And So We Gather is the impressive debut solo album from renowned Gaelic songstress Kim Carnie, due for release on Friday 17th June. Bringing together some of the brightest lights on the UK’s folk and traditional music scene and beyond, And So We Gather is set to be one of the largest-scale solo Gaelic records of a generation.
Produced by Donald Shaw of Capercaillie and Celtic Connections fame, the album boasts a star-studded line up of over 30 acclaimed artists. Kim’s inimitable vocals and Donald’s intuitive piano and harmonium playing are accompanied throughout by Innes White on guitar and mandolin, James Lindsay on double bass and James Mackintosh on percussion.
Guest vocalists include none other than Julie Fowlis, Karen Matheson, Kathleen MacInnes, Megan Henderson and Calum MacCrimmon. The line-up of guest musicians is sonically rich and clearly indicates the album’s ambition, with everything from West Africa’s kora, to a full-scale orchestra, making an appearance.
Alyn Cosker features on percussion, Charlie Stewart on fiddle, Iain Hutchison on electric guitar, John Lowrie on piano, Kadialy Kouyate on kora and Matt Carmichael on saxophone, while the sensational Scottish Session Orchestra also bring their offerings to this stunning debut release.
Written and arranged in lockdown, between Glenlyon and the Isle of Skye, the ten-track album sees Kim lovingly resurrect old Gaelic songs and texts she has collected over the years. These are placed perfectly alongside five of her own original Gaelic and English songs, which showcase her natural gift for heartfelt storytelling and signal a watershed moment for the award-winning Scottish vocalist, who has certainly found her sense of self as an artist.
Kim Carnie said: “Over the last two years, we have spent too much time apart from the people we care most about. We have had to learn how to show love through our physical absence and find calm in our isolation. This album is a celebration of where we are now: gathering, loving and putting ourselves back together.
“I spent the first few months of lockdown in Glenlyon. I would regularly walk a 6-mile round trip, sneak into our beautiful local church and play the baby grand piano – it was there where I wrote most of this album.
“The album brings together some of my favourite musicians, but most importantly, some of my favourite hearts and minds. It’s been a real privilege putting this music together and hearing what others hear in both my songs and the songs of our ancestors. I am now ready, and excited, to be sending it out into the world.”
A string of singles are still to come from Kim, including the stunning contemporary love song ‘She Moves Me’, expected 13th May. On 27th May, the sensational ‘Nighean Sin Thall’, which beautifully marries Gaelic song and saxophone, will be released. ‘Laoidh na h-Oidhche’, a moving, raw and vocally exposing piece, with music written by Kim and featuring Julie Fowlis, will be available on 10 June, before the album drops in full.
And So We Gather will be available to buy on CD and stream and download on all major digital platforms on Friday 17th June.
Artist’s website: https://www.kimcarnie.com/
‘She Moves Me’ live with Innes White:
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