Nick Squires - Imitation Games (2023)

World renowned contemporary cellist Nick Squires teams up with London Music Works. Known for ‘Bach in the Rain’ viral video that reached more than 50 million viewers, and for his contemporary cello arrangements, Nick Squires, together with London Music Works, creates a complex, multilayered sonic world. With this album, Nick brings a fresh perspective to some of the most moving and powerful soundtrack and concert hall music. Featuring music from The Cinematic Orchestra, Gustavo Santaolalla, Max Richter Jóhann Jóhannsson, Bear McCreary, this album is bound to find its place on many major DSP playlists.

Opening with ‘To Build A Home’, Cinematic Orchestra’s wonderful depiction of grieving, the album moves on to Yan Tiersen’s nostalgic and hopeful ‘Comptine d’un autre été’, and sublimely meditative Gustavo Santaolalla ‘s ‘All Gone’. In-between the soundtrack themes, the album intertwines bitter-sweet post-classical works written for the concert podium – Max Richter’s ‘On the Nature of Daylight’, Einaudi’s ‘Experience’, Eric Whitacre’s ‘Sleep’, as well as music from contemporary ballet – Johann Johannson’s ‘Flight From The City’ and the long-standing pop ballad, Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s ‘Power of Love’. Nick delivers themes with passion, longing, and contemplation to envelop the listener in his sonic world of luscious textures and poignant atmospheres.

Well known as a classical cellist, Nick Squires has also extensively worked in the areas of soundtracks and pop. From No.1 chart topping hits to Hollywood movies and live performance, Nick has played to audiences of over 40,000 and recorded internationally. As a cello player and dance music producer, Nick has toured alongside Take That and Kelly Clarkson. As a versatile cellist and string arranger, Nick has worked with a diverse range of artists, from Birdy to Westlife, The Pet Shop Boys to The X Factor USA and many more. Nick has played in film and pop sessions as well as recording for the epic ‘Hans Zimmer Strings’ sample bank for Spitfire Audio. Nick’s Cello has featured on UK number one ‘The Promise’ – Girls Aloud and the global hit ’Sweet About Me’ – Gabriella Cilmi. He also composed meditation and mindfulness albums for Calm.com and Lo-fi yoga beats for Apple Fitness.

Over the years classical music world has been supportive of Nick’s work and here are some quotes:

“Nick is one of those rare talents whose playing is inventive and captivating. His compositions always deliver flair and capture the imagination of listeners of all ages- truly, something for everyone!” – Tania Davis (Bond quartet)

“Nick Squires is one of the most instinctively gifted musicians I’ve ever worked with” – Bozidar Vukotic (The Tippet Quartet)

“Nick has a gift for communicating his love for music through his playing and writing. His positive energy is contagious!” – Ben Hancox (Sacconi String Quartet)

“Nick Squires is an extraordinarily gifted, charismatic and creative composer, arranger and ‘Cellist. With his boundless energy and infectious joy in what he does, it’s been a huge pleasure to work with him over the years on a great variety of projects” – Patrick Savage (Former principal First violin, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra).

Tracklist:

01. To Build a Home (Instrumental Version)
02. Comptine d’un autre été (from _Amélie_)
03. All Gone (No Escape) (from _The Last of Us Part 1_)
04. Blood Upon the Snow (from _God of War Ragnarök_ _ Instrumental Version)
05. On the Nature of Daylight
06. The Imitation Game (from _The Imitation Game_)
07. Sleep (Instrumental Version)
08. Redeeming Love Theme (from _Redeeming Love_)
09. Experience
10. My Life Before Me (from _The Portrait of a Lady_)
11. Oogway Ascends (from _Kung Fu Panda_)
12. The Power of Love (Instrumental Version)
13. The Wedding (from _Outlander_)
14. Flight From the City (from _Orphée_)