London Sound Projects' DAWN&DUSK Gig: A Brilliant Night of Music

London Sound Project took The London Irish Centre by storm on March 13th, 2024, with our sold-out DAWN&DUSK gig. It was truly a night to remember.

What’s particularly unique about LSP is singing with our live house band and stepping onto the stage alongside such talented musicians—Becky Applin on harp, Fez Sanchez on guitar, Sam Sommerfeld on keyboards, Sam Weston on double bass and bass, and Simon Treasure on drums—the atmosphere was electric.

Performing with a live band adds a whole new dimension to the experience, and Sam Sommerfeld's dynamic arrangements and leadership added incredible depth and richness to the performance, even if we do say so ourselves!

Here’s what Sam had to say about the gig:

“Weekly rehearsals make up most of the year at LSP HQ, but our gigs are the cherry on the cake, allowing us to share what we’re up to. Each gig gets bigger and better and this was no exception. The perfect recipe of brilliant music, a fantastic venue and audience, and at the heart of it a wonderful choir and band. Thank you LSP and here’s to the next one!”

Sam Sommerfeld, LSP Musical Director.

The gig was split into two parts: Dawn and Dusk. The Dawn set kicked things off with stripped-back acoustic vibes, featuring songs like Ben Howard's "Nica Libra" and Bob Dylan's "Slow Train Coming." Jordan Mackampa's "Care for Your Mother" struck a chord with lead vocals by Sam Weston, and Ellie and Charlie brought the house down with their beautiful duet of Laura Mvula's "Sing to the Moon."

As the night rolled on into Dusk, the mood shifted to a more mellow groove. Birdy's "Raincatcher" and Sam Fender's "Wild Grey Ocean" set the scene, while London Sound Projects' recently released EP tracks "Running Up That Hill," "Remember Where You Are," and “Lean on Me” hit just right.

As for The London Irish Centre, the venue provided the ideal backdrop for the gig. Its intimate yet vibrant atmosphere lent itself perfectly to the intimate nature of the performance, providing a sense of connection and community.

Beyond the great songs and a Guinness or two, DAWN&DUSK was a reminder of the power of live music to bring people together.

Thank you to everyone who bought a ticket and came along to support, to the London Irish Centre for hosting us and to our brilliant band and choir for all your hard work in making DAWN&DUSK a night to remember.

See you at our next gig. Next stop: Actors Church, St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden in December. Watch this space for more info…

London Sound Project Launches Debut EP: RISE.

We are thrilled to announce that London Sound Project has launched our first AND second single, "Running Up That Hill" and “Remember Where You Are” as part of our debut EP titled RISE. These exciting releases mark a significant milestone for our choir, showcasing our unique sound.

"Running Up That Hill" holds a special place in the hearts of many music enthusiasts, originally written and performed by the legendary Kate Bush. The song, released in 1985, remains a timeless classic known for its emotive lyrics and haunting melodies. Our rendition pays homage to Bush's iconic track while infusing our own distinctive style and energy into the mix.

"Remember Where You Are" by Jessie Ware is a soulful and introspective track that invites listeners to reflect on the present moment. Known for her captivating voice and emotive songwriting, Jessie Ware has established herself as a prominent figure in the music industry. The song, featured on her album "What's Your Pleasure?", showcases Ware's ability to blend elements of pop, R&B, and disco, creating a mesmerising sonic experience that resonates with audiences worldwide.

We hope you love our versions as much as we do.

Here’s what our Musical Director, Sam Sommerfeld had to say about the EP:

““Recording for this was a really exciting and busy time for LSP. Working with the band is easy and a joy - these are top notch musicians and each one of them brings creative ideas and is open to trying new things. The singers’ sessions were brilliantly intense - we only had a few hours for each voice section (evening sessions of course) and they were focussed and excited at the same time! It was brilliant to bring everyone together in this way. Working with Sam Featherstone afterwards on the mix was fantastic, with his close eye and ear for detail he was able to elevate the tracks to the next level. LSP is a group of people from all over the city that get together to create music - I hope you enjoy the fruits of our labour.””

— Sam Sommerfeld

Having fun in the studio.

Launching our EP RISE. signifies a significant achievement for LSP, reflecting our artistic growth and commitment to creating meaningful music. Each track on the EP demonstrates our versatility and creativity, offering listeners a diverse musical journey filled with emotion and authenticity.

We are excited to announce that the EP RISE. featuring "Running Up That Hill" and “Remember Where You Are” is now available on all major platforms, including iTunes, Apple Music, and Spotify. We have one more track to release - coming soon!

We encourage you to support LSP by streaming our music, sharing it with your friends, and experiencing the joy of our sound for yourself.

EP Credits:

Bass - Sam Weston

Guitar - Fez Sanchez

Drums - Sam Campbell

Mixed by Sam Featherstone

Keys - Sam Sommerfeld

Arrangements by - Sam Sommerfeld

EP Cover Design by LSP

Meet our Musical Director Sam

In the vibrant world of London Sound Project (LSP), where melodies merge and voices harmonise, Sam Sommerfeld stands as the guiding force, steering the musical journey with passion and energy. In this exclusive interview, we delve into the inspirations, memorable moments, and unique aspects that define Sam's role as the Musical Director of LSP.

What inspired you to become involved in directing a choir?

I've been lucky enough to have music in my life from a very young age; my granddad played the piano and my parents listened to a wide mix of music when I was growing up too. I set up my own orchestra and choir when I was sixteen at school so that was an amazing experience and really set me down the path of knowing I want to be an MD. Down the line when I was training at Leeds Conservatoire, I was involved in singing and conducting choirs, I just love what happens when people come together and sing in unison or in harmony. The notion of voices coming together and specifically playing with harmony is what really excites me.

