When Paul Riordan left 'Mayfield Secondary modern Boys School' at the age of 14 in 1964,
his only qualification was a width swimming certificate.

He got a job in a busy London commercial art studio - initially as a runner, and was soon promoted to trainee lettering and Graphic artist. He worked full time as an Graphic artist for about 5 years but also a amature keen musician playing in local bands in his hometown of Ilford, Essex. Originally taught as a Bass player he soon outgrew the 'local band' scene and joined a semipro phycadelic rock band that had a some success touring UK and Europe.

The group 'Mandrake Paddle Steamer' were signed to EMI and recorded a single at the legendary Abbey Road number 2 studio. Copies of that single are selling for hundreds of pounds today - but at the time sales amounted to little more than covering studio costs.

"That one day in the studio was enough to make up my mind that that was what I wanted to be involved in as a career"

Mandrake lasted for a few years and slowly diminished. Paul took to playing Bass as a session musician - He toured with many different bands working for the then successful EG management, touring as support band King Crimson, Roxy Music.

"Throughout this period I became increasingly more interested in the songwriting and recording aspect of things "

Work as a full time musician became increasingly difficult during the 80's. So Paul took on work helping at Britannia Row Studio's', the Pink Floyd's Headquarters.
He soon became involved in the studio side of things and was later to tour with Pink Floyd as Guitar tech.

Music worked picked up againg in the late 80's and Paul was asked to compose a theme tune for a Television Program called 'Same Difference' this was the first weekly magazine style program about disabled people. Paul formed a working relationship with Producer Martin Davison and did many music commissions for him, leading to more commisions for Television and radio incedental music.

In 1992 Paul Set up his own small studio in the London's East End, writing and recording many theme tunes for satelite television channels also producing an International hit Record with a dance single called 'Harmonica Man' under the alias of Bravado.
Some of the early television idents include : UK Gold, Granada Plus, BBC World TV, Men and Motors, Hallmark,
Viasat Scandinavian TV.

"I am a 'Hands on Producer', playing most of the musical parts myself, and using the mixing desk and studio equipment to achieve the sounds that I hear in my head"

2000 came a major change in living and working for Paul, he left London to set up in more rural space - always being a lover of the country side he found a perfect premisses for his work lifestyle in the outskirts of Reading.

"The studio is much smaller now, because of digital progress, less equipment is needed that the old days, I value the knowledge and understanding I have of Analogue equipment, it all helps in the acheivment of quality sound.

High quality is always at the for front of any project I undertake"

Main Studio Equipment: Mac running Logic Pro and Pro tools and Final Cut, Many software sound plug-insand instruments, Mackie analogue mixing desk, MOTU digital converter, Interesting and old microphones.

Today Paul uses his studio mainly to compose and record music for libary music publishers, they in turn get it used on various Television and Radio productions. Also he has done remixes for The Ministry of Sound/ Euphoria dance compilations.

Paul still works Part time for the Pink Floyd organisation, helping out if the Band get together (Paul was Guitar Tec. on the Live 8 Concert), or spending the occasional day at David Gilmour's Studio, sorting out Davids Guitar collection.