About John Timney
I am a musician and audio producer. I am a multi-instrumentalist, but my first instrument is the drums – I have played and taught drum kit professionally since attaining my Guildhall Grade 8 in 2009.
Having been freelance full-time since 2014, I now teach part-time at the University while working professionally in industry. I have an MA in music (with distinction) from Newcastle University.
I teach BA (Hons) Music (Top-Up) and sound recording and mixing on BA (Hons) Film Production.
Teaching and supervision
Interests
- The position of the digital-native musician and producer
- Music cognition
- Music and place
- Field/location audio recording
- Creative practice
- Practice as research
- DAW based composition
Research
Professionally, I work with various nationally touring acts as a guitarist, drummer, and producer. Primarily, my main project is Shannon Pearl (a neo-folk band), producer and guitar/drums, live and studio, touring and releasing new work in 2025.
Also, notably, Pointy Features (lo-fi/blues – drums, live and studio. 100 million on Spotify, working on new material for release in 2026) and the Nick Gladdish band (producer and drummer – launching a new album in 2025).
I also perform with and produce a long list of north-east-based artists and bands on a freelance basis. In the past, I have worked as an audio producer for radio, as well as a stage technician in theatre and a live sound engineer in music venues nationally.
My recorded work has been featured on BBC 6 Music and national television and radio, and I have performed at north-east venues such as The Glasshouse and 02 Academy, Newcastle.
In the studio, I work on Steinberg Cubase, as well as Adobe Audition and Premiere Pro.
Areas of expertise
- Music performance
- Music technology (live and studio)
- Creative industries