Evolution Music Media EMM320) zooms into a world of the small, the busy, the delicate and the strange.

Hear "Germination":

Hear and read more.

2020 June

“Nordic Nights” (Minds and Music MAM056) explores the music, myth and soul of the Scandinavian sensibility.

Hear “Days Of Night”:

Hear and read more.

 

2020 Mar

"Microtension" (EMM278) on Evolution Media Music. This pitch was interesting: use bare minimal harmony or melody but create maximum tension.

Hear “The Crunch”:

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2019 Oct

Mystery Underscores (EMM275)

Dark, unnerving, pensive intrigue… as sleazy as you like.

Hear “Haunted Heart”

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2019 Oct

“Light Afro Soundscapes” (MD206) are light, airy, positive and uplifting, for doccies, daily dramas, wildlife, nature, religious and corporate programming.

Hear “Joybeams”:

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2019 July

“Dark Afro Soundscapes” (MD205) are deliciously dark and eerie drones and pulses for dramas, documentaries, crime shows, and current affairs productions.

Hear “Transmission:

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2019 July

"African Desert Blues" (MD184)

In the mold of Tinariwen and Ali Farka Toure, a blues compilation with African guitar luminaries from Johnny Clegg Band, Freshly ground and Bright Blue.

This is my track "Harmattan Haze":

2019 January

 

“Wonders Of Nature - South America” (Evolution Media EMM203) is a collection of scores and themes inspired by Andean, Brazilian and Argentinian moods.

Hear "Proliferacion":

Read and hear more ...

2019 May

"The One"

 

Based on Rumi’s timeless poetry, “The One” is a song cycle for strings and voices, and a sumptuous, exhilarating sacred journey towards Unity.

Hear "Fractal":

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2019 March (#30)

"Aura - Mysterious ambient soundscapes". (BM108)

Smooth, spacious minimalism that creates a hypnotic and bleak mood.

Hear "Immensity":

2018 November

"West African Odysseys & Atmospheres" (MD178
Largely acoustic West African tracks prominently featuring the beautiful Malian instrument kamale ngoni (the young man's kora).

Hear "A!! Akimbo":

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2018 September

"Made In Africa" (POP-PS-233)

20 fresh, upbeat African tunes from Southern township jive to Northern desert vamps created for German production library Popvirus.

This is "Doh Mi Ray":

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2018 August

"Ambient Beds" (SFT 216)

Moody drones and subliminal tension to add vibe and atmosphere to any factual programming or drama series.

This is "Totem Pulse":

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2018 April

“African Chillout” (BM100)

Don’ worry be ‘uppy: “African Chillout” is relaxing, fresh, contemporary African grooves on world production library Brilliant! Music.

This is "African Sundowner":

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2018 Feb

“Valley Of The Shadow”

“Valley of the Shadow – Rites of Loss” is an evocative, eclectic suite for strings, voices and sound design. It explores the universal narratives of loss through moods like denial, bargaining and anger.

This is the overture, "The Gates Of Remembrance":

Read and hear more.

2015

“Haunting Beauty” (EMM146)

Graceful, delicate and emotive. Piano, strings, gentle electric guitars and atmospheric textures create an intimate, evocative sound in a filmic, minimal, contemporary classical idiom.

Here is "Too Late":

Read and hear more ...

2018

“Lyrical Themes”

Nic Paton’s second album with Melbourne Production Library Strange Fruit is “Lyrical Themes” (SF 196). The key to this collection is its crafted melodic emphasis and often melancholic mood, with piano, winds, string quartet and wide-ranging plucked string instruments.

This is "Footprints Of The Dancer":

Read and hear more.

2017

“Pianism 2”

The second sensitive, elegant & minimal pianistic album by Nic Paton with a variety of hopeful, poignant and peaceful emotive moments. A beautiful album for life stories and emotionally complex scenes. (MD 158)

Hear "Always Knew You Had It In You":

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2017

“Shadows (SFT205)”

“Contemporary drama score at its best”. 

Hear "Men of Mystery":

2017 (#20)

“Positive Tension (SFT199)”

Thought provoking and moody dramatic themes. 

Hear "Haunted Land":

2017

“Fairytales and Fantasy”

Rooted in fantasy, folklore and nature, this collection ranges from regal fanfare to delicate siren song, from fierce mythical conflict to solemn ritual, and from epic adventure to children’s lullaby. DNA Music.

