So glad to announce the Hilltop Hoods won The ARIA for Best Australian Live Act. I was very proud to be musical director, composer and keyboardist for the tour. It was a phenomenal experience to work with the best musicians and singers in the country.
A big thanks to the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, West Australian Symphony Orchestra and all the fabulous people behind the scenes for joining us on the tour.
Thanks also to our wonderful singers that joined us along the way. You really were the icing on the cake - Adelaide Chamber Singers, Sydney Chamber Choir, Queensland Show Choir, Polyphonic Voices and The Giovanni Consort.
And of course - The Hilltop Hoods. This is the 10th year I've worked with you guys and it just keeps on getting better. Thanks so much for the opportunity to work with you again on this crazy album and tour. It was so much fun joining you guys on stage playing keys.
First of all, on Wednesday the Hilltop Hoods were nominated for 3 ARIA awards.
Song of the Year - Hilltop Hoods - 1955 feat. Montaigne & Tom Thum Best Video - Hilltop Hoods - 1955 feat. Montaigne & Tom Thum Best Australian Live Act - Hilltop Hoods - The Restrung Tour
Jamie composed and conducted the string parts for 1955 and was musical director, composer and keyboardist for the Restrung Tour. It was such a phenomenal experience and we're proud to have it nominated.
As if that wasn't enough, director and animator Mikey Hill submitted his and Jamie's film collaboration The Orchestra to the Oscars!!!!!
We are delighted to announce that Jamie Messenger's soundtrack to director and animator Mikey Hill's latest film, The Orchestra has recently won two awards.
First of all, the soundtrack won the award for Best Original Score at the St Kilda Film Festival. In case you can't tell from the picture below, Jamie was pretty darned excited!!!
Best Original Score - Jamie Messenger
Following on from St Kilda Festival, Jamie was greatly honoured to receive word he had been awarded a prize at the prestigious Film Music Festival in Malaga, Spain. Unfortunately Jamie wasn't able to attend in person to accept the Jerry Goldsmith Awards for Best Original Score in an Animated Short Film. It did however mean he was able to film his first ever video acceptance speech. You can check it out on Jamie's Facebook page.
This is the new film clip for the Hilltop Hoods track I'm A Ghost Restrung which includes live footage from the Melbourne show as well as some behind the scenes shots from the Restrung tour.
As well as composing all the orchestral and choral parts for the Restrung version, Messenger also wrote and played much of the original track it was based on.
Check out the footage of Jamie Messenger performing on keyboard with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Polyphonic Voices, Plutonic Lab on Drums and of course the Hilltop Hoods.
We're thrilled to be able to finally announce the project Jamie Messenger's been secretly working on for the past year and a half. Jamie's been composing for the Hilltop Hoods’ latest album, Drinking From The Sun Walking Under The Stars Restrung. For this album Messenger used the combined forces of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and Adelaide Chamber Singers to write an album full of orchestrally reimagined versions of Hilltop Hoods tracks. Messenger arranged for orchestra and choir 12 tracks from their Drinking From The Sun and Walking Under The Stars albums. Jamie also performed piano on a number of tracks.
Drinking From The Sun Walking Under Stars Restrung
The two new singles from the album, Higher and 1955, both feature string arrangements Jamie composed and conducted with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.
The album was released in February and debuted at Number 1. The Restrung Tour is happening around the country in April alongside the country’s leading orchestras and choirs. Messenger will be joining the Hoods on the tour playing keyboards.
