Review Fix Exclusive: Malcolm Galloway Talks ‘Transitions’ And More

Review Fix chats with musician Malcolm Galloway, who discusses the creative process and goals for his new album, “Transitions.”

About Malcolm Galloway:

Transitions is the fifth contemporary classical/minimalist album by Malcolm Galloway, singer/multi-instrumentalist and composer of award-winning progressive rock band Hats Off Gentlemen It’s Adequate. His classical music has been played on many radio stations around the world including BBC Radio 3 and his combined video-art/music pieces played at the National Gallery. He lives in London, UK. He has previously been a classical music consultant and reviewer, including writing for Tempo and Gramophone’s website and advising The Galliard Ensemble and Deux-Elles Classical Recordings on contemporary chamber repertoire.

Review Fix: How did you get involved in music?

Malcolm Galloway: My first instrument after school recorder was the large brass instrument, the tuba. Later on I taught myself keyboard and guitar. I’ve been writing music since my teenage years, but the big change for me came when technology advanced so that I could record complex music on an affordable laptop. 

Review Fix: What’s your creative process like?

Galloway: Usually initial bursts of energy where it would be uncomfortable not to compose. The later parts of finalising mixes and tidying up details are more of an effort. Sometimes I start with a lyric idea, drum pattern, or chord sequence (for my rock music) or for my classical music with interlocking patterns that appeal to me, or an selection of instruments. 

Review Fix: What inspires you?

Galloway: Science, science fiction, history, nature.

Review Fix: How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard you?

Galloway: My classical / minimalist music is said to remind people of Steve Reich and Mike Oldfield. My rock music varies but is particularly influenced by Pink Floyd and Marillion.

Review Fix: How is this different from your previous work?

Galloway: Previously I’d kept the classical/minimalist and rock sides of my music separate, releasing the rock music with my band Hats Off Gentlemen It’s Adequate (HOGIA) and the classical pieces under my own name. Recently I’ve realised there is more connection between those two sides of my music than I had appreciated. There are more of the minimalist elements in our next HOGIA album, but in small doses, than in our previous releases. In my new solo album (Transitions) I’ve included drums in two of the tracks, which I hadn’t previously in my minimalist music.

Review Fix: How are your live shows different from your studio work?

Galloway: When I play live it is mostly with bass player Mark Gatland as Hats Off Gentlemen It’s Adequate. Those gigs usually focus on the rockier side of our output. We have also performed some of my minimalist music in shows in art galleries, including the National Gallery, and would like to explore doing more of these. 

Review Fix: What are your goals for the rest of 2019?

Galloway: We are finishing off the next HOGIA album (some vocals to record and mixing to tweak then it should be ready). We’ve also got some exciting festivals coming up where we’ll be playing the new songs, including a sequence of songs inspired by the novels by science fiction writer Alastair Reynolds.

Review Fix: What’s next?

Galloway: I’m always working on new ideas, so there are already quite a few songs being written for the album after next.

Review Fix: Anything else you’d like to add?

Galloway: I’m extremely grateful to all those supporting and encouraging my music, to my wife Kathryn for all her support and tolerance, and to Mark Gatland for making Hats Off Gentlemen It’s Adequate a reality.

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About Patrick Hickey Jr. 14262 Articles
Patrick Hickey Jr. is a full-time Assistant Professor of Communication & Performing Arts and Director of the Journalism program at Kingsborough Community College and is the chairman of the City University of New York Journalism Council. He is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of ReviewFix.com. He's also a former News Editor at NBC Local Integrated Media and National Video Games Writer at Examiner.com where his work was mentioned in National Ad campaigns by Disney, Nintendo and EA Sports. Hickey was also the Editor-In-Chief of two College Newspapers before he received his BA in Journalism from Brooklyn College. Hickey's work has been published in The New York Daily News, The New York Times, Complex, The Hockey Writers, Yahoo!, Broadway World, Examiner, NYSportScene Magazine, ProHockeyNews.com, GothamBaseball.com, The Syracuse Post-Standard, Scout.com and the official sites of the Brooklyn Aces and New York Islanders. His first book, The Minds Behind the Games: Interviews With Cult And Classic Video Game Developers was released in April 2018 and is chock full of interviews with legendary developers. His second book in the series, The Minds Behind Adventures Games, was released in December 2019. His third book, The Minds Behind Sports Games, was released in September 2020. His fourth book, The Minds Behind Shooter Games, was released in March 2021. The Minds Behind Sega Genesis Games and The Minds Behind PlayStation Games were released in 2022 and The Minds Behind PlayStation 2 was published in January 2023. Hickey is also a contracted comic book writer, currently penning his original series, "Condrey," as well as "The Job," "Brooklyn Bleeds" "Dem Gulls" and "KROOM" for Legacy Comix, where he serves as founder, owner and Editor-in-Chief. Hickey Jr. is also a voice actor, having starred in the 2018 indie hit and 2019 Switch, PS4 and Xbox One release, The Padre (also serving as English language Story Editor), from Shotgun With Glitters. The sequel, The Padre: One Shell Straight to Hell was released in February 2021- Hickey also served as a Story Editor and Lead Voiceover performer. He has also done narration and trailers for several other titles including The Kaiju Offensive, Relentless Rex and Roniu’s Tale. Hickey is also the lead voiceover performer on Mega Cat Studios’ upcoming title WrestleQuest, responsible for nearly 90 characters in the game, as well as Skybound's Renfield: Bring Your Own Blood, where he voices both Dracula and Renfield, as well as several other characters. He also stars in Ziggurat Interactive’s World Championship Boxing Manager 2, where he performs the VO of nearly every male character in the game. He also worked on the Atari VCS’s BPM Boy.

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