My debut album Strands is out now! Recorded last year at Mareel, Lerwick, the album tells a story of my Shetland roots and how this has grown to be intertwined with threads of contemporary influence and ideas. As well as exploring this conversation between traditional and contemporary, the album also explores the fusion of traditional and classical influence.
I launched the album at the Mackintosh Church on 1st Feb 2024 as part of Celtic Connections, which felt quite fitting with the tiny links to Mackintosh which cropped up throughout the album production. Chloe Keppie (behind the album cover/CD design), is a relative of John Keppie (3rd cousin, 4th removed, or something like that…) who taught Charles Rennie Mackintosh. The second music video we recorded for the album (Da Boys o’ Da Lounge), was also shot at the Mackintosh Club in Helensburgh. The Mackintosh Club was designed by Mackintosh in 1893/94 as he worked for Honeyman/Keppie. You can check out the music video here;
There’s such an exciting influx of solo traditional pianists in Scotland’s music scene at the moment and I think it’s inspiring to see the piano becoming more and more defined as a solo instrument alongside it’s already well established role as an accompaniment instrument in traditional music. I’m hoping this album is a wee contribution towards that development.
A huge thanks to the following folk that were involved in the production of this album;
Miguel Girão – Guitar
Rhona MacDonald – Double Bass
Lea Søndergaard Larsen – Bodhran
Tim Matthew – Recording Engineer
Scott Turnbull – Mix
Sam Proctor (Lismore Mastering) – Master
Ruth Brownlee – Artwork
Chloe Keppie – Design
Euan Robertson – Photography
Vaila Walterson – Film
Jonathan Bulter – Film
The album was made with kind support from the Shetland Musical Heritage Trust and Youth Music.
A massive thanks also has to go to everyone who has streamed/bought/liked/shared the music so far… feeling very grateful !
If you want to check out Strands, here’s some links;
Amy Laurenson 
Leave a comment