is a UK-based musician and composer who releases music under the name Samplehound. Having retired from a career in the commercial world, Rich, 59, has prolific ambitions: he intends to release sixteen albumsof new music between 2020 and the end of 2024.
Working with synthesisers and samplers, and with influences from rock to classical music, Rich tells me the central aim of Samplehound is "making people feel good. Some Samplehound albums will mix electronic and acoustic elements together; others will be purely acoustic. Some will be energising and uplifting, others relaxing and restful." I like the ultra-lounge feel of the label he says will be given to the latter examples: Samplehound Relax.
"My track ‘Mystic Mike’ is one of my oldest, dating to 1997. It’s about a work colleague who lived a double life - with two families who were in the dark about each other. He was quite intellectually brilliant but totally disorganised and unable or unwilling to share his ideas with the rest of the team, so we never quite knew what he was doing. His pockets were stuffed with random bits of paper and his desk was piled high, but he gained so much respect for what he could do that he was gladly tolerated. The title is derived from ‘Mystic Meg', an astrologer who at the time featured on the UK National Lottery. She still seems to be going strong."
Something New
"My next single ‘Evening Star’ will be released on 13th August. It’s a gentle, ambient piece that attempts to capture the beauty of Venus shining in a darkening sky just after sunset. I’ve been drawn to writing ambient-style pieces recently. They are just as difficult to write as other more complex pieces because they are all about balance - the different elements have to work together to create an atmosphere. The other challenge with ambient is to get the amount of change right as the piece progresses - not enough, and they sound too static and dull, too much and they lose the ambient vibe."
Something Borrowed
"My track ‘Stevie’ is a jazz instrumental dedicated to the wonderful Stevie Wonder, one of my all-time musical heroes. His creativity and melodic sense are amazing. So much great music that it’s hard to pick a favourite. The melody of ‘Stevie’ includes a short quote from the harmonica solo in his track ‘Isn’t She Lovely’, though it’s quite well disguised! ‘Isn’t She Lovely’ is a joyous and uplifting track."
Something Blue
"None of the music I’ve released so far is obviously sexy or about something forbidden. But there is a track which I’m planning to release sometime next year which is obviously sexy. It’s called ‘Slinky’, and here’s a demo version."
Wedding Ritual is an ongoing series of artist profiles curated and edited by Wes Viola. For updates, follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook - or subscribe to get one update in your email whenever a new post goes up. The blog is open to submissions from visual artists, sculptors, musicians, writers, dancers, sculptors, filmmakers and all kinds of creative practitioner. For more details of what's going on here, and especially if you'd like to feature yourself, check the always-popular 'what on earth is going on here?' page. For links to the Wedding Rituals performed by every artist featured to date, see Every Ritual.
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The altar has been dormant for a while but new Rites are being prepared as we speak... watch this space.
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