Debut solo album from Kim Carnie
Oban's Kim Carnie brings out her debut solo album - And So We Gather - next month.
The release date is Friday June 17 and the album, produced by Taynuilt's Donald Shaw of Capercaillie and Celtic Connections fame, boasts a star-studded line up of more than 30 acclaimed artists.
In her album, the Gaelic songstress brings together some of the brightest lights on the UK's folk and traditional music scene and beyond.
Kim’s vocals and Donald’s piano and harmonium playing are accompanied by Innes White on guitar and mandolin, James Lindsay on double bass and James Mackintosh on percussion.
Guest vocalists include Julie Fowlis, Karen Matheson, Kathleen MacInnes, Megan Henderson and Calum MacCrimmon.
Others appearing include Alyn Cosker 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 debut release.
Written and arranged in lockdown, between Glenlyon and the Isle of Skye, the 10-track album sees Kim resurrect old Gaelic songs and texts she has collected over the years.
She places that work alongside five of her own original Gaelic and English songs, showcasing her gift for heartfelt storytelling.
Kim 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 sixmile 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 my songs and the songs of our ancestors. I am ready and excited to be sending it out into the world.'
A string of singles are still to come from Kim, including contemporary love song She Moves Me, expected this month.
On Friday May 27, the single Nighean Sin Thall, which marries Gaelic song and saxophone, will be released and Laoidh na h-Oidhche with music written by Kim and featuring Julie Fowlis will be available on Friday June 10.
Kim will be taking her album tour to Taynuilt Village Hall on Friday June 10 from 7pm back to the stage where she had some of her first concerts as a child. And So We Gather will be available to buy on CD and stream and download on all major digital platforms from Friday June 17.