"Kings and Queens":

Read and hear more.

2016

“Dramatic Themes”

Powerful, evocative music for television and cinematic use to headline and underscore thrillers, tragic dramas, espionage, and political intrigues. (SF 196)

"Don't Look Back":

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2016

“Mana”

Chris Tokalon (R.I.P) and Nic Paton present “Book of Sand”, a comprehensive cross-cultural musical experience. Moving and mysterious, mischievous and impish, and at times surging with unbridled energy.

"Ancient Trails", soaring bansuri and earthy udu:

Read and hear more.

2016

“Heavenly Harmony – Evocative African Voices”

Deeply and authentically African and simultaneously universal and contemporary, these are powerful, emotive voice-rich soundtracks. (MD134)

This is "Sinking Down" featuring Ntutu Nyiki:

Read and hear more.

2016

“Our Daily Ukulele – Cheek and Charm”

Ranging between delicately plucked poignancy, sprightly African joyousness, thrashing carnival riffing and almost uncouth slapstick. (MD107)

Here's "Lanie":

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2015

“North Africa – Arabic Inflections”

Captures the allure, beauty and energy of North African, Middle Eastern, and other World musical styles. (Also commercially released as “Mana”, above) (MD126)

"What was said to the Rose":

Read and hear more.

2015

Voxi

From one community’s experiments in music and contemplation, choral collective “voxi” has developed an intriguing, warm, spacious set of songs exploring ancient and contemporary spiritual traditions with awe, yearning, and gratitude.

Hear "Abwoon":

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2013

“Wide Horizons”

Celebrate expansiveness, joyous adventure and awe, while also passing beyond the immediate field of normal vision into the darker, more numinous spaces of the soul. (MD118)

This is "Soaring":

Read and hear more.

2015

“Sun People”

Soulful vocals, scintillating guitars, vivid whistles and warm reeds, pulsating marimbas, and stately African strings, and a whole lot more.

Here's a 2 minute sampler:

Read and hear more.

2013 (#10)

“Pianism – elegant, minimal, flowing piano themes”

Create space, style and expansiveness, to calm and cleanse, to uplift and affirm, yet hinting at deeper, darker wells of emotion and intrigue.

Here's a 2 minute sampler:

Read and hear more.

2012

“Wilderness within – soundtracks for creatures and cosmos”.

Tread ancient elephant trails, linger on an owl’s vigil, rollick with mischievous cubs. Innovative soundscaping, exotic instrumentation and sonorous cinematic orchestration.

Here's a 3 minute sampler:

Hear it on Mama Dance.

2011

“Space and Story – soundtracks for mythmaking”.

Combining expansive cinematic forms, exotic World rhythms, and organic electronica, these soundtracks evoke moods from tender to heroic , from the quirky to the sublime. 

Here's a 3 minute sampler:

Hear it on Mama Dance.

2011

“Twana Toons – Playtime, Bedtime, Kiddies Time”.

From playful grooves and rambunctious riffs to sweet, soothing lullabies, “Twana Toons” is a cross-over of production-ready African children’s music. (MD40)

Here's a sampler:

Read and hear more.

2011

45 SPORTS POWER – Africa Scores

A Powerful and Energetic collection of Punchy beats, Winning grooves, Victorious percussion, Electro Vuvuzelas and Intense African vocals. (MD45)

Sample it:

2011

Sout Project

Emergent visionary Brian McLaren, dazzling African choir Siyaya, and traditional muse Madosini mixed with exotic instrumentation & organic electronica: Cape Town’s Sout Project present a startlingly fresh, eminently singable approach to the sacred: Story.

Here is "Circle":

More.

2009

The Middle Of It All

Nic’s first solo songwriter album after a 15 year hiatus. Acoustically wrought and electronically rendered, these tales of the hinterland are expressed via a new "DigiFolk" sensibility.

Here is "Bide My Time":

More.

2004

Jazzanians

African Jazz from the melee of apartheid era protest. Emerging from the University of KwaZulu-Natal jazz program under Darius Brubeck, Nic played saxophones and wrote the piece “Badisa”.

1988

Friends First

Afro – Gospel anti-apartheid extravaganza and Nic’s published songwriting debut, on which he contributed 4 songs including the title track.

1986