Pictish Girl - Music

Pictish Girl by Philip Riley & Jayne Elleson

Philip Riley & Jayne Elleson

Artist Biography For Philip Riley & Jayne Elleson

About Philip Riley Philip Was Born On Tyneside England And Spent Most Of His School Years In York. Involved In Music From An Early Age He Started In Bands At Age 15 Initially As A Guitarist And Then As A Drummer. Riley Had Some Formal Piano Training Although In His Own Words “I Must Have Driven My Old Teacher Crazy. I Was Always More Fascinated By What I Could Find Myself Which My Teacher Saw As A Curse But Has Since Proved A Blessing”. He Also Had Two Years Formal Drum And Percussion Training. Most Of His Skills In Arranging And Producing Are Self-Taught. After Completing A Bachelor Of Science Degree In Biology And Biochemistry Manchester Riley Started As A Brewer And Plant Chemist For A New Zealand Company. He Then Completed A Teaching Diploma And Started Teaching Biology Science And Music While Playing In Bands In His Spare Time. The Move Into The Recording Industry Followed His Growing Fascination With Synthesizers And The Technology Of Recording. Eventually He Resigned From Teaching To Set Up His Own Commercial Recording Studio - Life Of Riley Studios. He Has Worked With Vocalist Jayne Elleson For A Number Of Years And Their Distinctive Celtic Crossover Music Has Been Heard On Albums Around The World. Jayne’s Beautiful Vocals Combined With Thoughtful Well Crafted Lyrics Create An Atmospheric And Ethereal Landscape. When Asked About His Musical Influences The List Is Long And Eclectic From Elbow And Coldplay Through To Alison Krauss And Bonnie Raitt. Philip Lives In New Zealand Where He Continues To Produce Albums For Artists Lectures On MIDI Composes For TV And Albums And Edits For Projects As Diverse As The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra And Children’s Music For Schools. He Says “Every Day Is Different Musically So It’s A Wonderful Life”. About Jayne Elleson Jayne Was Born In Feilding New Zealand. She Showed Musical Talent From The Age Of Four When She Began Playing The Piano By Ear. She Has Been Singing Solo Since She Was 8 Years Old But Didn’t Start Serious Training Until The Age Of 13 When An Injury Cut Short A Very Promising Career As A Gymnast. She Threw Herself Into Operatic Voice Training Loving The New Languages And The Theatre Of Performing Arias Madrigals And Close Harmony Works. She Is Very Eclectic In Her Musical Tastes Citing Billy Holliday Pat Benatar And Enya As Some Of Her Influences Over The Years. Elleson Would Probably Describe Herself First And Foremost As A ‘rock Chick’ Having Fronted Bands Long Before She Was Legally Entitled To Attend Her Own Gigs. The Beautiful Ethereal Vocal Styling For Which She Has Become So Well Known Are Probably A Reflection Of The More Spiritual Emotional Side To Her Character. Jayne Has Worked With Philip Riley On A Number Of Celtic Crossover Albums Over The Years. She Is Also A Respected Session Vocalist And Has Provided Vocals For Various Award-Winning Advertising Campaigns Which Have Gone On To Win Two Clio Awards Gold In New York A Silver London International Advertising Award And Bronze And Silver Axis Awards In New Zealand. She Currently Lives In Australia.