Christian Phillips is an award-winning composer as well as a critically acclaimed musician. A popular music artist from the UK, he was signed to a New York record label when he was 19, and his first record was produced by the legendary Stephen ‘Haggis’ Haris, from the rock band The Cult. He spoke to Noam Friedlander about his career.

After your ‘big break’, where did you work?

After a few record deals, I decided my career would be better suited playing for other artists. I started working for Columbia Records, which is an American record label, owned by Sony Music, one of the world’s largest music companies. Columbia Records is also the oldest surviving brand name in the recording industry and the second major company to produce records. Being hired by them was a huge coup and I became a leading guitar player for hire. I have played all over the world to hundreds and thousands of people in massive venues, which has been incredible.

Do you have any cautionary tales about mistakes you’ve made in the past?

Always understand the weather of the country you’re touring, Russia, Alaska and Norway require more layers of clothing than Hawaii…i found this out the hard way …i also clearly don’t learn my lesson!

What awards have you won? Or been nominated for?

I have won several awards for my Welsh TV film Rhestre Nadolig Wil, which was first broadcast on S4C, Wales’s premiere Welsh language channel. The film won the 2009 Children’s BAFTA for drama, as well as a Royal Television Society Award in 2009 for best Children’s Program. I co-wrote the film and music with fellow musician and composer Caryl Parry Jones, who is really well known in Wales. We were also nominated for the Kids’ Screen Awards for the show, another huge honor. Another show of mine, Tenors of Rock achieved international fame when it won Best New Show in Las Vegas in 2018 awarded by Vegas.com and Vegas Weekly. I’m proud to say that I also won the Black British Entertainment Awards’ Song of the Year with the stars of Britain’s Got Talent, Vox Fortuna, in 2017. I am also the composer for the TV show Dwylio’r Enfys, which won the Rose D’Or at Cannes, as well as the British Academy Cymry Award in 2013.

Christian Phillips with his BAFTA award for Rhestre Nadolig Wil

Tell us about your biggest projects:

I was the co-creator and music director of the show Tenors of Rock, which started out as a theatre show in the UK, to being one of the longest-running shows in Las Vegas. The show was also one of the most successful cruise line shows of all time. I’m also proud of my film Rhestre Nadolig Wil, which was one of the first Welsh-language films to win a BAFTA award.

One of my other projects, known as ‘The Sonic Executive Sessions’, was critically and commercially successful as it sold thousands of copies worldwide. Especially in Japan, where it was the Tower Record Album of the month for six months, which I believe is a huge achievement. The album was also Dunkin Doughnuts album of choice for four months.

I’m also thrilled with the success of the classical crossover album by Rhidian Roberts’ The Long Road, which I produced and arranged, as well as playing most of the instruments on the track.

A few years ago, I had the pleasure of having my music played at a concert featuring the award-winning gospel artist Donald Lawrence with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Henry Panion III, Ph.D. Special guests featured at the performance included Vox Fortura (stars from Britain’s Got Talent). The performance was recorded live for a feature presentation and was aired nationwide as a concert documentary on PBS with an estimated viewing figure of over 20 million. I was the arranger and orchestrator for the all music performed by Vox Fortura.

Despite all this success and fame, one of the things I’m incredibly proud of is that Paul McCartney, a musical legend, personally questioned a copy of my album and it was also critically acclaimed by members of Brian Wilson’s band. To be recognized by such amazing musical artists, is truly a highlight.

On stage

What’s the worst piece of advice anyone’s ever given you?

There’s no such thing as bad advice, because you even learn from everything.

What advice would you give to others in your field?

If what you’re doing isn’t making you better, you’re doing it wrong.

Any unexpected moments during your career?

I remember playing a private dinner at Windsor Castle for King Charles and seeing him so visibly moved by the music that he was wiping away tears

Proudest achievement of your career?

Being constantly busy for 30 years, especially in a field as busy as the music industry. I also love the fact that I’ve never had to focus on one genre, my work has been massively diverse in that I can make a classical album one year, compose for Tom Jones’ performance at Buckingham Palace another and even create dance music for the Jennifer Lopez fitness app TruFusion. My job at TruFusion has led me to write specific music for workout programs within the app. The music has to be high energy, but also needs to reflect the workout itself, and the instructor, so I ahe to work alongside some high-profile celebrities and workout instructors like Amanda Cerny, Jacqueline Fernandez and UK members of the TV show Strictly Come Dancing. That kind of diversity keeps me busy and allows my passion for music to stay alive.

On stage

How would your peers describe you?

A musical polymath. Hard working but always making the working environment fun and enjoyable.

Is there anything you wish you had done differently?

I wish I’d more solo albums; they did more for my career than most of the other things I’ve created.

What projects have you recently completed?

I recently worked on two short films. The first was called “Eight Confessions in Los Angeles”, which was written by John Hindman, who recently wrote the Jennifer Lopez film Unstoppable. The other was a short film for Scottie Pearson, who stars in the CBS show NCIS. My next project is top secret, but I can it’s an exciting new film about cowboys and vampires.