Composers-IN-RESIDENCE

November 3-17, 2022

Natalie Wildgoose and Matt Robinson

London and Yorkshire-based Wanderland began life as the songwriting project of the duo, acclaimed jazz pianist and producer Matt Robinson and composer, vocalist, and storyteller Natalie Wildgoose. 

Matt Robinson studied at the Royal Academy of Music and was awarded the Edwin Samuel Dove Prize and a Yamaha Jazz Scholarship upon graduation. He has performed, written, and recorded with many leading musicians on the UK scene including Snowpoet, The Magic Lantern, and Emilia Martensson.

Natalie Wildgoose has a postgraduate diploma in Jazz vocals from Trinity Laban Conservatoire and a BA in Costume Design from Central St Martins College of Art. She has performed at The Royal Albert Hall and Ronnie Scotts and is now a visiting artist at the Royal Academy of Arts where she has served as a workshop creator and facilitator.  

After setting up in a remote old mill next to a waterfall in the north of the Yorkshire Dales UK, the duo wrote and recorded their debut EP ‘Songs, I’ over six months. 

The introspective and isolated setting became an incredibly generative time and they dubbed the project ‘Wanderland’ intentionally as it was born out of the exploration and dreamscapes of the wilderness.

‘Songs,I’ blends indie-folk, electronica, and jazz, with lyrical nods to myth, adventure, and moments of reflection. The duo accompanied the singles Moon Mushroom and Soon with equally artistic and surrealist music videos described as ‘Wonderfully Atmospheric’ by CLASH Magazine.

Officially released in July 2021, ‘Songs,I’ progressed over the year, and became quite popular with the public and critics. Several of the tracks were played on BBC Radio 1 ‘The Chillest Show’ and ‘Annie Mac’s Power Down playlist’ as well as BBC Introducing, BBC6 Music, and BBC York, who nominated their release as Record of the Week. 

Collaborators and friends also show up across the EP including guitarist Tara Cunningham, drummer Dave Hamblett, and bassist Tom Mccredie. Who have joined the duo in some of the UK live shows for BBCYork and Sands Film Studios.

Wanderland have teamed up with friends again and will be touring the UK and visiting the USA in 2022 whilst writing their second EP.

Artist Statement

Whilst at Good Hart Residency we are excited to collaborate and engage with a new community of people and return to natural landscapes to help with the writing of our second EP. 

‘We want to make a record that puts you, the listener, in the most intimate position with nature and it’s surroundings as possible.’

As composers, we try to push our boundaries and use new methodologies and mediums to create one cohesive project. This includes cross-disciplinary visual works with the music, i.e making a body of work that entirely reflects the settings in which it was recorded. The aim is to transport the listener and viewer entirely into the world which we inhabited when creating the project. 

The protected time that Good Hart will provide would be exactly what is needed for us to escape and explore. Traveling from England, UK we are so excited for this opportunity, and believe that the residency and its surroundings will inspire our writing and composing.

Community Events

Performance at Beards Brewery in Petoskey Michigan – November 5, 2022
Performance at Lamb’s Retreat for Songwriters in Harbor Springs Michigan – November 12, 2022

< 2022 Residents