The audio sample above is a 2 minute sample taken from the complete Guiding Light track.

Thank you for dropping by to check out my new single, Guiding Light

My new single, Guiding Light, is inspired by a life changing experience I had back in 1993. I’d begun recording my second album, Lunar Reflections in a studio in Sydney in the days when home studios didn't exist, due to the sheer cost and size of analogue recording technology.  

The cost to produce the album was a considerable investment and on top of that, I wasn't achieving a sound I was happy with. I was getting nowhere fast, with a rapidly disappearing budget. Apart from needing a major miracle, it also became apparent that I needed a producer who was in tune with the type of music I was composing and understood how to capture the warmth and richness that instrumental music requires.

I remember thinking, what am I going to do? Who can I reach out to? Is my dream of a music career over before it starts? During this low point, I desperately needed some guidance and this is when Tony O'Connor and his wife Jacqui popped into my mind, as I'd crossed paths with them a number of times in the previous year.

I'd given them a copy of my first album, Rhythmist and received kind and encouraging feedback from them after they'd listened to it. They'd also shared lots of great advice from their own musical journey and I started to think that maybe they could steer me in the right direction. A little nervously, I decided to give them a call!

We chatted on the phone and I explained the situation, hoping Tony’s experience would shed some light on the matter or suggest a way forward. To my complete amazement, Tony and Jacqui invited me up to their wonderful studio in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland to record and produce Lunar Reflections, and from there, complete magic emerged...

I was already inspired by Tony’s highly successful catalogue of music in the late 80’s and early 90’s and always marvelled at the high level of production he achieved on his recordings. So to now be given this opportunity was a profound turning point for me.

I experienced some of the most memorable moments of my life during that time and learnt so much about recording and music production to take forward into future album projects. Tony's production skills brought the album to life and I'm forever grateful that he also composed and recorded beautiful string sections for two of my favourite tracks, The Gentle Heart, and the title track, Lunar Reflections.

So I honour Tony and Jacqui here and will always treasure the memories I have from those precious weeks.

It was a pivotal moment in my music career, as it was make or break time as to whether making music would prove to be a viable thing for me. Without their generosity, kindness and experience, my musical journey could’ve been very different, maybe even short-lived! For this, I'm eternally grateful.

Tony was a complete legend in the Ambient/New Age music field with multi-Platinum awards over the years for his amazing work. Sadly, Tony passed away back in 2010, however his music will be forever treasured by millions of people around the world.

His presence was very strong during the creation of Guiding Light, and my memories of our time in his studio are still very vivid to this day. So to all of us enriched by the kindness and wisdom of the Master and apprentice relationship, this piece is for you. I hope you can feel the emotion that sits within this piece.

Thanks so much for listening and for your ongoing support, it’s always deeply appreciated!  

Warm wishes,  Ian 🙏🏻