THE VERNON SPRING + GWILYM GOLD

Gwilym Gold is a multifaceted London-based artist, composer, songwriter and inventor who operates at the intersection of contemporary music and technology.

Surrounded by music from a very young age, Gwilym spent his youth at the Jazz Cafe observing artists such as Dave Okumu, Tom Skinner, Tom Herbert, and Eska. This period of his life would prove formative and he soon became immersed in the thriving London jazz scene. As he honed his own skills as a pianist, he was invited to join the next generation of Tomorrow’s Warriors and played widely, including memorable support slots for Wayne Shorter and Wynton Marsalis.

After a stint studying jazz at The Royal Academy of Music, Gwilym dropped out and formed Golden Silvers who released their kaleidoscopic album True Romance on XL Recordings (2009). A period of creative exploration blossomed, as he concurrently founded Bronze Club – an East London event that showcased early performances by artists including Mica Levi, Sampha and many others.

Returning to solo work, Gwilym released his first album as Gwilym Gold. Tender Metal (2012) is a high-concept suite of songs released exclusively via — a creative AI and machine learning tool invented by Gold which offers a constantly evolving musical experience. Next came A Paradise (2015), a melancholic, piano-led album with a rarefied mood, and Sky Blue Room (2021) which was recorded over three days with a magical ensemble of musicians including Dave Okumu and Dan See. Blue Garden (2022) features tender, allegorical songs written in solitude and focusing on the most primary elements, whilst Still (2024) is a collaborative album with long-time friend The Vernon Spring. Derived from three and a half hours of piano improvisation using a prepared Upright Piano and a Grand Piano equipped with a Magnetic Resonator Piano, the project champions the beauty of both raw human interaction and modern technological instrumentation. 

Gwilym has served as a musical director for revolutionary choreographer Holly Blakey on a number of projects. The 2021 collaboration with Holly Blakey and Turner Prize-winning artist Jeremy Deller for the film graciechesterbeckyjohnnynaomisakeematylor involved a multi-artist improvised performance with Oliver Coates, Dave Okumu, Tom Skinner, and Neil Charles. Original music has also been composed for several of Blakey's films including Phantom and Triptych, along with music for fashion icon Vivienne Westwood.

As a collaborator Gwilym has worked with artists Eddie Peake, John Gerrard, Arca, and contemporary visionary artist Philippe Parreno. 'Echo' (2019) by the latter two marked the reopening of The Museum of Modern Art in New York. Introducing some of the ideas made possible with Bronze, Gwilym has worked with A24 Films, Jai Paul, Richie Hawtin and Sigur Ros among many others.

The Vernon Spring is the recording project of North London-born musician Sam Beste, whose journey traces various arcs across jazz, soul, ambient, and songwriting modes. Beste’s earliest exposure to music came from his father’s eclectic record collection, which ranged from Thelonius Monk to Bob Dylan, D’Angelo to Luigi Nono. At age eleven, a chance piano lesson set Beste in a pivotal direction, prompting an ongoing passion for improvisation that shaped his life’s trajectory.

Beste's dedication and talent placed him in Amy Winehouse’s orbit, whom he accompanied as her live pianist for the majority of her ascendent career. Their pairing paved the way for other significant and diverse collaborations, including work with Gabriels, Kendrick Lamar producer Sounwave, Beth Orton, Kano, Joy Crookes, Matthew Herbert, and MF DOOM.

After years of writing and releasing music with the alt-soul outfit Hejira during his mid-twenties, Beste helped form the Lima Limo collective and label, which offered a supportive community and inspiring creative foundation. By 2019, he began releasing solo music as The Vernon Spring, developing a voice that merged his jazz background with contemporary electronic production. His debut EP and subsequent releases, including the acclaimed A Plane Over Woods and Earth, On A Good Day, established a signature sound for The Vernon Spring: ethereal piano work layered with emotive vocals and subtle electronics.

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