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Iona Leigh

About Me



IONA LEIGH ... “The contemporary messenger of ancient tradition ... A voice of delicate power and beauty”
Iona Leigh’s unique sound has been described as gorgeous vocals floating over a folk tinged musical backdrop, with an intermingled sense of both tradition and the contemporary. A recent review by FolkWords claimed: “Iona is one of those ‘magical’ folk that see the world with different eyes … Iona’s music mixes songs of myth and magic, love and longing. These are songs driven by Iona’s deep desire to touch the mystery she sees in the world around her – and she does it with consummate grace and feel.”

Iona’s talent for song writing is clear from her poignant lyrics, which make reference to nature, ancient legends and myths. But it is her striking voice, drawing comparisons to such individual artists as Sheila Chandra and Tori Amos, that heralds her arrival as a significant new artist. A review by FolkWords stated: “As pure as crystal, Iona’s voice alternately soars and pours through a collection of self-penned, borrowed and embellished poems, lyrics and tunes. Here there are roots buried deep in tradition mingled with deft touches of the contemporary. This is music with magical depth.”

The Daily Music Guide have said: “Despite hailing from Sydney [Australia], Iona Leigh’s foremost years were spent in a remote Scottish fishing community. Being brought up in a household where television was discouraged and the predominant musical output was her mother’s alternative collection, she might just as well have lived two generations ago. This has moulded a distinctly authentic musical output that is nevertheless accessible to all.”

These alternative musical influences, are uniquely captured in her 2009 album; ‘Beside the Waves of Time’, as music journalist Toxic Pete recently explained: “Iona Leigh's unique melding of 'now' folk tinged with many elements of the traditional form is as restful as it is refreshing. Leigh delivers her nu-folksy songs with effortless sincerity and graceful serenity … Leigh's vibrant 'folk across time' borrows time signatures and inflections from earlier times but sits squarely, slap-bang in the middle of twenty-first century electric folk - it may not be a totally new idea but Iona Leigh sure makes it sound original and tantalising.”

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 21/11/2005
Band Website: www.ionaleigh.com
Band Members: IONA'S UPCOMING ALBUM 'BESIDE THE WAVES OF TIME' FEATURES -

Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals & Shruti Box - Iona Leigh
Rhythm Guitar & Backing Vocals - Findlay Napier
Drums - Paul Jennings
Electric Bass - Collin Cunningham
Double Bass - Duncan Lyall
Pipes & Flutes - Jarlath Henderson
Violin & Viola - Gillian Frame
Harp - Mary Ann Kennedy
Piano - Kevin Webster
Electric Guitar, Mandolin, Shaker & Piano - Nick Turner

All songs written by Iona Leigh, with traditional sources stated.
All songs arranged by Iona Leigh, Nick Turner & Findlay Napier.
Album Produced, Engineered, Mixed & Mastered by Nick Turner
Recorded, Mixed & Mastered at Watercolour Music, Scotland

Artist Manager - Rob Malcolm
Label Manager - David Rogers

IONA'S DEBUT ALBUM 'SPIRIT' FEATURES

All Vocals - Iona Leigh
Piano - Kevin Webster
All songs written, arranged and produced by Iona Leigh
Available via Iona's website, iTunes, and CD Baby.

Influences: Allison Kraus & Union Station, Frou Frou, Kate Rusby, Annie Lennox, Cara Dillon, Karine Polwart, Sade, Deva Premal, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Mike Scott & The Waterboys, Dolores O'Riordan, Loreena McKennitt, Van Morrison, Dixie Chicks, Deva Premal, Sheila Chandra, Sarah MaLachlan, Jewel, Crowded House, Mouth Music.
Sounds Like: " Iona Leigh's effortless vocal floats over a Celtic tinged folk backdrop" ...
Record Label: Crescent Moon Records
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Daily Music Guide - Great Album Review

Iona Leigh  Beside the Waves of Time  ... Despite hailing from Sydney, Iona Leighs foremost years were spent in a remote Scottish fishing community. Being brough...
Posted by on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 02:33:00 GMT

Fab New Review by Toxic Pete

Iona Leigh: CD - Beside The Waves Of Time - http://www.toxicpete.co.uk/ionaleigh.html'Beside The Waves Of Time' is an album of what can really only be described, almost nonsensically, as 'contemporary...
Posted by on Sun, 29 Mar 2009 05:25:00 GMT

Album Launch Success ...

Dear Friends, Last night was a fabulous success - an evening filled with friendship and fantastic music in the beautiful church of St James The Less. There were over 80 lovely guests enjoying fine win...
Posted by on Sat, 28 Mar 2009 05:14:00 GMT

Iona's BBC Radio 2 Debut!

Dear Friends,As some of you may know, 'Blackbird' was played onMike Harding's BBC Radio 2 Folk & Acoustic Music Show last night.If you missed the show, you can hear it again over the next 6 days bycli...
Posted by on Thu, 26 Mar 2009 10:44:00 GMT

Spiral Earth Review - New Album

11/03/2009 Beside the Waves of Time - Iona Leigh There is some wonderful high quality music coming out of Scotland at the moment, although Iona Leig...
Posted by on Wed, 11 Mar 2009 10:52:00 GMT

FolkWords Review

Album and Gig Reviews - FolkWordsBeside the Waves of Time - new album from Iona Leigh (February 23, 2009). Journalist; Tim Carroll.Beside the Waves of Time is the new album from Iona Leigh and its ...
Posted by on Mon, 09 Mar 2009 07:36:00 GMT

Forres Gazette Article

Findhorn singer releases her second albumPublished:  04 March, 2009Journalist: Ken BurnsFOLK singer Iona Leigh, who spent her childhood and formativeyears in Findhorn, has just signed a distribution d...
Posted by on Sat, 07 Mar 2009 07:44:00 GMT

Album Launch Showcase - INVITATION!

                                                                      You are cordially invited to my fabulous 'Beside The Waves of Time Album Launch Showcase - all details below!  28 March 2009, 07...
Posted by on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 04:02:00 GMT

Fab New Shruti Box

Dear Friends, I was blessed with a wonderful Christmas present this year - a fantastic new Shruti Box! As much as I loved my old second hand Shruti box, it was a little unpredictable at times and quit...
Posted by on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:01:00 GMT

Live in Concert at Union Chapel!!!

Dear Friends,It's a week today until my fabulous Daylight Concert in Islington's beautiful Union Chapel at noon on Saturday 22nd of Nov 2008!I will be playing a collection of new songs from my upcomin...
Posted by on Sat, 15 Nov 2008 22:00:00 GMT