A b o u t
John started playing music at about the same time he was learning to speak.
He has composed and recorded film score for Symphonic Orchestra, released and played live in nationally touring rock bands, released experimental work for installations and radio airplay and created electronic soundscapes for internationally acknowledged films. He has recently enjoyed teaching aspects of screen composition to students at the National Film School of Australia (AFTRS).
Awards
Won "Golden Rose" for Best in Show and "Rose d'Or" for Best Factual at Lucerne 2012
A team award for "Go Back to Where You Came From".
Won "Logie" for Best Factual 2012
A team award for "Go Back to Where You Came From".
Won "Best Original Song Composed for the Screen"
APRA-AGSC Australian Screen Music Awards 2007For his score on "The Bet".
Won "Best Original Score" at Sony Tropfest 2007For his score on "Real Thing".
Won European Union Film Award 2005 -
A film composition award. As part of the prize, this award saw John attend the 'Flanders International Film Festival' in Belgium.
Won South Australian Music Industry Awards (SAMIA) -His band "Big Things Flying" nominated in 5 categories. Received 3 awards including:
'Best New Band/Artist'
Selected Experimental
In 1996 John co-founded ‘newaural’.‘newaural’ is a collective of artists devoted to the creation of Sound, Vision, and Movement in any media. There are no specific boundaries set against the creative process and no one methodology has been used consistently. They create music as individuals and in groups and help each other as a collective.
‘newaural’ is poets, musicians, video post engineers, studio and live audio engineers, noise artists, web artists and sound designers.
They are Passionate about creating new audio-art for publication in any form.
‘newaural’ has created works for:
Opening of 1998 Biennial National Australian Poetry Conference,
‘The Listening Room’ - Radio National,
‘Earshots’ - JJJ experimental audio-art initiative,
'Drug Poetry'-WOMADELAIDE 2001.
Experimental Works
‘ArtNode Sculpture Park’ john gray (2003 – Newcastle University - Fine Arts)
(Direct Musical Responses to individual Sculptures as a guide to the unsighted)
‘Wider than Any Suburb’ john gray / newaural net (1998 – Independent)
(Live Performance Opening of the 1998 Biennial National Australian Poetry Conference. Based on a poem by ABC Radio National PoeticA’s Mike Ladd).
‘Transglobal Express’ john gray / newaural net (1999 – Independent)
(Aired on ‘Earshots’ - a JJJ experimental audio-art initiative)
‘Trains’ john gray / newaural net (1999 – Independent)
(Aired on Radio National’s Radio Theatre music program ‘The Listening Room’)
‘Drug Poetry’ john gray / newaural net (2000 – Independent)
(Aired at WOMADELAIDE 2001 as the synchronised soundtrack for a multimedia installation on drug abuse)
(...Plus numerous other Projects)
Selected Discography
'Into One' Project (1997 - Independent)
(Session Musician, Project for the Animal Liberation Association, and the International Fund for Animal Liberation)
'Building a Better Mousetrap' Roadshow Music (1996 - Roadshow Music)
(Aired Nationally on ABC Radio JJJ as a showcase of Roadshow Music’s new Talent)
'Dear Prudence' Big Things Flying (1996 - Roadshow Music)
(Aired nationally on ABC Radio JJJ, Austereo SA)
'Shine' Big Things Flying (1995 - Roadshow Music)
(Aired nationally on ABC-TV ‘Rage’, and extensively on Radio JJJ and Austereo SA)
'of rust and stardust' Big Things Flying (1995 - Roadshow Music)
(Aired nationally, internationally and extensively on ABC Radio JJJ)
'Turning to Blue' Big Things Flying (1993 - Independent)
(Aired nationally on ABC Radio JJJ)
'Coo' Coo (1997 - Independent)
(Session musician)
(Plus numerous other Projects)
Selected Live
Big Things Flying (1994-1998)
(released and aired internationally, toured nationally)
newaural net (founded 1996) experimental(released and aired nationally)
John has been involved in countless other recording and live projects.
Video
‘Shine' - Big Things Flying (1995 - Roadshow Music)
aired nationally on ABC-TV’s ‘Rage’
