FOLKMOSIS is Beth Malcolm‘s heartfelt and transformational second album, and musical coming of age story, set to be released in full on Monday 18 November.
Songs woven together by spoken word, the record is an autobiographical tale of a young Scottish female artist finding her place in the creative and musical world.
Beth Malcolm takes the listener on a journey from the traditional music and Scots tongue she was brought up with, to an eclectic mix of modern, neo-soul and jazz influences that soundtracked her teenage years.
Born out of a New Voices commission for Celtic Connections, FOLKMOSIS celebrates connections to land and language through shared music, and how the different threads and experiences in our lives can weave together over time.
Told in three acts, the album twists and turns through a shifting soundscape of genres and spoken word, traditional and new self-composed songs. The result is an unique and eclectic modern-folk sound and beautiful exploration of what it means to belong.
The first act is rooted in the folk world and traditions Beth grew up absorbed in. Act two follows the singer into the chaos of modern life and the love song soundtrack of angsty late teenage years, influenced by the rich tones of Amy Winehouse and London Grammar. Finally, act three heralds Beth’s coming of age and an audible coming home to the songs and sounds of Scotland, as a now grown woman. The sum of these three parts is a story of Beth’s heart laid bare and a musical journey captured in a way which will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression on many.
Beth Malcom said: “Creating FOLKMOSIS has been the joy of my life. I wanted to create a musical story and an absorbing world that people can immerse themselves in – the music is there to be listened to, carefully digested and cherished in full.
“To find songs, learned through osmosis years ago, which echo how you feel inside, and how you feel about the world around you, is a profound experience. I hope the album will remind the listener that the songs and sounds of Scotland will always be here to welcome us home whenever we feel a little lost.”
Beth’s inimitable vocals and beguiling spoken word are accompanied by some of Scotland’s finest musicians in the folk and jazz scene. FOLKMOSIS features David Bowden on electric and double bass, Heather Cartwright on acoustic guitar, Callum Convoy on bodhrán, Eryn Rae on fiddle, Andrew Waite on accordion and Laura Penman on clarsach.
Tiernan Courell is on flute, whistles and bansuri, Dorian Cloudsley on electric guitar, Mark Scobbie on drum kit, Sorcha Quartet on strings and Jack Badcock on backing vocals. Ali Levack lends his whistles to Hallowe’en and piano is shared across the album by Alan Benzie, Dorian Cloudsley and Beth herself. The album was produced by Dorian Cloudsley and recorded by Gus Stirrat at Solas Sound.
Beth continued: “Working with the bright musical talents of these exquisite musicians, the extraordinary arrangement and production skills of Dorian, and engineering expertise of Gus, was a real privilege. I will always remember the weeks, months and years spent on making FOLKMOSIS into my dream album.”
The first single, Edward – out now – comes from act one and is a traditional song which tells the tale of a heartbreaking conversation between a young man and his mother. The second single, Rolling Stone, is about a great and enriching love. Released 1 November, Rolling Stone bridges the gap between acts two and three, showcasing a gentle acoustic quality that builds and swells beautifully.
The album doubles as a piece of folk-theatre which will be performed live at Perth Theatre on 30th and 31st January 2025, with a Glasgow show for Celtic Connections and a spring tour to be announced.
Born in Perth and now based in Glasgow, Beth has been surrounded by folk music and traditions since she was in the womb. The vocalist and keys player won a coveted Danny Kyle Award at Celtic Connections 2019 and was named Scots Singer of the Year at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards in 2022. She has collaborated with a number of Scotland’s finest outfits including Fat-Suit and Adam Holmes, and sang with Gaelic electronic pioneers Niteworks on the hit track John Riley and has toured extensively. Recently, Beth has lended her voice to new electronic musical project LUSA. This album follows the release of her critically acclaimed debut, Kissed and Cried.
FOLKMOSIS will be available to purchase on CD and to stream and download on all major platforms from Monday 18 November 2024 and to pre-order from Friday 18 October at www.bethmalcolm.com.
Artist website: http://www.bethmalcolm.com
Single title: Edward
Album title: FOLKMOSIS
Release Date: 18/11/2024
Single artist: Beth Malcolm
Single duration: 4:55
Writers: Beth Malcolm
Publishers: PRS / MCPS
Explicit?: No
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