Amy Laurenson from Shetland is a finalist in the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician 2023. The finals will be held at Celtic Connections Festival on 5th February 2022 at 5pm. Buy a ticket here or listen live on BBC Radio Scotland or watch on BBC ALBA.
We asked Amy the following questions:
How did you get involved in traditional music?
Growing up learning classical piano, I only first got involved in traditional music when I was around 16yrs old as I started lessons with Violet Tulloch, learning traditional Shetland piano accompaniment. I only discovered solo traditional piano was a concept after moving to Glasgow to study, following that I soon got swept into exploring traditional music in a solo piano context.
Why did you enter BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award?
I entered the BBC Radio Scotland Young Trad Musician Award as it’s such a great platform for up-and-coming artists, and a huge opportunity to share my music to a wider audience. I was also motivated to enter the competition for the experience to meet and work with new and innovative players. Watching pianists taking part in the Young Trad over the past couple years – including Michael Biggins and Sophie Joint – has inspired me to enter the competition too!
Who has been the biggest inspiration/influence on your music-making and why?
One of the biggest influences on my music has been Violet Tulloch. Before moving to Glasgow, the years spent vamping and playing Slow Airs together majorly influenced and shaped how I approach traditional music on the piano. I am also hugely inspired by Shetland and its landscape, folklore and culture – something which I love exploring through music,
I’m really lucky to have received tuition from James Ross, Mary McCarthy and Alistair Paterson while studying at RCS – I’m hugely inspired by each of these players, and also by other pianists studying on the course at the time.
Are there any moments in your career so far that you particularly cherish and why?
Over the past few months I’ve been really lucky to create new music with Tern, recording and filming together has definitely been something to cherish. I’m really drawn to Scandinavian music, so have loved exploring this in relation to music from Shetland and further afield in Scotland.
Recently joining Live Music Now Scotland with duo partner Miguel Girão has also been a career highlight so far, I’m really looking forward to performing more duo material and sharing music with audiences who don’t normally have access to it.
What are your plans and aspirations for the future?
In the future I hope to spend time travelling and performing, while meeting and sharing music with as many musicians as I can along the way! In particular, I’m really keen to spend some time in Norway and Sweden.
This year I am planning to record more music with Tern and I’m really excited to write and record a debut album. Out-with this, I also aspire to spend lots of time collaborating and performing with other musicians.
When you are not playing music what else do you enjoy doing?
When I am not playing music, I enjoy catching up with friends and discovering new food joints. In my free time I also enjoy lino printing and fair-isle knitting – I have a goal to knit a gansie at some point…
I love baking too, my favourite bake at the moment is a Lemon Polenta cake!
Find out more about the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award at www.bbc.co.uk/youngtrad Why not buy a ticket to hear Amy Laurenson or any other of the finalists at the Grand Finals on Sunday 5th February 2023 at 5pm. The finals are part of Celtic Connections festival.
Follow these topics: News, Young Trad