I invent songs – mostly tragicomical, occasionally serious – which I sing and play on the ukulele, shamisen or sometimes piano. My songs have carefully wrought lyrics and musical influences ranging from Renaissance and Balkan to Celtic, minyo (Japanese folk music) and jazz. I often use obscure vocabulary, scientific terms, literary or historical references and unusual rhythms (9, 7, 13, 11, 5 etc). Intellectually curious people who like dry humour might enjoy my songs.

Contact: formicable.handicrafts@gmail.com; +1 – 628 – 999 2557. Youtube: Formicola.

My song “The Lethargy March”:

My song about road work in the morning:

My song about sewers and the fragility of civilisation (inspired by the Great Stink of 1858):

My comic pro-science COVID song: “But where are the plagues of yesteryear?”

My song “Humans, won’t you love me?” about being bad at everything except spelling:

My song about resistance to gaslighting:

My song about the digestive system:

“I may be some time”: my song about lateness, and homage to Captain Oates:

I’ll be happy to play for you: I can tailor the set list for preferences (e.g. kid-friendly, wholesome, ultra-dry, extra-grim etc). Here I am playing at the San Francisco Outer Sunset Farmers’ Market:

I play bass and sing for Wingnut Breakfast (mostly originals). I also sing (and sometimes play bass) in the duo ‘Sushi and Spaghetti‘ (guitar and vocals) and sometimes a trio, ‘Sushi, Spaghetti and Cheeseburger’ (guitar, vocals and saxophone), in San Francisco. We’ll be happy to play at your venue or event!

Katun, my Balkan band in Michigan until I had to move away (I miss them).

Bulgarian song Tsafnalo Tsveke Shareno performed by Katun (I am the singer).

Greek song Dontia Pikna performed by Katun (I am the singer).

Japanese sea shanty Tairyo Bushi (shamisen and all voices performed by me).