Digitonal - Big Chill Summer Mix - 2006

Biography of Digitonal

ANDY DOBSON
Andy Dobson started writing and performing as Digitonal in 1997 whilst writing music for film and theatre groups. Classically trained from a young age, his flatmate rescued him from a life of grunge by taking him to a little clubnight called Blech. Aside from Digitonal, he wrote and toured a satirical musical and sang with the Philharmonia Chorus, once appearing onstage with Luciano Pavarotti. Everything he knows he stole from comic books. He lives in Battersea.

Although producer Andy Dobson had been writing and performing as Digitonal since 1997, it wasn't until the addition of violinist Samy Bishai in 2000, and drummer Callum Macmillan in 2002 that the outfit's collision of classical and electronica properly took shape. Acclaimed releases for Toytronic and Seed records followed which fused the boundaries of both modern classical and electronic movements, garnering across the board praise from critics of both faiths. Their latest release introduced legendary ambient vocalist Kirsty Hawkshaw to the lineup who the band continue to work with.

Digitonal are live favourites with high-profile shows under their belt for the Royal National Theatre, Institute of Contemporary Arts, Cheltenham International Festival of Classical Music, The Dedbeat Festival, Bestival, and the Big Chill festival, as well as many more across the UK, US and Europe.

SAMY BISHAI
In addition to his work with Digitonal, Samy Bishai is an in demand session player in London, and has toured and recorded with Terry Hall and Mushtaq, Celloman, Yasmin Levy, Reem Kelani and Aquilina. He drinks way too much espresso.

CALLUM MACMILLAN
Callum Macmillan has been playing drums and percussion since the age of fourteen. He's been playing the fool considerably longer. Both these skills are required to maintain the heart of the Digitonal beat, whether behind the huge ever-growing pulsating V-Drums that rule from the centre of the ultraworld, or tweaking knobs up front. Also an in-demand visual artist Callum met Digitonal in 2003 via some weird synchonicity thing involving an ex-girlfriend's house, mutual friends and a parallel record collection. He still doesn't realise that Andy nicked his copy of SAW II.

KAT ARNEY
Kat Arney has been making music since before she was tall enough to reach the piano keys. Now still not tall enough to reach the keys, she plays harp, clarinet, bass clarinet, spoons and more or less anything else she can get her hands on. Kat is often found playing with the eclectic acoustic/Indian outift Sunday Driver, but freely admits to being a complete musical whore who will go with anyone (click the name to email!). In her spare time, she's a professional science communicator and avid knitter. Personal motto: Relaxation is for wusses.