Toni Castells is a Spanish guitarist and composer known for his eclectic and transcendental music in the neo-classical and new-age genres. Currently based in London, Castells’ work has a cinematic quality that invites listeners on a journey through expansive, dreamlike worlds, much like the evocative scores of Hans Zimmer and the contemplative pieces of Max Richter.

Castells studied classical guitar at the Municipal Conservatory of Barcelona. In addition to his artistic work, he has written music for film, theatre, video games and art installations at iconic galleries such as the Saachi Gallery in London and the Palazzo delle Esposizioni in Rome. A passionate conservationist, he has worked with charities such as Oceanic Global, creating bespoke music that has been performed at iconic places such as the United Nations Headquarters in NY.

Michael Haas, the Grammy-winning producer behind iconic recordings of Zubin Mehta, Mstislav Rostropovich, Daniel Barenboim, Cecilia Bartoli, and Luciano Pavarotti, described his music as “Morricone meets Satie” and his unique and rare live performances as "moving and utterly compelling". Ben Roberts from London Tourdates magazine described his music as “Massive Attack meets Mendelssohn” and US label Magnatune as “Puccini meets Sigur Rós”

His live performances have been widely covered and recognised by the mainstream press in the UK. The Guardian named “2045: The Year Man Becomes Immortal” one of ‘Five of the Best Classical Concerts’ in 2016. His music has been performed at Kings Place, Union Chapel, LSO St Lukes and St. James’s Piccadilly in London.

Toni Castells is signed to AWAL.

“Morricone meets Satie”

”In truth, it's far more subtle than that, and I would also add the unfamiliar name of Reynaldo Hahn.
Other obvious names are people like Henryk Górecki or Philip Glass, but these are perhaps too obvious.

Morricone I believe, comes to mind because there is a cinematic vividness to Toni´s music that, like his,
exudes expanse and distance. It's dramatic and seems to come from distant times and places.
Satie because I feel there is a certain painful nostalgia. And Reynaldo Hahn is relevant because, unlike Satie,
he was a more sophisticated cultivator of melancholy and, frankly, more serious as a composer.

The Glass and Górecki comparisons are simplistic and have to do mostly with operatic voices singing vocalises in many of his compositions (so does Freddie Mercury in 'Barcelona'!).

Other obvious film composers who may be worth mentioning as possible references are Angelo Badalamenti
or even Mark Knopfler. I don't think either of those two counts as 'classical'.”

Michael Haas

Grammy-winning producer behind iconic recordings of Zubin Mehta, Mstislav Rostropovich, Daniel Barenboim, Cecilia Bartoli, and Luciano Pavarotti.

For an extended bio you can press here.