Can you share a memorable experience or performance with London Sound Project that stands out in your mind?

Every gig we do with LSP is so different with a wide mix of music. Everything has its own set of special moments and memories, as do the rehearsals. A gig I do have one specific memory is from our summer gig last year at The Crypt on the Green in Clerkenwell. Barbie, who is one of our Choir and Committee members, sang a beautiful solo. Barbie’s late husband was Storm Thorgerson, who was the artist and graphic designer of some of the most famous vinyl records and artwork from the 60s onwards for many big artists like Led Zeppelin, Muse, Black Sabbath, and Pink Floyd. Barbie sang "Coming Back to Life" by Pink Floyd, and we still use this today. We had these amazing rousing guitar solos that added to the mix of soaring accordion and Barbie’s heartfelt storytelling, which was quite emotional knowing what it means to her. I remember thinking, "This is powerful, this is why we do it”. I’ll never forget it.

How would you describe the atmosphere and ethos you aim to create within London Sound Project?

I always think of the term ‘high octane’; I have quite a lot of energy, that’s my style and how I work. We are very welcoming, and I always use laughter as a tool; I think laughter is just how I survive in life and it’s so important in putting people at ease and bringing out the heart in a group.

I don't want anyone to think it's not challenging; we're all inclusive, and we have such mixed abilities, so I always want to find a way of challenging people in a supportive way even if it's not specifically with harmony. It might be with listening or trying different textural things like clicking, stomping and different things with scales. We're not necessarily just singing vowels or notes, and so I always want people to feel challenged. It's a really joyful thing.

What’s your favourite aspect of working with a community choir like LSP?

First and foremost, it’s the people. We have such a mix of amazing people in the LSP family, but it’s not just the choir; it’s the singers, the musicians of the band, our committee members. We have guest artists we bring in for the gigs, who get to know the choir. They are people that I know who get the vibe and get what we're after. Even the crew that we get in for our sound and lights. It’s the people who make LSP. It’s also the music; I do think that we try and do stuff that you wouldn't expect a choir to sing and also, it's often songs that people might not have heard of themselves. We don't do obvious stuff, so it does feel like it's more creative and explorative in that musical sense. I also like the idea of audience members leaving our gigs with the running order and going away wanting to listen further to these songs, having discovered new artists and music at our gigs.

Do you have a favourite musical genre or style that you particularly enjoy exploring with the choir?

I try and cover a mix of stuff, but I'm definitely more towards the contemporary leaning. My general rule is that I want something with a good lyric and good storytelling. That's the most important thing and then something that's got a really good hook. It’s a balance of finding something that's really going to shine with the choir and that the singers are really going to want to sing as well, and the band are really going to want to play.

What are your top 3 favourite songs of all time?

Oh, that’s too tough! That's like asking a Chef what their favourite dish is! What I can say is my absolute favourite sort of artists, and I can't even pick that to be honest, but I love Joni Mitchell because of her storytelling and her songwriting. I love Sting, I love his music and I love Peter Gabriel so there's three more old-school artists.

I try and listen to a range of music because of my work as I do lots of different types of music. I’m currently obsessing over Jordan Mackampa, Celeste, and Roberta Flack.

My desert island disc would probably be Joni Mitchell, Sting, and Peter Gabriel. Can I get away with that answer? Choosing 3 songs is impossible!

Are there any unique traditions or quirks within LSP that you find particularly endearing or special?

I don’t know if this is a quirk, but I think the band is something I think is so unique and special to LSP. A lot of choirs have bands that are wheeled in for the gigs. We don’t do that; our house band sees the choir every month to every six weeks in sessions, so we regularly get together all year round. This means they have a relationship with the singers and vice versa so there's lots of banter and mutual respect for what we're trying to achieve as opposed to musicians that come in or turn up for the gig and no one knows who they are.

Outside of your role with LSP, what other musical projects or personal hobbies do you pursue?

I work in professional theatre mostly, and I often work on new musicals, that's where my passion lies - in creating new work. I love working with a composer and creative team carving out new work and new stories. I also do bits of arranging as a freelancer.

In terms of hobbies, I have two dogs with my partner so I love LOVE our dogs and we go on big walks and weekends away where we can take the dogs away. I love my friends and family and like doing social things. I also love cooking, so I tie those two things into each other and like getting people over, down the pub or round the table for dinner and spending time together.

Can you give us 3 fun facts about Sam, the man, the myth, the legend?

Well, I don't know if it’s a fun fact but I’m half German, my dad is German and lives in Germany. In another world if I wasn't a music director, I would like to be a pilot. I just love the idea and that's linked to probably my third fact which is I love to travel. I love seeing the world and experiencing different cultures.  Seeing the world feeds my soul and basically meeting different people, so I love travelling.

If I’m ever saving up for something, if it's not something to do with the dogs or the house, then it's to go travelling. The world is big, and I want to see it and so I think maybe that's where the idea of being a pilot comes from. I love the idea of flying and travelling around the world!

What would you say to someone thinking of joining, but they don’t think they can sing?

LSP is not just about achieving great sound. While that’s important, it's a place where everyone, even those who think they can't sing, discovers their voice in a safe and friendly environment. The heart of our activities is the weekly rehearsals, but we also throw in some extra fun events.

We cover contemporary pop, rock, folk, and more. There's always something for everyone, and our unique arrangements often turn sceptics into fans.

Beyond the music, we hang out at the pub after sessions. We’re a sociable bunch. It's a chance to socialise, make friends, and enjoy the diverse backgrounds of our members. London's cultural mix is reflected in our group, creating a welcoming community where people from different walks of life come together for the love of music.

Why not give it a go? I promise we’re lovely and singing with others has huge benefits for health and wellbeing. Don’t take my word for it; that’s just science!