Biography
Mike Lemin - better known by his stage and recording name 'The Midnight Rambler' is a British singer-songwriter. He has released one album with his first band Bluedog (self-titled / Bluedog Records) prior to his solo work as The Midnight Rambler. He also has writing and session credits on albums by singer / songwriter Barney Watson and DJ /producer Justin Fry. Although primarily writing as a solo artist he tours with a full live band.
Lemin was born in England but raised in Sharjah (United Arab Emirates) and then Hong Kong until the age of 11 when his family settled back to the UK.
He now resides in Reading (Berkshire) and Kilkhampton (Cornwall). The inspiration for the name The Midnight Rambler was taken from The Rolling Stones song of the same name, and also the 1969 film 'The Midnight Cowboy' which sparked a lifelong fascination and connection to the city of New York.
Born to a Peruvian mother and Cornish (UK) father, Lemin enjoyed a multi-cultural upbringing. His father worked in telecommunications setting up earth stations for the newly launched orbital communication satellites network. This work led to the Lemin family living in far off locales where they would regularly take trips to nearby regions of interest. His childhood was spent visiting China, Sri Lanka, Israel, Egypt and Jordan as well as Europe and the USA. This instilled a wanderlust and joy of travelling and touring that continue to this day.
After early musical life as a drummer in high school rock band Love or Confusion, Lemin turned away from a musical degree to study Psychology at the University of Bedfordshire where his graduating thesis would be on Shizotypal Cognition and Lucid Dreaming. Dreams, word play and metaphysical imagery later becoming trademarks of The Midnight Rambler style. It was at University that Lemin traded in his drums for a battered acoustic and a 4-track home studio. Early demo tapes and a fascination with the options provided by overdubbing would eventually give way to recording studios and a performing style that included delay and loopers (a device allowing him to overdub and create layered textures in a live performance). Indeed a BBC Radio interview described him as : "loop sampling multi-instrumentalist builds hypnotic textures..haunting song vocals over a lo-fi beat... this is soulful electronica.. Like a cross between Imogen Heap, and DJ Shadow.."
The Midnight Rambler project began in 2006 and after gathering an appreciative live and online following in London and Reading with early tracks such as the introspective and shadowy 'Shockwave' and re-working of the Bluedog track 'You Don't See' won a live slot on the BT Digital Music Awards 2008. Having licensed to JW Media Group for Film and Soundtracks, Lemin is currently recording a debut album for release in summer 2010.
The Band
Mike Lemin - Music & Voices.
Current Live Band - Sza Sza (bass) & Rob McGregor (drums).
Extended Band Family - Kat Brenke, Tim Hundy, Neil Dawson, Sza Sza, Rob McGregor, Laz Pillagi, Barney Watson, Justin Fry, Charlie Luffram.