Nick Laird-Clowes was lead singer and one of the principle song writers with the band The Dream Academy, who enjoyed world wide success in the mid 1980s, primarily with the song "Life In A Northern Town" (which he co-produced with David Gilmour of Pink Floyd).

The band's music was featured in the John Hughes's films "Ferris Bueller's Day Off " and "Trains, Planes & Automobiles" & subsequently Diane Keaton asked them to contribute music to her directorial debut "Heaven".

He has since collaborated on songs with both Brian Wilson and David Gilmour (notably on Pink Floyd's '94 release The Division Bell). In 1999 he released the critically acclaimed album "Mona Lisa Overdrive " a solo work under the name Trashmonk for Alan McGees' Creation Records (and later for McGees' Poptones imprint).

In recent years he has been heavily involved in composing for movie soundtracks,producing the score for The Invisible Circus, was the musical consultant on Bernado Bertolucci's The Dreamers, and was responsible for Fierce People, a 2005 film directed by Griffin Dunne starring Diane Lane and Donald Sutherland.

Nick Broomfield's hard-hitting film Battle for Haditha - which won best director at San Sebastian in 2007, also notably featured a Laird-Clowes soundtrack.

In May 2007 Nick (together with Joe Boyd) organised & produced "The Madcap's Last Laugh" at the Barbican -a multimedia memorial to Syd Barrettt -that featured Chrissie Hynde ,Damon Albarn & all 4 members of Pink Floyd (although not all at the same time)!

Nick also performed at the event (with Sense of Sound Choir).

The Greenpeace documentary "A Time Comes" sees him renewing his working relationship with Nick Broomfield contributing both the score & new song "Mayday".

He is currently engaged in finishing a solo record for release later in the year.