I have been lucky enough to work on a very special project with Coldplay’s Chris Martin and composer/arranger, John Metcalfe. Chris composed the official Anthem, based on a poem by Ernest William Henley, for the Invictus Games. An international sporting event for sick and injured service-people, the Invictus Games is held at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
I recorded John Metcalfe’s orchestral and choral arrangements at Angel Studios, followed by vocals and mixing at AIR Studios. The AIR session was attended by Chris and HRH Prince Harry, who played a major role in organising the Games. On lead-vocal duties were currently serving members of the British Armed Forces: Gary Chilton, Matthew Walker, and John Sumner. They also performed the anthem live as part of the opening ceremony. If you haven’t yet downloaded your copy you can do so here:
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/invictus-single/id916841807
After working on the music I felt I ought to go and see for myself what Invictus was all about, so I purchased last-minute tickets to watch the wheelchair-rugby in the Copperbox Arena. For the uninitiated, it combines the physical aspects of rugby with the pace of basketball, with no restrictions on contact between wheelchairs! (basically fast and violent!) The matches were exciting, and the atmosphere at a sunny Olympic Park took me right back to London 2012.
Forr more information about the Invictus Games, please visit their website.