Doctor Who composer Segun Akinola takes a break from his work on Series 12 to discuss his favourite music
This Classical Life on BBC Radio 3 pairs musician and presenter Jess Gillam each week with another young musician. Together they then discuss their musical loves and new discoveries. This week she’s joined by Doctor Who composer Segun Akinola. Along the way we discover Akinola’s favourite colour (red) and the weirdest thing he’s ever eaten (cow’s tongue). But more importantly, we take a tour of the music that inspires and excites him. From Holst and Ravel, to Live and Let Die and Snarky Puppy, the half hour episode showcases his eclectic tastes. And, of course, Akinola’s own composition Sonic Screwdriver gets an outing.
Akinola became the composer on Doctor Who with Series 11 in 2018. He’s also composing the music for the upcoming Series 12. He won a BAFTA Breakthrough Brit in 2017.
This Classical Life
Jess Gillam presents her new show, with the TV and film composer Segun Akinola.
From her musical beginnings in a carnival band, to being the first ever saxophone finalist in BBC Young Musician, and appearances at the Last Night of the Proms in 2018 and at this year’s BAFTA Awards, Jess is one of today’s most engaging and charismatic classical performers. Each week on This Classical Life, Jess is joined by young musicians to swap tracks and share musical discoveries across a wide range of styles, revealing how music shapes their everyday lives.
Her guest is the composer Segun Akinola, whose credits include the latest series of BBC One’s Doctor Who. Their choices include music from The Planets by Holst and Stravinsky’s Firebird suite, Ravel’s string quartet, and tracks by Snarky Puppy and Spiritualized.
It can be streamed worldwide, or downloaded in the UK, for the next 25 days directly from the BBC Radio 3 site.
