The Songwriter
Derek Jones
I'm a songwriter, producer, and composer dedicated to creating music that connects. Writing songs since my teens, I've spent years developing my craft through songwriting, production, and collaboration. Today I work with artists and creatives to turn ideas into records that are authentic, memorable, and emotionally resonant.
Every project begins with the song. Whether developing a new artist, refining a lyric, or building a production from the ground up, my focus remains the same: finding the strongest version of the music and helping it reach its full potential.
Background
The Story
I grew up surrounded by music — a household where Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and Sade played alongside classic rock and country. That cross-genre upbringing became the foundation of a writing style that refuses to stay in one lane.
I started writing seriously at 17, filling notebooks with lyrics and recording rough demos on a secondhand interface. By my early twenties, I'd placed my first sync in a UK indie film — a quiet milestone that confirmed this was the path.
A decade-plus later, my credits span major label artist projects, TV and film scores for the BBC and Netflix, and a ghostwriting practice that keeps me deliberately in the background — letting the artist's name carry the work I helped build.
I work from a private studio in London, taking on a small number of projects at a time to give each one the attention it deserves. Sessions are collaborative, unhurried, and built around one goal: finding the best version of the song.
Career
Milestones
Started writing and producing independently, placing my first sync in a UK indie film.
First major label co-write — a Top 40 R'n'B single that opened doors across the industry.
Relocated to London. Built a dedicated studio and began working with international artists.
Expanded into TV and film scoring, landing placements on BBC and Channel 4 productions.
Partnered with three major labels for ongoing ghostwriting and production retainers.
Composed the main title theme for a Netflix original series. My catalog now exceeds 80 songs.
Approach
Production Philosophy
The principles that guide every session, every mix, every decision.
The Song Comes First
Production serves the song — never the other way around. Every arrangement decision, every sonic choice, starts with the question: does this serve the emotion the lyric is trying to land?
Silence Is an Instrument
What you leave out defines what stays in. The space between notes, the breath before a chorus — restraint is one of the most powerful tools in a producer's kit.
Collaboration Over Control
The best records come from trust. My job is to create an environment where artists feel free to take risks, go deeper, and find the version of the song they didn't know they had in them.
Timeless Over Trendy
Trends fade. Emotion doesn't. I'm always chasing the record that sounds as relevant in ten years as it does today — rooted in craft, not the current cycle.
Ready to Make Something?
Sessions are limited. Reach out to discuss your project and check availability.