MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2016: Mohsen Amini

Congratulations to Mohsen Amini who have been nominated in Instrumentalist of the Year sponsored by Royal Scottish Country Dance Society in the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2016. Vote now!

We asked Mohsen Amini of Mohsen Amini the following questions.

Tell us about yourself
My name is Mohsen Amini… not really the most traditional name you would expect to see in the category! I play the concertina and have been for the past 14 years. I'm a founding member of the bands Talisk, Ímar and Fourth Moon. With Talisk I won the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award and more recently myself won the BBC Radio Scotland Young Musician of the Year.

Why are you involved in Scottish music?
I've played Scottish music my entire life, I love every bit of it. It's music which entails the best of absolutely everything and the very occasional hangover…

Everyone of my friends I know, I have met through playing music, it's what I listen to going to bed and what my alarm wakes me in the morning with.

There is two side to two why I'm involved in Scottish music, the first is the social side and how friendly everyone is added to the fact that when you are younger you could be in a session, probably in Glasgow and probably at the Ben, and at the other side of the room is one your hero's that you listen to everyday on your favourite CD playing the Kesh Jig and encouraging you to join in. The second side is the more blatantly obvious and is just quite simply that I'm just unbelievably passionate about it. It's what made me get up two hours before school to practice and what made me run home after to do the same. It has gave me the best career path I could possibly ask for… I mean doing music I've found 10am is an "early" start and my weekend begins on a Monday… Excellent!

Any particular career highlights?
Literally being nominated for this. Period. Unbelievable. Thank you. I'm in shock!

Really I've had some great times in my career, played some great gigs and played with some exceptional musicians. Another particular highlight would have to winning the BBC Radio Scotland Young Musician of the year, especially after wining the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award with Talisk the year before.
Aside from that would probably be the launch of Ímar but really every part of my career I've absolutely loved. There have been countless low times bunched up with high points and really you need both, you need to experience the lows to appreciate the highs. Whether it was practicing for 3 weeks straight to play a support gig at the local folk club or travelling half way around the world to play a festival. I've loved it. All of it. Play music. Don't look back!!

What are your plans for the future?
I'm heading to Australia soon with Talisk and that is packed with a busy year next year touring Abyss. As well as this we – Ímar – are releasing our debut album (Shhhhhhhhh don't tell anyone!!!) with an extensive UK tour planned around that! To add to this Fourth Moon should be finishing off out album in the middle of 2017 so it's all steam ahead with everything!!

Also… long term plan is to bring the concertina to Scotland and having as many people play it as possible so me and Simon can have more of our kind!!! It's either that of Banjo's will be on the rise so it's your choice…

If you would like to come along to the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards in Dundee’s Caird Hall call the Caird Hall box office on (01382) 434940 or buy online.