📷 Photos by Jette Jaacks

Ashes to Art is my second solo album that was just released in April. Without intending to, the album became a deeply personal reflection of my journey over the past few years. Broadly speaking it conveys a theme of transformation: that which comes from overcoming a season of challenges and trials, then stepping into a new, brighter season of growth and opportunity.

To give the album some context, I will rewind 6 years to 2020 when we were in the midst of Covid while also going through the Brexit transition. While we were all facing a time of deep uncertainty, I sensed even prior to this time, that I was lacking some sort of artistic direction, and I couldn’t figure out exactly what was missing, or indeed what direction I needed to go in. As the end of 2020 approached, I made a choice that sent my life on a completely different trajectory. I moved to Denmark to join my now husband, Christoffer, who shortly after became my band mate and drummer.

At first I thought that half a year would suffice living in Denmark, especially having never imagined moving to another country, but I soon discovered that the rules dictated by the UK leaving Europe would make things very difficult or more or less impossible in my situation should I return to the UK then wish to move to Denmark again in the future. I had to accept my situation and let it take its course. It is a strange feeling moving to another country that is not native English speaking, and everyday chores like going to a food store independently feels like a triumph! Over time I gained my confidence while starting to explore new directions with regards to my music work.

I was quite closely connected with the student community at the city of Esbjerg’s music conservatoire, as Christoffer was a student there at the time, studying under the rhythmic and jazz department. Despite the fact that the school hosted Denmark’s only folk department, I found myself connecting mostly with students from other departments. Denmark has a lot smaller folk community compared to Scotland, and so it was naturally easier to meet musicians from other genres. This gradual immersion into the jazz and rhythmical worlds, from which I had no prior experience, was pivotal in terms of my own music and artistic identity.

At the time, I was writing a lot of new music for the harp, and envisioned working on my first album. When I received some funding for this, it felt natural to get a couple musicians on board that would add a completely new element and sound to the music. I invited a local electric guitarist and of course, Christoffer on the drums! That first rehearsal together felt somewhat like a lightbulb moment – the sound was electronic with effect pedals, elements of improvisation, and original Scottish folk-inspired melodies. It was like a ‘Yes!’ moment. This was the sound I had been longing for but not realising and suddenly I felt truly musically fulfilled. This was the catalyst moment that was the foundation of my first album, Land of Eden (2023), and a few years later, Ashes to Art.

It was exciting with a brand new direction that I could explore and develop with the harp. The instrument has opened up for some truly wonderful opportunities and collaborations in Denmark. I have often heard it being referred to as an ‘exotic’ instrument here and it has been a true privilege to share a part of my culture, identity and home with a new country, while making so many wonderful connections through the harp.

Of course with any move to a new place, a season of trials will inevitably follow. I have questioned my move many times, the fact that I had to start again in building up a community, then the question about leaving my family, friends, and the life that I had built in Glasgow before moving. As I have tried to process all these thoughts and feelings that of course still linger with me sometimes, I am in no doubt that the move opened up for a constant string of new experiences and inspiration, which has informed a lot of my work: in particular, with the new album Ashes to Art.

Over the years I have developed a deeper appreciation and longing for nature, and Danish nature has most certainly inspired me in new ways. To be honest, I was initially challenged in coming to a flat country, having grown up in the hills and mountains of Aberdeenshire, but then I got the opportunity to live on a beautiful island called Fanø, for a few months. This lies on the west coast of the country just by the city of Esbjerg. Fanø might be flat but it has the most incredible beaches and lies by the Wadden Sea, which is the largest unbroken system of intertidal sand and mud flats in the world. When the tide stretches back it leaves sand beds that stretch out as far as the eye can see. It’s truly a spectacle to witness and changed my perception of flatness! Living on Fanø inspired quite a bit of my work and recent album.

Ashes to Art is a natural development from my debut album, Land of Eden. While Land of Eden featured my original trio with guitar and drums, I wanted the second album to be more of a collaborative work with musicians from both Denmark and Scotland. It was recorded at Solas Sound Studio with Gus Stirrat who I have worked with on previous albums. Working with Gus was the natural choice for this album as he really understands your musical vision and brings the music to life in a whole new way. I was also delighted to be able to record with the exceptional Chris Amer on guitar, as well as my good friend and mighty fiddle player, Bernadette Kellermann, on strings. I was also very fortunate to have the excellent Pàdruig Morrison feature on accordion for one of the tracks. Christoffer of course joined and recorded on the drums.

The final track of the album, Notes You Wrote, is a song that means a lot to me. The lyrics are taken from greeting cards that my grandmother, Audrey Sumpton, has given to me for every celebratory occasion you could think of over the years. She has such a gift for writing the most loving messages, all gently threaded with imagery of nature, birdsong and the seasons. I always felt like her words were too good to be kept inside a card and I wanted to give her a voice in the world. I adapted them for music with the help of the vocalist on the track, Dina Dánialsdóttir. Dina is originally from the Faroe Islands but now lives in Denmark.

It was important for me to establish a connection between both Denmark and Scotland in the album, and to include musicians from both countries, as the music does not solely have its roots in one place. I feel deeply grounded in my Scottish folk roots, but I have discovered that music comes most naturally to me when I let in other cultures, to shape, inform and challenge what I know, as well as my understanding of music: how it can function in society, its ability to unite people from very different backgrounds, and its undeniable ability to establish deep human connections.

Through Ashes to Art I want to celebrate connection, collaboration, perseverance and hope. I find these qualities also in nature, and am inspired that from a tiny seed in the dirt, grows something that is beautiful, perfect, and in itself a small piece of art.

Album Artwork by Sissel Geyti. Album Design by Andreas Bevan

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