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“Alyth loves singing, and lets you know that without telling you. You can hear it in her voice. She may be from lewis, sings (but not all exclusively) in Gaelic, and often performs with harp and fiddle - but she’s not a folkie. Her musical education and influences are too wide to sit in that, or any other, ghetto, minimalists like Reich, the sweeping eclecticism of Adams, sophisticated rock, modal jazz and role models like June Tabor or Marta Sebestyen have taken her down a path where she can sing unaccompanied in a Hebridean hall one day and with a metropolitan fusion samba band the next. She is at home on stage and brings to her music - whether with The close harmony vocalists in Shine or full jazz/rock rhythm section in Sunhoney - a still centre"
(Norman Chalmers - the List - August 2003)
“A voice described as having ‘spun glass fragility belying a sinewy strength’, accompaniments ‘transcendentally timeless and effortlessly contemporary’ combined with the uncomplicated conviction with which she communicates with her audiences have ensured that Alyth is one of the most exciting singers on the Celtic scene. Her vocal talent and her understanding approach give her an ability to cross over diverse singing styles making her comfortable performing with a variety of artists. “
Alyth was born and raised on the Island of Lewis of the north west coast of Scotland and after growing up within this culture and having being given the opportunity to perform since she was a nipper, she decided to hit the road, left home moved to the big city and began her singing education in earnest. Had a wonderful teacher who gave her a great grounding and then the adventuring began. She toured in various bands and projects, Shine, Sunhoney throughout Germany, Spain, Italy, Estonia, North America, the Uk, Brazil, Ireland, Switzerland, Greece, Austria, Hungary, Norway & Sweden recorded with various artists, appearing on 16 albums to date, and in 2000 released her first solo CD An Iomall(The Edge) on Vertical records.
‘Recent reviews of gigs showcasing new material from her new solo album - People like me - say
"ALYTH, Lewis’ "ruby-throated sparrow", stands tall and elegantly beautiful in an eye-watering Barbie pink corset-stringed top, minikilt and boots.... She is here to launch her new CD which focuses on themes of love and conscience and on the strength of the songs we hear tonight will be coming to an iPod near you very shortly. Blessed with a voice of great beauty and purity, any composer must rejoice to hear Alyth sing his work.
Names like Boo Hewerdine, Jim Malcolm, Brendan Graham and Del Amitri’s Justin Currie are checked in the introductions and Hewerdine ’s "A Smuggler’s Prayer" about the plight of drug mules is particularly moving. Alyth’s cohort from Sunhoney, Aidan O’Rourke, joins the ensemble for two sparkling Gaelic songs celebrating drink and tobacco, which she calls the Vices Set.
"I wish I hadn’t tied the strings of my top so tight", she confesses afterwards. "Me, too", mutters one of the band, a sentiment silently echoed by the male half of the audience. The CD’s title track ‘People Like Me’ is a heartfelt plea for tolerance in today’s Scotland, penned by Currie. Compellingly catchy even on first hearing, it provides a stirring end to the set and should, if there is any justice, be sung by festival crowds for a very long time to come." JENNIE MACFIE HI-arts.co.uk
Traditional Gaelic songs with modern arrangements; some are spare some feature tasteful arrangements that recall post era Bjork. No matter what the format her voice is spine tingling‘. (New York - Time Out)
Alyth has also been acting professionally since 1998. Previous theatre work includes Scottish Ballet, Dance Productions, TOSG, theatrecollective@highland, Dogstar Theatre, Wee Stories - Arthur and Machair for STV. In 2004 I played the lead role in the Scots/Irish musical ‘On Eagle’s Wing’ and this year finished my first film role in Simon Beal’s short film - "Rebel Song" currently doing the circuit of Film Festivals across the globe.’ Latest projects on the go are ’The Island Tapes’ - check out www.theislandtapes.com or www.myspace.com/islandtapes and the Savourna Stevenson Duo www.savournastevenson.com