Nigel Stonier

Nigel Stonier is a UK-based rock, roots and pop producer,^[1] songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.

Biography

He was born in Cheshire, but first relocated to London when, at the age of seventeen he secured a publishing deal with Southern music, and recorded his first demos produced by Dave Cousins of Strawbs, and with arrangements by Robert Kirby, famed for his work with Nick Drake.

Stonier’s first official releases were with Northern Sky, with whom he was rhythm guitarist, and co-writer of their 80s radio hit “I Wanna Be With You”. However it was as a producer/collaborator that he eventually came to major recognition.

He has produced and written material for a long line of UK acts, including Fairport Convention (whose latter-day anthem “The Wood And The Wire” he composed with Chris Leslie), Lindisfarne (band), Paul Young of Mike + The Mechanics and Sandi Thom. He has also collaborated with such UK roots-rock luminaries as Mike Scott (musician) of the Waterboys, Kathryn Tickell, Chris While and Rod Clements.

It was with Rod Clements that Nigel Stonier co-wrote “Can’t Do Right For Doing Wrong”, a top 40 hit in 2003 for pop singer Erin Rocha. He has produced both of Clements solo albums “Stamping Ground” and “Odd Man Out”.^[2]

In the mid nineties Stonier met, and began working with Oxfordshire born singer-songwriter Thea Gilmore. He has since become her producer of choice and ongoing musical partner. He produced her first top 40 single “Juliet” and co-wrote its follow-up Mainstream”, he has also produced all seven of her albums, and toured extensively in the UK and US as her guitarist.^[3]

In 2006 a song composed by Nigel Stonier and award winning jazz artiste Clare Teal (“Messin' With Fire”) was featured on the soundtrack of the hit British comedy movie “Confetti”, performed by Teal.^[4] Stonier further collaborated with Teal on material for her 2007 album ‘Paradisi Carousel”.^[5]

Also in 2006 Stonier joined Martha Wainwright onstage at the Bloomsbury Theatre in London. One of several UK artistes guesting on the show, Stonier hooked up with Martha for a rapturously received performance of her song “Who Was I Kidding”.

Marriage and children

In 2005 Stonier and Thea Gilmore married. They now live in Cheshire and have two sons, Egan, born in 2006, and Asher, born in 2011.^[6]

Discography

Stonier has released five solo albums and one compilation.^[7]

• Golden Coins For The Holy Kid (1995)
• English Ghosts (2000)
• Brimstone And Blue (2003)
• Don't Sing Love Songs... ...You'll Wake My Mother (2006 compilation)
• Notes From Overground (2010)
• Built For Storms (2014)

References