Levi Patel - Press Kit

Biography

New Zealand’s Levi Patel is finding his standing as one of the country's most promising composers and producers, crafting musical pieces that delicately reflect an emotional intensity that is both gentle and captivating.

Levi has a fascination with sound and the production process, which has encouraged him to pave his own compositional path. His passion for arrangement echoes throughout the diversity of his work. From intimate, solo piano to expansive and climactic soundscapes formed of layered voices and strings, Levi’s music has an encapsulating quality that speaks across his releases.

His journey properly took flight in 2014 with his EP Forms. This was closely followed by second EP Of Sleep and Time, home to much-loved composition As she passes, which has received over 17 million streams worldwide. He released his debut full-length album Affinity in 2017, and followed with the 13-track album A Shifting Lightness in 2020 to further positive reception.

In recent years, Patel has composed for international films including short film It’s Snowing Outside, written and directed by Lucasfilm producer Rayne Roberts. They completed the work at Skywalker Ranch with Academy Award winner André Fenley (Fight Club, Jurassic Park) and his team. Levi has also featured on fellow NZ composer Rhian Sheehan’s album A Quiet Divide, and produced and co-written gentle pop songs with artists such as Alayna and Jeremy Redmore.

Levi is now drawing on his engineering background to develop a unique robotic instrument, first premiered in New York City, while continuing to craft new solo music, collaborations, and soundtracks from his coastal studio.

Highlights

  • Over 50 pieces of music released including two full-length albums
  • 30,000 streams per week, with top played track over 17 million streams
  • Composed for It’s Snowing Outside, directed by Lucasfilm Producer Rayne Roberts. Completed at Skywalker Ranch with André Fenley (Minority Report, Fight Club)
  • 5000 Spotify followers, 14000 Soundcloud, 1500 Instagram, 1600 Facebook, 800 Twitter, 1800 Netease
  • 4.5 star review on stuff.co.nz and Sunday Star Times (NZ) Albums of the Year list 2017
  • Co-writer and featured artist on Rhian Sheehan's album A Quiet Divide (2019)
  • Composed music and engineered sound for feature documentaries and short films
  • Produced and written gentle pop songs with artists including Alayna and Jeremy Redmore
  • Built prototype robotic musical instrument premiered at The Museum of the Moving Image in New York City (2020)
  • Bachelor of Engineering (First Class Honours in Software Engineering) and Bachelor of Commerce (Economics and Finance) from the University of Auckland, New Zealand
Levi Patel portrait photograph

Reviews

A Shifting Lightness (2020)

“It’s fair to call A Shifting Lightness a spiritual pilgrimage.” - A Closer Listen

“The lightness of being is potently encapsulated in A Shifting Lightness.” - Muzic.net.nz [5 stars]

"It is recordings like this that make you wonder why so few classical music lovers have gotten over the 18th century." - The Moderns

“Overwhelmingly touching.” - Arctic Drones

Affinity (2017)

"A bright new star has flashed its way across the skies in the Southern Hemisphere... the compositions on Affinity will hold their appeal for generations to come." - Stuff.co.nz [4.5 stars]

"Levi Patel is quietly claiming his rightful place in the spotlight." - NZ Musician

“[Affinity] deserves a place near every fireside and in every front parlour.” - Elsewhere

Videos

Through Winter Eyes (Music Video)

Film Composition Showreel

Words Like First Light (Music Video)

Albums and EPs

Collaborations

Credits

Discography

Film

  • Writing to Reach You documentary (2021, KR) - sound designer and mix engineer
  • Firsts short film (2021, NZ) - music composer
  • It's Snowing Outside short film (2019, US) - music composer
  • In My Absence short film (2019, NZ) - music composer with Gala Morris
  • Breaking and Entering short film (2018, NZ) - music composer
  • Crossroads feature documentary (2018, KR) - music composer and sound designer
  • This Island is Ours feature documentary (2016, KR) - music composer and sound designer
  • Last Letters short documentary (2016, KR) - music composer and sound designer

Collaboration Highlights

Commercial Clients

  • Hilton Hotels & Resorts (Int), Hankook Tire (Korea), Match.com (US), Les Mills (Int), Auckland City Mission (NZ), Mother Earth (NZ), Cavalier Bremworth (NZ), Underwood International College (Korea), University of Otago (NZ), Algonaut (NZ).

Contact

Levi Patel

levi@levipatel.com

+64 21 205 6869

Levi Patel portrait photograph