As heard on BBC6Music: Song writer, guitarist & producer
As featured on BBC6music, BBC Introducing, BBC local radio, Radio Reverb, Latest TV, and (once!) Radio 1. Under the pseudonym ‘christopher rye‘, Chris is a songwriter, rock session guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, and freelance producer working with up-and-coming artists in Brighton. Chris has been in and out of recording studios since his 20s, when he was a guitarist on the books of Simon Napier-Bell’s Nomis Complex agency.
Space Angel
Chris is lead guitarist and frontman of Brighton space-rock four-piece, Space Angel, currently gigging locally. The band’s debut album, You Are Next, was released in 2023. The 14-song follow-up, DIVE!, will be released in 2025 on all digital channels, with physical releases too.
For more, go to the band’s website at www.SpaceAngel.rocks
Songwriter with national airplay
Several christopher rye songs have received multiple airplays on BBC 6Music, with the support of presenter Tom Robinson, and on other radio stations (including once on Radio 1). On 6Music, Tom described Chris’ track ‘Rainy Night Sunday’ as “a classic”, and “a favourite of this show”, giving it 10 out of 10. He played it several times on air, comparing it to The Blue Nile. He had high praise for ‘Big Sky! Keep Turning’, too, which he also played on air.
Chris’ song ‘I Tell the Moon’ also received national airplay, while Chris’ 2017 track ‘Beat-up Car’ was featured on BBC Introducing. Also in 2017, the video for Chris’ track ‘Splinter Cell’ was given heavy rotation on the Latest TV channel, and album opener ‘Et tu, Babe?’ received radio play in Brighton and Sussex.
In 2021, Chris’ single ‘I Am Other’ – from his forthcoming solo LP ‘Unnatural Blonde’ (2022) – was featured on Tom Robinson’s FreshOntheNet community, with Tom selecting it as one of his favourite songs.
Film and video soundtracks
Chris has written and recorded the music for a number of films, including a US-award-winning short, and for several corporate videos, including for the Millennium Dome and CTRL. One of his tracks was acquired by a major car manufacturer for a US East Coast advertising campaign.
Session guitarist
Chris is an accomplished rock guitarist – in the atmospheric style of his guitar idols David Gilmour, Phil Manzanera, John Martyn, and Robin Guthrie. He is in demand for studio sessions, and is currently playing with a number of Brighton bands – including Space Angel.
Here’s a three-minute demo reel of recent (2016) guitar work:-
Music book author
Under his real name, Chris Middleton, he is the author of two illustrated ‘how to’ books on digital music-making and recording, published worldwide in several languages: ‘The Complete Guide to Digital Audio’ (2004, Ilex Press, and others worldwide), and ‘Creating Digital Music and Sound’ (2006, Rotovision, Focal Press, and others worldwide).
In them, Chris interviewed a number of successful musicians (including Peter Gabriel), producers and engineers (at Abbey Road and Real World Studios), remixers (including Hakan Lidbo), technologists (including BAFTA-winning app maker Tim Cole), and Oscar-nominated sound editor/designer Kant Pan.
Music mentor
Chris has trained as a mentor with foundation learning centre DV8 Sussex in Brighton, where he worked with upcoming singer/songwriter, Marie White, who has since appeared at Glastonbury.
Enquiries
07986 009109
chris@chrismiddleton.company
