EMMY award-winning composer Sheridan Tongue who is internationally acclaimed for his dramatic soundtracks for TV drama, film and documentaries, will be the fourth recipient of this special award that recognises the role that an individual from Northern Ireland has played in the world of music.
Sheridan is hugely successful on the global stage, having scored some of UK television’s most prestigious drama series, including Silent Witness, DCI Banks and Spooks, for which he was nominated for a BAFTA. Last year, he picked up a prestigious EMMY for his work on the quirky film The Last Artifact from the North West Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. His documentary scores are also highly memorable, including Into the Universe with Stephen Hawking (Discovery) and Wonders of the Universe (BBC) as well as the landmark BBC NI series Spotlight on the Troubles: A Secret History and, more recently, Narco Wars (National Geographic) and a dramatic new soundtrack for the 13-part Meerkat Manor: Rise of the Dynasty for AMC+ and BBC America.
Belfast-born, Sheridan is also an artist and songwriter through his pseudonym IN-IS, having released his second highly successful album, 2068 in 2020.
On being announced as the recipient for this award, Sheridan Tongue said:
“It is a huge honour to be recognised for this award by PRS for Music and the Northern Ireland Music Prize. I am really looking forward to being back in Belfast for the awards ceremony on the 16th of November, it is always a wonderful evening of music, and I wish all those shortlisted for awards which will be announced on the night every success.
“As a teenager growing up in Belfast, all I ever wanted to do was to make music, it was my passion. Through many years of long days and late nights working in numerous recording studios in London with artists and producers across all genres of music to now composing and creating soundtracks for television shows that are shown all around the world it has been an incredible journey. I would like to thank all the musicians, engineers, programmers and assistants that have worked with me on my soundtracks over the years and helped bring them to life.”
Michelle Escoffery, President of the PRS Members’ Council, said: “It is important for PRS to support and amplify composers from across the UK, recognising the impact their work has on audiences around the world. Sheridan consistently pushes boundaries to expand the breadth and depth of his song book. It is a real pleasure to honour him at this year’s NI Music Prize with Outstanding Contribution to Music.”
Stuart Fleming, Senior Relationship Manager – NI & Scotland, PRS for Music, said: “Sheridan’s dedication to songwriting and composition, producing numerous innovative and original works, has rightly led to his international recognition as one of the leading screen composers of our time. A trailblazer and incredibly talented individual, his success inspires the next generation of Northern Ireland’s film and TV composers.”
Previous winners of the Outstanding Contribution to Music Award include Gary Lightbody, 2018, Steve Strange, 2019 and Mike Edgar, 2021.
The ‘Outstanding Contribution to Music’ presentation will take place during the evening of the NI Music Prize, an awards ceremony featuring six other categories, including Album, Single, Video, Live Act, Artist of The Year and The Oh Yeah Legend Award. There will be performances from five of the nominees on the night, including SOAK, Robocobra Quartet, Leo Miyagee, Cherym and Rory Nellis. Dea Matrona winners of last year’s new artist award will also perform, and Oh Yeah Legend Award recipient Barry Devlin will close the event with a few Horslips favourites. The announcement of winners and all presentations will take place throughout the evening in the Ulster Hall, Belfast on Wednesday 16th November.
This event is part of a wider programme, Sound of Belfast, that will take place November 10th-20th Nov.
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