I'm John Fenton-Stevens, a composer and producer based just outside London. Pass The Peas Music is my company. Since 2005 I've written music under that name for agencies, brands and broadcasters.
I set the company up in 2005 and have been writing music for advertising, television and online ever since, working with agencies, directly with brands, and with anyone else who needs music.
I compose, produce and arrange, and I've done it in most genres.
I've also released my own music, both solo and with bands, on record labels and independently. It's been played on BBC Radio 1, 6 Music and BBC Introducing. Writing to a brief and writing for its own sake are different jobs, and doing both keeps me close to what's actually happening in music.
You deal with me from the first conversation through to the final mix. When a track needs players, singers or another pair of ears on the mix, I bring in people I've worked with for years. Whether you want to be closely involved in the music or would rather I led and got on with it, either way suits me. Expect quick turnarounds when the schedule demands them, and a straight answer if I think something isn't working.
Away from music, I produce the podcast My Time Capsule, which has been Podcast of the Week in The Times, The Guardian and The Radio Times. I also co-host its spin-off episodes, My Time Capsule: The Dig.
Ad campaigns, broadcast television, film, online, and the theme music for the podcasts Today in History with the Retrospectors and My Time Capsule.
I wrote all the music for this preschool series: the theme tune, 13 original songs and every piece of incidental music. I was on it for over three years, from the early production meetings through to the final mix, and I created and performed the voice of Scraps the robot.
You can watch it in the UK (CBeebies and BBC iPlayer), the USA (Kidoodle TV and TUBI), Canada (TFO and TUBI), France, Spain, Switzerland and Australia (Kidoodle TV), Belgium (VRT Max) and Indonesia (MOLA TV). Visit montyandco.co.uk
A playlist of recent pieces. If you'd rather hear something closer to your own brief, ask and I'll put a reel together for you.
Full SoundCloudPlus many more.
BMWDisneyCBeebiesBBCHome OfficeLand RoverSky KidsSkodaNickelodeonPura
I've worked with John for over 12 years across a huge range of projects, from major global campaigns to fast-turnaround pitch films, and he has improved every single thing he's touched.
He brings energy, creativity and real passion to every brief, along with a rare ability to jump in wherever he's needed. Most recently, we worked together on a Škoda project where John contributed across everything from scriptwriting and music production to performing in the final campaign.
He's an incredible talent, a brilliant collaborator and one of my go-to people for almost any creative project. I always know the work will be better with John involved, and I'm already looking forward to the next one.
Lovely, talented geezer. A great approach to briefs, really versatile — he even helped me achieve my lifelong ambition to create a rapping camel. A huge pleasure to work with over the past nine years.
Collaborative, very easy to work with, and he responds to feedback positively. Most importantly, he's a great composer who nails the brief time after time, no matter how tight the schedule. I'd have no hesitation in recommending him.
A complex brief that had to satisfy several clients and many layers of sign-off. Pass The Peas were amazing throughout — quick to adapt, completely understood the feel we were after. I wouldn't hesitate to work with this talented team again.
Send over the brief, or just a rough idea of what you're after, and I'll come back to you quickly.