Love music? A song in there just bursting to get out? Need a boost to start you on the way to writing your own songs, or put that final polish on your own tunes and lyrics? Fèisean nan Gàidheal and Watercolour Music are offering a unique opportunity to six young Gaelic writers, aged between 16 and 25, to spend time doing just that!
The Project
The project takes place in two phases:
1) 10-17 March 2012 – a group weekend at Watercolour, one of Scotland’s finest recording studios, in the company of experts and writers who’ll help develop your songwriting skills. There’s also an opportunity to work on your own material, new on ‘in progress’, and to collaborate with the other participants.
2) 30 March-2 April 2012 – A day and a half in the studio with one other participant to hone your songs and demo record them to a high standard. The sessions will also be videoed to accompany the songs and all your finished material will be made publicly available online on FnG’s ana Watercolour Music’s sites. You’ll leave Watercolour with a CD/DVD of your work, free to use it in any non-commercial way you wish.
The Team
Mary Ann Kennedy – broadcaster and musician who has been immersed in Gaelic music and song since she was born. A regular music presenter on TV and radio, from BBC Radio 3 to BBC Alba, with many years’ experience in music production, her work with world music and new roots gives her work with Gaelic music a breadth of knowledge and experience.
Nick Turner – co-writer of the songs of Findlay Napier and the Bar Room Mountaineers, and producer of their albums. Nick has been involved in music his whole life, and he’s recorded a huge range of musical genres, from hip-hop to classical. His purpose-built , brand-new studio in Ardgour has attracted musicians from an impressive roster of bands including, Mount Desolation (Mumford & Sons), Rachel Sermanni, Admiral Fallow and Sorren MacLean.
Norrie ‘Tago’ MacIver – Singer of the Year and lead singer with Mànran, winners of Album of the Year at the Scots Trad Music Awards 2011. Norrie has taken his traditional roots and sought new directions for Gaelic song with his partnership with beatboxer Ruari Sutherland, and his song, ‘Latha Math air an Eilean’ was highly-acclaimed.
Alasdair Whyte – one of the finest young Gaelic songwriters on the scene today. A Mòd Gold Medallist in 2006, Alasdair has been taking Gaelic songs into the new century with his poetic and expressive songs. He’s currently recording his debut album at Watercolour, which will feature many of his own songs.
Findlay Napier – lead singer with the Bar Room Mountaineers, and co-writer of their songs. Findlay is also the brains behind Hazy Recollections, the influential Glasgow indie songwriting collective. With long experience across a range of musical genres, he’s also in demand as a tutor at the Royal Consevatoire of Scotland
Get In Touch!
If you’re interested in the project, get in touch with your name, address and some information on your experience to date. If you have any existing demo material we can watch or listen to, send us a CD, DVD or weblink (soundcloud, myspace etc.). And if you can put us in contact with someone (producer, tutor, music leader etc.) who can tell us more about your music, send us an email address where we can contact them.
Send all the information to:
Calum Ailig MacMillan
Fèisean nan Gàidheal
111 Academy Street
Inverness
IV1 1LX
or by email to calumailig@feisean.org
If you need more information, send an email to mak@watercolourmusic.co.uk orcalum@feisean.org, or phone Watercolour Music (01855-841320) or Fèisean nan Gàidheal (01463-225559).
You must get your application to us before the 17 February 2012.