Published 19 December 2024 by DM
It was with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Craig Kirkpatrick-Whitby, the guiding light of the MINING collective, whose Chimet album we released earlier this year.
When Matthew Bourne first brought the album he’d created with PJ Davy and Craig to us, it immediately had us under its spell. There was an otherworldly atmosphere to it that drew us right in. It was only later that we learned of its back story. We knew a 67-minute album of data driven soundscapes and improvisations wouldn’t be an easy sell, but felt strongly that with careful presentation and a fair wind, its quality would shine through and find its audience. Very much the sort of project Leaf has been proud to put its name to over the past three decades.
Craig had been battling cancer for a number of years, with significant health implications. The MINING project took a while to shape and Craig was central to everything, even while undergoing several major operations during that time. It certainly wasn’t a given that he would see it released into the world, but his optimism, enthusiasm and energy for the project saw to it that he did. Indeed, he was busy planning what the next MINING release would be throughout his battles.
Craig didn’t come from a music background, but it was a lifetime passion. His expertise was in the numbers, and the numbers have led him on a fascinating life to which we’ve only been privy to snapshots - data scientist, inventor and sailor. It’s not easy to sum Craig up, he had plenty to say and it often felt like his thought processes would be firing off in several directions at once, but ultimately his enthusiasm and ambition was infectious. He sat down with New Scientist for an in-depth interview about MINING and that’s probably the best insight you could get if you hadn’t spent time in his company. New Scientist have kindly made it free to view for a short time.
Craig was extremely proud of Chimet, and that recognition in winning Drowned In Sound’s Neptune Prize this year made it all the sweeter. A fine musical legacy we hope will continue to find its audience.
Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music
- Craig Kirkpatrick-Whitby (1964 - 2024)
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- Decius - 'Birth Of A Smirk'
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- 310
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