Released by the Xtra MIle Recordings label on 21 July, In My Mind There’s A Room, the first new material from Colin MacIntyre (aka Mull Historical Society) in five years will feature contributions from an all-star cohort of thirteen guest authors: Ian Rankin, Nick Hornby, Jacqueline Wilson, Val McDermid, Jennifer Clement (‘Widow Basquiat’), Booker-winning Sebastian Barry, Alan Warner, 2021 US National Book Award-winner Jason Mott, Scottish poet laureates’ Jackie Kay and Liz Lochhead, and Booker-shortlisted Stephen Kelman (‘Pigeon English’).
Mull Historical Society is the musical project of Colin MacIntyre – the multi-award-winning musician, producer, author for adults and children, and playwright. Writing music that is often personal and steeped in the tradition of his native island, yet with an adventurous spirit and outward-reaching appeal, over the last two decades his works have resonated with audiences both in the UK and all over the world.
In 2023, Mull is bringing his worlds of words and music together for the extraordinary new album In My Mind There’s A Room. Across its fourteen songs, MacIntyre has enlisted an all-star cast of award-winning literary giants to contribute their own words about a special room that plays or has played a significant part in their lives. Using these words as the lyrics, Colin has then written the musical arrangements to create a fourteen track album of personal and thoughtful songs. Rather fittingly, these songs were recorded in a room that holds a special place in Colin’s heart – his ‘Bard of Mull’ poet-come-bank-manager grandfather’s flat above the bank in Tobermory, isle of Mull, which has recently – remarkably – been turned into a fully-equipped recording studio.
Of the new …Room project, Colin MacIntyre says: “It has been a great creative experience and challenge to work with all the authors’ original words and their ‘rooms’. For some time I’ve had the ambition to bring my worlds of music and writing together — and to set myself the creative challenge to collaborate using somebody else’s words for the first time. How does Elton work with Bernie? The chance came when my grandparent’s home of 40-plus years on Tobermory seafront on the Isle of Mull, was – unbelievably – transformed into a recording studio. My grandfather was the Scottish poet, and bank manager of Mull, Angus Macintyre. He was a unique character and remains my biggest inspiration…. I hadn’t stepped into that room in 21 years. So I decided to reach out to some of my favourite writers, many of whom have inspired me in words and song, to ask if they would write some original words on a significant room to them, that I would then mould into lyrics and record in this significant room to me: the room where my grandfather wrote and regaled many a visitor, where I sat at his feet. Over two magical, but intense spells, I stepped back into those rooms again. In my mind there are now fourteen rooms.”
Mull Historical Society’s upcoming album In My Mind There’s A Room is released on CD, double-vinyl and digital on 21st July 2023 on Xtra Mile Recordings. Produced by Colin MacIntyre, the album was recorded, Engineered and Mixed by Gordon MacIean, and features a cast of some of the UK’s leading musicians in their fields: Andy Samson, Donald Shaw, Camilla Pay, Sorren MacIean, Hannah Fisher, Phil Bancroft and more.
Artist’s website: http://mullhistoricalsociety.com/
4Play documentary:
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