About John Timney
I am a musician and audio producer, working primarily in live and recorded music, but also with experience in radio and sound for the moving image.
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, as of 2023 I now teach part-time at the University while simultaneously 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
- Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) based composition
Research
My research is heavily practice-based. I work with various nationally touring acts as a guitarist, drummer, and producer, creating original work. I am particularly interested in bringing live music to natural acoustic spaces, as well as bringing people together through music, whether it be through live performance or participatory workshops and collaborations. I feel that in the age of AI, a focus on liveness, realness and immediacy is of the utmost importance and I try to reflect this in all of my work.
Currently, my main project is the Shannon Pearl band (a neo-folk project), where I am producer and play acoustic guitar and drums (depending on the line-up) live and in the studio. We are touring extensively and releasing new work in 2026.
Also, notably, I work with Pointy Features (lo-fi/blues/rock – I play the drums and co-write/co-produce). Currently over 100 million on Spotify, we are working on new material for release in late 2026. And finally, the Nick Gladdish band (where I am producer and drummer – latest album released in 2025) as well as other north east artists on a session basis.
As well as performing, in the past I have worked as an audio producer for national radio, as well as a stage technician in theatre and a live sound engineer in music venues nationally. I produce various artists as a freelancer.
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.
I am currently involved with running a series of public workshops at the Glasshouse based around sound, which is in its second season as of spring 2026.
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