Member Since: 5/16/2006
Band Website: www.kistodreams.org
Band Members: I often perform solo or with my brother and work with different instrumentalists for different projects.
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Haunting - we are working on the new arrangements at the moment and I am singing with fellow vocalists Christine McClenaghan and Alpin Stewart, guitarist Martin MacDonald (well, he plays guitar for this project, but plays plenty other instruments too!), bassist and guitarist Fraser Stockall and cellist Graeme Walker.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Bairn's Kist -
A very big presence on the Bairn's Kist CD is Bob Pegg... What can I say? Producer and multi-instrumentalist with a pedigree longer than your arm... In addition to Bob's many intrumental contributions and harpist Bill Taylor, Bairn's Kist includes Olivia Ross who is a friend from way back and a talented fiddle and viola player who recently graduated in Traditional Music from Newcastle. Check her work with the Shee.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~kist o dreams - Bill Taylor, the extraordinary small harp expert, has created very sensitive arrangements for the kist o dreams songs - some of which appear on the CD, but most are heard at our live appearances. He plays on many more tracks on the Bairns' Kist CD.
Christine McClenaghan and I have sung together for years, in A' Seinn Quines, The Feisty Besoms, Juniper and more pubs and front rooms than you can shake a very long stick at...
Influences: To start with, obviously, my mum, who sang at home all sorts of songs, and not just on special occasions! (After prayers at night, though, it was hymns and psalms only!).When I was in primary 1, at all of 5 years old, my teacher was Miss Nisbet, and one of the few things I can remember from that age is her telling me I was a good singer and should carry on singing.These little words of praise can really stick with a child!Two of my early tutors - Annie Nicholson and Kenny Campbell - are both sadly now dead, but gave me such a lot of encouragement and so much of their own time and energy when I was a child, that I will always be grateful to them.It's dyed in the wool, unaccompanied tradition that I love, but not in a preserve-the-way-it-is-at-all-costs sort of a way. I'm lucky to have had some truly inspirational and fabulous teachers, including the late Alan Bruford at the School of Scottish Studies and after that Ishbel MacAskill, Janice Clark, Kenna Campbell to name but a few.
Sounds Like: "Picture, if you will, warm, sweet, organic honey drizzling slowly from a honey wand... Stewart's voice is the aural equivalent. Her clear, soothing voice enfolds the listener in the song." (Bairn's Kist reviewed in Dirty Linen)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"exquisitely pure and clear voice lends the perfect intimacy to these traditional songs." (Mike Wilson, Green Man Review)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"I particularly love Christina’s quiet, understated but direct presentation of the Gaelic songs – she conveys the musicality of the Gaelic language beautifully." (Bairn's Kist reviewed by Debbie Koristas, Living Tradition)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"unembellished natural charm"
(Inverness Courier) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"Even if you don’t know the language, the haunting qualities of the melodies will get to you. Stewart possesses a fine and melodic voice that is appropriately soothing. The tunes are mostly traditional and this is a wonderful album, even if your children are grown, for you can’t help but relax and feel safe while hearing the beautiful singing." (kist o dreams reviewed in Dirty Linen)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Record Label: Feisty Besoms
Type of Label: Indie