William D Drake is a musician, pianist, keyboardist, composer and singer-songwriter. A former member of influential cult band Cardiacs, he has gone on to release two albums with Cardiacs off-shoot Sea Nymphs and a further five albums under his own name; “William D Drake’, ‘Briny Hooves’, ‘Yew’s Paw’, ‘The Rising of the Lights’ and ‘Revere Reach” … a sixth album is slowly taking shape.

The music William D Drake makes is a feast of gorgeous instrumentation, masterful piano, jaunty wheezing hurdy-gurdy, harmonium, clarinet, guitar and drums – narrated with growly vocals and angelic choral singing. Betwitching pastural chamber music, lop-sided stately marches and hearty, thumping sing-a-long shanties. Weaving layers of textured melody with rock and ancient folk flavoured undertones, he journeys through the surreal and psychedelic, telling curious tales with a sideways humour.

Prog Magazine ranks William D Drake simultaneously 89th and 14th Greatest Artists of All Time (solo and with Cardiacs). He is regularly championed by Marc Riley and Stuart Maconie of BBC6 Music and snooker legend turned DJ and broadcaster Steve Davis!

His other musical enterprises include performing in an experimental adaption of the opera ‘Poppea’ at Theatre du Châtelet, Paris, alongside Marc Almond and Karl Barat (Libertines). He guested with North Sea Radio Orchestra and John Greaves, in performances of Robert Wyatt’s ‘Rock Bottom’ album in its entirety, at two arts festivals in France.

In late September 2020 Mr Drake began recording music for a new album