I'm so excited to finally be here, ready to record my debut album of traditional Gaelic songs. Welcome along! 

Dè tha seo?

Over the last few years I've dedicated myself to learning, researching, teaching and performing Gaelic song. Alongside becoming the first graduate of the MMus in Gaelic Song at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, winning the Ladies' Gold Medal at the Royal National Mòd and reaching the Semi-Final of BBC Radio Scotland's Young Traditional Musician of the Year, I've been fortunate to work with incredible singers, teachers, students and communities across Scotland.

Rooted in my upbringing in both Barra and Lochaber, that early love of singing has grown into a career dedicated to performance, research, teaching and sharing Gaelic song with others.

An obair gu ruige seo

This album builds on a Research and Development period generously supported by the Highlands and Islands Enterprise Gaelic Digital Challenge Fund. That support gave me the time and space to explore repertoire, develop the artistic vision for the project, and begin shaping the arrangements you'll hear on the album.

I'm incredibly grateful to HIE for believing in the project at such an important stage. Following this support, I'm now hoping to take the next step and finally bring these songs into the recording studio.

Na h-òrain

Through all of this, I've been incredibly fortunate to discover some remarkable songs that completely captured my imagination - songs that have stayed in my head, and that I hope will stay in yours too.

Carefully chosen and boldly realised, the album will bring together a selection of repertoire that has survived through centuries of oral tradition, archival recordings and community memory. Some Gaelic singers and enthusiasts may recognise a few of the songs, but most have never before been professionally recorded or presented in this way.

By giving these songs the opportunity to be heard, the album aims to shine a new light on overlooked repertoire through arrangements created with producer Rory Matheson and an outstanding band of musicians, while keeping the poetry, language, stories and traditions at the heart of everything we create.

Dè bhios an sàs?

Every contribution will go directly towards making the album possible, including:

• Studio recording and production

• Musician and production fees

• Mixing and mastering

• Photography, artwork and design

• Manufacturing physical albums

• Digital distribution

• PR and marketing, including the release of one or two singles ahead of the album launch

I can't wait to finally share this work with you, and I look forward to bringing it to life together.

If you'd like to be part of that journey, I'd be so grateful for your support.

Mòran taing agus gaol,

Claire Frances x