"Killer songs" - Larmer Tree Festival, UK "On a scale of one to ten, eleven!" -The Daily, Bombay, India "Flabbergasting!" -Mike Bourne | Downbeat, USA Joel Almeida (a.k.a. Dr Joel) is one of a hundred specially chosen London 2012 Olympics "BT Storytellers" across Britain. They were selected to tell the story of the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, using their creativity. The 100 include Olympic champions such as Kelly Holmes and Daley Thompson; Paralympic champions such as Oscar Pistorius; musical stars such as Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes (both of Duran Duran); the scientist/TV personality Professor Brian Cox, and others including non-celebrities. The Storytellers were set challenges from time to time. The anthem “Faster Faster Faster” was a response to the challenge is to create a contribution specifically to support and inspire the competitors, with the theme "Good Luck Team GB!" The lyrics were inspired by attending various Olympics and Paralympics pre-events, and by interviewing the Team GB Rhythmic Gymnastics Group at their training camp. An orchestral backing was composed recognising that the Olympic Games are the greatest of competitions. Joel loves writing for orchestras and chamber ensembles. The lyrics reflect the view of Nelson Mandela, who said "The heroes sports creates ... are valiant, not only on the playing field but also in the community, spreading hope and inspiration to the world." The lyrics also reflect the the view of Muhammad Ali, who said "Champions are made from something they have deep inside them - a desire, a dream, a vision." Joel is a musician from India's top rhythm academy, specialising in polyphonic composition and "konnakol" vocal percussion. He teaches, composes, writes lyrics and performs. He is co-authoring a textbook of rhythm with drum colossus Billy Cobham (ex-Miles Davis and Mahavishnu Orchestra). Other collaborations include Rivka Golani (classical viola star), Dr. Balamurali Krishna (the "Pavarotti of Asia"), multiplatinum rock stars Kula Shaker and award-winning choir Bath Camerata. He has led groups featuring the stars from the family of his guru, the late Sri TR Harihara Sarma: Grammy winner Sri TH “Vikku” Vinayakram, “king of konnakol” Sri TH Subash Chandran, Sri V. Selvaganesh (of John McLaughlin’s ‘Remember Shakti’ group). Konnakol is a language of rhythm which enables anyone, from any style of music, whether young or old, amateur or professional, to enjoy and master Rhythm. Legendary guitarist John McLaughlin described it as "the most simple and yet most sophisticated system of rhythmic comprehension in the world.. If you can understand konnakol you can understand any rhythm from any country on the planet". Konnakol is like the "Lego" of rhythm. It can be used to create simple patterns, or at advanced level, to create rhythmic cathedrals. Dr. Joel, in his teaching, uses a structured approach which enables anyone to progress in easy steps, even if they have no prior musical knowledge or experience. Konnakol, when combined with solfege and movement, is a way to bring creative music-making within everyone's reach. Children and others can learn the language Music, just as they learn English: "speaking" (improvising), "writing" (composing), "reading" (singing or playing repertoire) without hesitation. This confident mastery prepares the way for them to perform as vocalists or instrumentalists, in groups or alone, in their preferred styles: classical or popular, traditional or innovative. His konnakol students have included a wide range from toddlers and beginners to recording artists such as Sheila Chandra. He has led konnakol sessions at Sir Paul McCartney's LIPA (Liverpool Institute of the Performing Arts), the BRIT School (London), the Academy of Contemporary Music (Guildford), the WOMAD Summer School, Access to Music courses, WOMAD Beyond in Abu Dhabi, and more. He teaches songwriting and creative writing, and was featured on Radio 4 (BBC), which is a prominent national station in Britain. Dr Joel incorporates konnakol in popular songs and musical compositions. He has written the musical entitled “Diamonds And Forests”: a love story set in India against a backdrop of turmoil. Dr Joel's "Gitanjali Suite" composition with lyrics from Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore featured the legendary Dr. Balamuralikrishna backed by the award-winning Bath Camerata choir.