Contributors

Many very extraordinarily talented people contributed to the creation of Canary Wharf: the Rock Opera (sound and vision), without whom this project could not have been realised. I am also including a list of some of the fascinating people I interviewed for perspectives on the finance industry (this is not everyone, some finance workers I spoke to requested anonymity) and links to organisations whose activism around the financial industry has influenced my thinking.

CREATIVE WORKERS

  • Nicole Skeltys: writer, composer, producer

    I am an established Australian composer who has released 11 albums in styles ranging from electronic dance, folk rock, psychedelic, folktronica and more. I’ve also written scores for film, TV and theatre. I wrote the script, wrote/co-wrote and recorded all the songs, and co-produced all the music. More info on me and previous projects are on my website.

  • Mark Gardiner: composer, guitarist, production

    Mark is a highly accomplished Australian multi-instrumentalist and composer. He co-wrote and produced many of the songs including some of the great guitar work that you hear. Marks latest releases can be heard on his Earbone Bandcamp page.

  • Andrew Coates: vocals, composer

    Andrew is best known as founding member and songwriter for much loved Melbourne band Black Cab. Formed in 2004, Black Cab’s sound has ranged from psychedelic kraut rock to driving electronica, often drawing inspiration from Europe and American culture of the ’70’s and ’80’s. Andrew sings lead vocal as the character John and co-wrote Bretton Woods. Black Cab website.

  • Bill Garrett: voice acting, vocals, photography

    Bill’s multitalented life consists of many careers, including as a BBC investigative journalist on The Money Programme in the early noughties. Bill sings the part of David, and also doubles as a news announcer. Bill also took the excellent character photos on this site.

  • Ann Marie Sullivan: vocals

    Ann Marie trained as a classical singer at the Victorian college of the arts. She has been involved in many band and theatre projects in Melbourne. Ann Marie sings the part of Ruth. Her latest venture is as lead singer of mesmerising Twin Peaks tribute band Beautiful Dark.

  • Inga Liljestrom: vocals

    Inga is an Australian experimental singer songwriter and with Finnish descent. Her music has been described as cinematic and alchemises folk, rock, jazz, electronica, woven together by an ethereal voice. She sings the part of Helen. Inga’s website.

  • Mat Watson: drums, drum production

    Mat is a master of modular synthesis as well as an accomplished live drummer and drum programmer. He contributed drum tracks to several songs. His latest releases can be heard on his Bandcamp page.

  • Kristen Perry: saxophone, flute

    Kristen is Melbourne based musician specialising in flute and saxophone. She is equally at home performing classical and jazz and tango. Kristen has played in many bands throughout the years including a number of original projects. She is in her element when she improvises with artists and musicians weaving flute and saxophone magic in and out of sound and visual scapes.

  • Robin Hemmings: harmonica

    Robin is a London based bassist and harmonica player. He contributed harmonica to I Can’t F*cking Stand Myself. Robin’s band The Many Few are guitar driven new wave pop that have been compared to Robin Hitchcock.

  • Isabel Adomako Young: voice acting

    Isabel is a self-described queer actor, VO and writer of English and Ghanaian origins with a determination for social change. She’s worked at the RSC and the Royal Court, and played Juliet at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, for which she won the ‘Best Lead Actress’ award at the BBTAs. In 2019 she was nominated for the h100 Award for Rising Stars Under 30. She voices the part of The Narrator/ Helen. Isabel’s website.

  • Sam Price: voice acting

    Sam is a multi-disciplinary drummer, founder of Melbourne improvisation label Echogene and member of Melbourne improvising percussion duo, Peon. Sam believes that such marginal practices are somehow important in expanding notions of the real. His solo work can be found here.

  • Olivia Dowd: voice acting

    Olivia is an Actor, Writer, Director, Facilitator, Coach, Voice Artist and Dancefloor Enthusiast. As a VO actor, she has recorded over 40 audiobooks and was nominated for an Audie Award in 2021. She voices the part of Ruth. Her website here

  • Simon Pitts: voice acting

    Simon grew up Billericay, Essex. Unlike some of his school friends who got jobs as traders in the late ‘80s, Simon moved into printing, then pursued a career as a fundraiser in the charity sector. He voices the part of David. Simon currently works for London Air Ambulance.

  • Melissa Alexander Thatcher: acting

    Melissa is a hugely talented London based singer, actress, model who took up the role of the East London girl singer in the rock opera movie, putting Kate Bush stylee in the very best of political contexts.

  • Simon Polinski: song mixing and mastering

    Simon is an Australian music producer, engineer and musician who has worked with many respected bands ranging from The Church through to Black Cab. Simon mixed and mastered the individual songs in the rock opera, which are also being released as an album. More about Simon.

  • Jon Astley: rock opera mastering

    Jon is one of the UK’s most respected producers & audio engineers. He has mastered records for The Who, Charlie Watts, Abba, George Harrison, Tori Amos, Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones, Emmylou Harris, Tears for Fears, Led Zeppelin, Paul McCartney, Peter Gabriel and many more. Jon mastered the final rock opera including narration, voice acting and interstitials. Jon’s website.

  • Gary Schwartz: photography

    Gary is a professional photographer, videographer and educator based in London. He took the impressive pictures of Canary Wharf that I’ve used on this website. Gary’s website.

  • Aaron Doty: graphic design

    Aaron is a graphic designer and infographic specialist. He can also draw pretty awesome comics. He provided the graphic design elements for this website including all the corporate logos. Aaron’s website.

CREATIVE GUIDANCE

  • Pete Townshend

    Founding member of The Who, composer of Tommy and Quadrophenia, musical genius and highly gifted writer and thinker, Pete is widely credited with inventing and popularising the rock opera as a genre in the late ‘60s/ early ‘70s. His artistic impact on rock and electronic music history and culture has been enormous. Pete was gracious enough to talk to me at length in mid 2020 when I was formulating my rock opera story and music and has remained an inspiration and encouraging mentor since. Pete’s fan website.

  • Dr Noel Maloney & Dr Kim Baston

    Noel is my primary Phd supervisor at La Trobe University and Kim is my secondary supervisor. Noel is an accomplished screenwriter and playwright, and Kim is highly versatile musician and composer for musical theatre. They have been unfailing in their personal support for my endeavours and provided essential professional guidance on story-telling and the use of music.

  • Bill Garrett

    In addition to Bill’s creative contribution as singer and voice over artist, he also shared with me his in depth knowledge of financial markets and terminology without which the ‘verite’ aspect of this rock opera would not have been possible. As a former BBC presenter and producer, he also provided detailed script editing notes which were essential to providing the final polish to the story.

Interviewees (who agreed to be named)

Pete Townshend (inventor of the rock opera and musical genius)

Peggy Seeger (international folk revival leader, fantastic songwrier & activist for 60 years)

Dan Edelstyn and Hilary Powell (London based artist activists/Bank Job film & book)

Barry Munson (financial regulator, former Canary Wharf trader/ fund manager)

Alberto Duman (London based artist activist)

Geraint Anderson (former City financial analyst, writer of Cityboy: Fear and Loathing in the Square Mile)

John Christensen (economist, co-founder Tax Justice Network)

Professor Max Haiven (writer & teacher, author Art After Money: Money After Art)

Oliver Bullough (journalist & writer, author of Moneyland )

Katie Kedward (sustainable finance economist, former City analyst)

James Marriot (artist activist co-creator of And While London Burns)