Multi award-winning singer-songwriter Kim Carnie is set to unveil a compelling new single, ‘Òran na Bèiste Maoile’, on Friday 27th June 2025, offering a striking glimpse into the evolving soundscape of her upcoming album set for release this September.
Rooted in Gaelic folklore and shaped by global sounds, ‘Òran na Bèiste Maoile’ was written specifically with world music royalty and kora player Seckou Keita in mind. The two artists previously collaborated in 2022, and this latest venture sees Kim fuse her cinematic Gaelic soundscapes with Keita’s enchanting West African instrumentation. The result is a musically mesmerising showcase of transformation, myth and illusion.
The song tells the story of a woman who becomes a water-dwelling beast – inspired by ancient seal-people legends – and is thematically tied to The Moon tarot card, representing illusion, hidden truths and the supernatural. Like the card itself, the single invites listeners to consider what lies beneath the surface.
Kim Carnie, said: “This track feels like the heart of the album, I’ve written all new melodies for texts that are ancient, magical and mysterious. I knew Seckou’s voice and musicality would bring this one to life in an entirely unique way.”
‘Òran na Bèiste Maoile’ is the first glimpse into Kim Carnie’s upcoming second solo album, due in September 2025. The record is a daring departure from traditional interpretations of Gaelic song, with all but two of the album’s melodies newly composed. Each song explores ritual, spell, or incantation and will be accompanied by bespoke visuals and a dedicated tarot card.
This new single features a strong line-up of well-known musicians. Kim Carnie leads with her distinctive Gaelic vocals. She is joined by Senegalese kora player and vocalist Seckou Keita, who brings a West African influence to the recording. Innes White plays guitar and provides backing vocals, while Megan Henderson(Breabach) adds harmonies. John Lowrie (Staran) is on piano with James Lindsay (Breabach) on double bass, and Mark Scobbie (Mànran) providing percussion.
Renowned for her “velvet-voiced authority” (The Scotsman), Kim has made a name for herself at the intersection of folk tradition and genre-blending innovation. She is the lead vocalist of folk powerhouse Mànran, a founding member of Staran, and an internationally recognised composer and session vocalist, with credits on productions including Netflix’s Outlaw King and Black Mirror.
‘Òran na Bèiste Maoile’ follows the success of Kim’s work on the multi-award-winning documentary Kim Carnie: Out Loud. The film, which explored her personal story and musical journey, earned widespread acclaim at international festivals and picked up awards including Best Song in a Film at the Milan Independent Awards and Best Music in a Feature Film at the Austin International Art Festival.
Following the success of her debut solo album And So We Gather, Kim embarks on a UK tour this September to celebrate her upcoming second album, followed by a European tour later in the year.
The single was recorded at GloWorm Recording, engineered and mixed by Iain Hutchison, with additional recording of Keita’s parts at Goumel Studio Ziguinchor, Sénégal, by Moussa Ngom. Mastering was completed by Peter Beckmannat TechnologyWorks Mastering.
For more information on the single and Kim Carnie go to www.kimcarnie.com.
Artist website: http://www.kimcarnie.com/
Single title: Òran na Bèiste Maoile
Album title:
Release Date: 27/06/2025
Single artist: Kim Carnie
Single duration: 3:27
Record Label: Càrn Records
Catalogue No:
Writers: Kim Carnie
Publishers: PRS / MCPS
Explicit?: No
Search Terms: {Search terms:18}
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