Ritch
Hi my name’s Ritch. I’m a songwriter and play piano, guitar and mandolin. I’ve been with the band since it started in 2006.
I’ve written music since I was first allowed on the piano and played my first gig when I was 12. I write constantly; lying in bed at night, on the piano at home and on the road with a guitar. I like words too; metaphor, double meanings, layers underneath layers and evocative imagery…I often start songs with words first and write music around them.
I use the catchier, pop songs I write for EKH, but I also write other songs and instrumental music that I record and perform myself from time to time. I also spend a lot of time in recording studios and produced the band’s debut album Life Under Lights.
By the way, I was born in London, grew up in Yorkshire and studied a BA hons Music at the University of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, although my mother and father taught me most of what I know today.
Now a few things that I like…..
I love to read, my favourite authors are Tolstoy, Tolkien, Anne Rice, George Orwell, Philip Pullman and Dostoevsky.
I love to listen too, my favourite artists are: REM, Pearl Jam, Fiona Apple, The Wildhearts, Smashing Pumpkins, Tori Amos, Gemma Hayes, The Wallflowers, and classical too with Beethoven, Rachmaninov, Chopin and Debussy
I like to cook and often get recipes from my older brother David J Spence (an actor and better cook than me!).
I like to play games sometimes too, The Legend of Zelda and The Elder Scrolls series in particular.
I don’t watch that much film and TV but things I’ve liked are: Crash, American Beauty, The Usual Suspects, Lord of The Rings trilogy, The Godfather trilogy, Lost in Translation, Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind, Spooks
I support Leeds United football club and feel most at home while watching Test Match Cricket.