Dundee musician in running for Scottish Album of Year Award

Public have chance to vote for The Paralian by Andrew Wasylyk

Work by Dundee-based musician and producer Andrew Wasylyk has been nominated for the Scottish Album of the Year Award.

The Paralian, inspired by Andrew’s five-month residency at Hospitalfield in Arbroath last year, is among 20 albums on the award’s longlist.

Andrew said the public vote opened on Sunday night and closes at midnight tomorrow (sayaward.com).

The winner will go to the final shortlist alongside the other nine albums selected by a judging panel.

“To my knowledge I’m the first Dundee-based artist to be nominated since the award began seven years ago, so it’s a real honour to be included alongside so many wonderful Scottish albums,” he said.

Work on The Paralian began last year when Andrew, who is also vocalist and bassist with Dundee-band the Hazey Janes and Scots indie rockers Idlewild, sat at Hospitalfield arts centre’s original grand piano last year to write music for the Arbroath house’s restored 19th Century Erard Grecian Harp.

Inspiration came from the nearby Seaton cliffs and the Bell Rock lighthouse. These melodic progressions were reflected in the tranquillity of The Paralian, which was released on February 1.

Andrew was also excited when many of the tracks got their first live performance with a full eight–piece band in Edinburgh, Dundee and in Glasgow as part of Celtic Connections.

Andrew explained how in addition to the harp, his new work utilised a broad palette of instrumentation including flugelhorn, euphonium, oboe, string trio, vintage synthesizers, drones and upright piano.

Using the instruments at Hospitalfield, Andrew also took field recordings of birds and the lapping waves at Seaton cliffs, and of seals basking at the Bell Rock.

Fans will get another chance to hear live performances from The Paralian, and other material, on September 29 when he performs at Dundee University’s Chaplaincy Centre with a nine-piece ensemble including brass, strings and harpist Sharron Griffiths. There will be visual accompaniment by artist Tommy Perman.

“It’s a real honour to be included alongside so many wonderful Scottish albums. ANDREW WASYLYK

Picture: Steve Brown. Andrew Wasylyk has been nominated for the Scottish Album of the Year.