
Play Commercial Showreel
Play Commercial Showreel
The Douglas Brothers gave me my first break into writing for commercials. Stuart Douglas has made his drama debut with this tender, moving short film Cúl an Tí: The Back of the House, from a script by Emma Pyne, and taking inspiration from Séan Ó Ríordáin’s much-loved poem. Here’s the trailer for the film which is already appearing at festivals internationally.
I am so thrilled that KATY, adapted for CBBC from Jacqueline Wilson’s retelling of WHAT KATY DID has won two BAFTA Children’s Awards: Chloe Lea for Best Young Performer and Tom Bidwell for Best Writer. It was also nominated for Best Drama. Well done to Spencer, John and all the team on a lovely series. For the score I was lucky enough to have Barnaby Robson of the Royal Opera play clarinet, Michael Cox of the London Sinfonietta on flute and Nicholas Holland on cello. Arthur Dick performed the heavy metal guitars and banjo, mandolin, omnichord, piano, accordion, acoustic guitar, glockenspiel and Juno 6 were me. Much of the score derived from a single acoustic demo I wrote in response to the script.
Sky One enjoyed its highest ratings ever among 5-14 year olds, and the highest overall for five years with the Christmas Eve treat Ratburger, adapted by Kevin Cecil and David Walliams from the latter’s book. Starring Sheridan Smith, Walliams himself and newcomer Talia Barnett, it tells the story of young Zoe who, bullied at school, befriends a dancing rat she names Armitage. However, the evil Burt (Walliams) has plans to turn Armitage into one of his revolting burgers and a series of disappearances adds to the mystery. Plans are in place for a digital release of the soundtrack soon.
The problem with traditional utility poles for power and communication cables is that weight and rigidity makes them vulnerable to extreme winds and weather. German company BASF have developed an ultra-light pole of glass-fibre and polyurethane composite called Elastolit® which can withstand freak storms due to an ability to ‘bend with the wind’. Stuart Douglas’ stirring ad for Leagas Delaney London showcases the life-saving qualities of this innovative product and features music by Kevin.
England’s original footballing jetset-couple Tina and Bobby Moore airs on Friday nights in January 2017 in ITV’s 3×60 primetime three-parter. It stars Michelle Keegan as Tina, Lorne McFadyen as Bobby. Directed by John McKay and produced by Spencer Campbell from a script by Lauren Klee.
Red Productions’ highly successful ensemble series returns to our screens with an completely new cast and setting, the secret lives of the staff at a South Wales warehouse.
Written by Danny Brocklehurst, directed by Misha Manson-Smith (No Offence) and Jon Wright (Robot Overlords).
Kevin has scored the new Avon Dreams fragrance commercial for Leagas Delaney with a delicate, haunting song co-written with vocalist Helen Hamilton formerly of London band Death Rattle. Directed by Kathi Prosser via The Sweet Shop, it first airs from February 1st across Eastern Europe and South Africa and then online worldwide.
The world’s finest handmade watches deserve music of equal distinction; Kevin’s beautiful, timeless composition ‘Tick Tock’ emphasises the emotions in Patek Philippe’s new Global Generations film. Tender scenes of a parent and child in a variety of cultures – London, Geneva, Tokyo, Shanghai and New York – demonstrate “You never actually own a Patek Philippe. You merely look after it for the next generation.”
This new six-part series from writer Danny Brocklehurst (Shameless, The Driver) has been getting excellent reviews and a passionate response from millions of viewers. Directed by John McKay and Juliet May, and produced for Red Productions by Tom Sherry, it examines the lives – and lies – of the staff at a used car-dealership somewhere in the north of England. A superb cast of familiar faces including Max Beesley, Jo Joyner, Sally Lindsay, Mackenzie Crook, Jason Manford and Michelle Keegan feature in these modern morality tales. Kevin performed much of the highly-original score himself, which combines mandolin, ukelele, bouzouki, autoharp, boomwhackers and banjo with synthetic textures in what he calls ‘eclectronica’.
The Wrong Mans Series Two has been nominated for two BAFTAs. Not only have Mathew and James have been recognised in the Comedy Writer category, but the series has received a nomination for Best Scripted Comedy. Congratulations to director/producer Jim Field Smith and all the talented contributors involved.
There’s no escaping Kevin’s music this Christmas.
The Wrong Mans returns for two new sixty-minute episodes at 9pm on BBC2 on December 22nd and 23rd. Sam and Phil find themselves trapped on a witness protection scheme near the Texas border and need all their ingenuity to get back home. The score was recorded and mixed at Kevin’s home studio with Steve Parr engineering.
Steve Pemberton (The League of Gentlemen, Happy Valley) has adapted E F Benson’s much-loved Mapp & Lucia books for BBC1, airing on 29th, 30th and 31st December at 9pm. Kevin wrote the major character themes before even seeing a frame of film. The orchestra was recorded over three days at Angel Studios with Gary Thomas and Steve Price, and mixed at Kevin’s home studio by Steve Parr. There are plans afoot for an orchestral suite from the score.
Hotly anticipated six-part action comedy The Wrong Mans, created by and starring James Corden (Gavin & Stacey) and Matt Baynton (Horrible Histories, Yonderland) comes to our screens this month. Here’s the suitably epic trailer.
With an impressive supporting cast including Dougray Scott and Nick Moran and directed by BAFTA & Emmy-nominated Jim Field Smith (Episodes), the story follows two lowly but well-meaning council workers who stumble into a vicious gangland conspiracy.
It marks the first co-production between BBC and US web TV channel Hulu.
Kevin Sargent is composer based in London. He was nominated for a BAFTA for his work on The Hour (BBC/Kudos) and an Ivor Novello Award for A Waste of Shame (BBCTV).
His score for the BBC’s recent Mapp and Lucia received a nomination from the Royal Television Society for Best Original Music and We’ll Take Manhattan received Music+Sound International Award nominations for both Best Title Music and Original Score.
As a pianist, he earned acclaim for his recording of the Malcolm Arnold double piano concertos with the Ulster Orchestra, released on the Naxos label and broadcast on BBC Radio 3.
He began an eclectic professional career signed to A&M and Elektra Records in the USA, as drummer/percussionist and later keyboardist with Thrashing Doves, recording three albums and touring the USA, working with producers including Chris Thomas, Arthur Baker, Jimmy Iovine and Tommy Lipuma.
Killing Joe which he scored was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short.
Recently Kevin scored two series of Ordinary Lies (BBC/Red Productions), Tina and Bobby (ITV), and BAFTA-nominated The Wrong Mans (BBC/Hulu). Other television work includes Ballet Shoes (BBC/Mammoth Screen), Lilies (BBC/World Productions), Shakespeare Retold, The Canterbury Tales, The Last Days of Lehman Brothers (BBCTV), Blue Murder and Joe Maddison’s War (ITV).
Theatre work includes original scores and arrangements for Chris Lynam’s The Popcorn Club and Eric The Fred, and numerous appearances with The Hurricane Club improvisation group in London’s West End as both musician and improviser.
With music, I usually reckon on either
the process or the result being rewarding.
With Kevin, it’s both.
Lee Thomas, Pipedream Pictures
His work in commercials has won several awards including D&AD Gold Pencil and Creative Circle Golds for Barclays, and British Advertising Craft Award Best Music nomination for Adidas. Other brands include Guinness, Patek Philippe, Harrods, Tropicana, Penfolds, Financial Times and Sony Playstation.
He is currently working on songs for a stage project, a chamber concerto for saxophone and adapting his score from Mapp and Lucia into an orchestral suite.
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