Avid /ˈæv.ɪd/ - showing great enthusiasm for or interest in something.
Producer, Singer/Songwriter, Musician
Production Services
I am available for hire, offering a variety of production services. To every project, I bring my vibrant ideas; eclectic musical taste and knowledge; wide-ranging collaboration experiences; and my receptiveness to new styles of music; combined with a close attention to the artist’s vision.
COMING SOON
Colour The Dark Days (Remix)
Avid Beats Featuring Cece Alaniz
Song and Music Video
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Teaser
About the Project
Artists Avid Beats (Sam Gracie Tillbrook) and Cece Alaniz join together for their fourth collaboration - a cinematic art pop, electronica and indie remix of Avid’s 2024 track and music video “Colour The Dark Days”.
This 2026 remix, which is paired with a vivid music video, reimagines the drum and bass production of the original - re-colouring it with an immersive and atmospheric composition - and features Cece’s powerful vocals, arranged to alternate between, and harmonise with, Sam’s original performance, creating an exciting and fresh listening experience.
Sam wrote the lyrics about emerging from a period of depression and anxiety, and regaining confidence, yet not wanting to rush back into things, taking the time to “Colour The Dark Days”.
“Just regain my mountain path, on my journey to heal, time has vanished before me, I’ll leave that chapter a seal…”
For Sam, this song is like putting a seal on this mental health crisis after overcoming it, and spending time reflecting on the past.
“But sometimes (sometimes), I decide to lift it, discover (discover), lift it, discover, colour those dark days in…”
For Cece, this song represents overcoming difficulties in life, healing by using art, music, and nature, amongst other things, in order to create something beautiful from dark experiences.
“Please give me time to bloom, please give me time to bloom…”
Additionally, given the energy of the song - combined with relatable and catchy lyrics - and given how distressing and dark certain things are in the world currently, the song can be seen as a message of hope for the New Year.
For the production of the remix, Sam was inspired by the atmospheric and mesmerising nature of the 2017 track “Whole Again” by the Icelandic music group, Gangly. The original drum and bass production of “Colour The Dark Days” has a theatrical quality to it, and Sam wanted to make this aspect a core theme in the remix. Starting again from scratch and building new music around the vocals, the first element Sam played for the remix was the electric guitar. From there, the composition blossomed around the addition of Cece’s singing.
Two frames from the music video.
The arrangement takes the listener on a journey and represents the story of the lyrics. Possibly the most cathartic part of the song is the transition between Cece and Sam’s echoing of the line “please give me time to bloom” and the reflection of this in the music, when the instrumental lifts and ends in a finale with bright synthesisers.
A fascinating, and unexpected, fact about the percussion in the song is that it is mostly made from field recorded sounds of Sam’s bike. In 2025, he released a sample pack for producers titled “Bike” featuring sounds made from recording his bike and associated tools/items.
The music video, directed by Sam, embodies the story through symbolic actions, objects and visual effects. An impressive aspect of the video is that both artists recorded their clips from across the Atlantic, with Sam based in London, and Cece based in Michigan.
Sam’s clips are all recorded in Whitewebbs Park, a space he is campaigning to protect from development as part of the Guardians of Whitewebbs group. Cece’s are recorded near a lake in Michigan - the choice of nature-based locations reflects the artists’ love of the natural environment.
The key storyline and concept of the music video is the arrangement of flowers, leaves and other flora on “bark boats”. The slow yet continual arrangement of these found elements on the bark represents the healing process, with the arranging starting when Cece sings “I’ll leave that chapter a seal”, and then continuing as the artists sing “colour those dark days in”.
At the end of the video, Cece launches her “bark boat” into the water of the lake, acting as the final overcoming of a dark time. For Sam, the use of stop motion of the arrangement building is like looking back over where he has come from and where he is now.
Bark boat.
The video begins monochromatic, and only transitions to colour when the phrase “colour those dark days in” is sung for the first time. Just before the full video becomes coloured, elements such as Sam and Cece’s flora arrangement and bark boat are highlighted from black and white to colour, preparing for a larger shift.
The Hibiscus flower included at the point of the bridge in the song is the only piece of footage from the original music video included in the remix. The image is striking, provides familiarity to those who knew the first version, and epitomises the hope and transformation that can occur when emerging from dark times.
Altogether, this new take on “Colour The Dark Days” is another powerful reminder to take the time you need on your healing journey.
About the Artists
Sam Gracie Tillbrook (Avid Beats) is a multi-disciplinary artist and producer from London, UK. He draws inspiration from nature and raw emotions, infusing his work with authenticity and depth. Blending genres and emotions seamlessly, Avid’s music is always fresh and creative. Sam chose the name ‘Avid’ to describe his passion for making music. Talking about collaboration in an interview with CanvasRebel, Avid said:
“[The most rewarding part of being a creative is] the way I can connect with so many like minded people, and create something truly unique together. Collaboration is always thrilling and exciting, and it produces some of the most beautiful, unexpected outcomes.”
Cece Alaniz, a singer, songwriter and guitarist from the USA, makes wonderful songs that touch many hearts from first listen. Speaking movingly on numerous subjects, her voice is the perfect blend of powerful and soothing. Cece said in an interview with CanvasRebel:
“When it comes to my creative journey, my biggest goal is to have a positive impact on others/give others someone or something to relate to. I want to be so authentic within myself, and my creations, that possibly it helps others to do so too! I want to share my music, my love, and sadness with others, as I know I’ve used music (listened to it) in the past as a way to get through hard times and as a means to relate. I would love to be able to do that for other people: give others something to relate to, or to look forward to, or to make them feel less alone.”
Two more frames from the music video.
Listen to Cece and Avid's first collaboration "Lenticular Cloud", second "I Am Who I Choose To Be", and third "Polarity".
NEW
Bike Pack (6K Special)
Avid Beats
Preview Video
My fourth experimental drum kit and sound sample pack "Bike" is coming soon! I made this one in celebration of 6000 subscribers, and want to say a huge thank you in advance for this milestone!
This royalty free pack includes a total of 127 individually processed sounds and 6 melody and drum loops made using nothing but my bike and associated tools/items. The sounds include bass, effects, kicks, melodic one shots, percussion, snares and claps. All samples are live recorded, sound designed and mixed by me, Avid Beats, using my Zoom H5 field recorder and Logic Pro X. The sounds are highly versatile, and are perfect for a range of genres, from trap and hip hop, to indie and alternative, to experimental. They will inspire you to get creative and think outside the box! The 6 melody and drum loops are composed by me as well, and are in the styles of trap, hip hop and drill.
Some may know that I am an "Avid" cyclist and nature lover. I was inspired by these passions to create this sound kit and especially noticing all of the noises my bike makes. Shout out GT Bikes for the Grade Cx Rival 2017! Part of the video is filmed in Whitewebbs Park, which I am campaigning to save from development as part of the Guardians of Whitewebbs group. If you haven't already watched it, be sure to check out my video "Whitewebbs Park - What Tottenham Hotspur and Enfield Council Don’t Want You to Know".
Bike Beat Contest Reaction
Can you guess the sound?
If you haven't checked out my previous packs, be sure to do so:
All my free packs. Drum kits: The Bridge, Icebreaker and Rainy Woods.
6K Subs Merch
I have created a t-shirt in celebration of 6000 subscribers. It is in the signature style that I have been making for my subscriber milestones (see my 3K, 4K and 5K specials). This time, my logo is blue, to match the details on my bike. You can purchase it here. It will only be available for a couple months!
