MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2016: Hamish Napier

Congratulations to Hamish Napier who have been nominated in Composer of the Year sponsored by PRS for Music in the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2016. Vote now!

We asked Hamish Napier of Hamish Napier the following questions.

Tell us about yourself
I'm a pianist, flautist, whistler, singer and composer from Strathspey, living and working in Glasgow.

It's been a particularly busy year for me as a composer!

THE RIVER:
Performing the premier of my Celtic Connections 'New Voices' commission 'The River' in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Strathclyde Suite to a sell-out crowd was a real highlight.
The Scotsman wrote “Scintillating…brilliantly vivid ★★★★★ ”. I am aware that sometimes I don't always make things easy for myself – in the months building up to the premier I set myself the daunting task of recording the whole piece as an album beforehand in the studio, to be officially launched at the premier itself. There was a wonderful buzz surrounding the big premier and album launch event! The album has been 'Album of the Week' on 4 BBC radio stations and the Living Tradition magazine wrote: "the playing is exceptional, and every piece is a moving experience…a stroke of genius."

ROYAL CONSERVATOIRE OF SCOTLAND:
As composition and music theory tutor at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland on the BMus Traditional Music course, I had the task of giving the students detailed feedback on over 250 brand new tunes and songs back in May! It was privilege to hear so many brand new pieces from the next generation of professional musicians, and to be able to help and guide these young tunesmiths in their creative approaches. During this time, I gained a huge amount of insight into the way I compose my own music!

TU'N'ESDAY
Back in the summer I created a series of posts on my Facebook pages called ‘TuNesday’, where I share one of my original tunes each week. I’m on week 14 (of 52!) at the moment and the response from fellow musicians and fans has been really motivating!

GRANTOWN EAST SOUNDTRACK
I have recently been commissioned by 'Grantown East – The Highland Culture & Heritage Centre' in Grantown-on-Spey to compose the soundtrack to their website and exhibit films. The organisation behind this stunning conversion of the Grantown East railway station (planned for late 2017) will also be releasing the soundtrack as an album as well at their official site launch. Local musicians Findlay Napier, Ewan Robertson and Fraser Stone, and others, will also feature on the album. Very excited about this too!

“Excellent flautist/whistle player…” The Guardian

“Napier is one of the finest musicians in Scotland….his music is invigorating, passionate and steeped in tradition.” TMSA

“Top-class musician” The Herald

Why are you involved in Scottish music?
I am so lucky to have been given many musical opportunities by family, friends and music organisations like Fèisean nan Gàidheal and the TMSA, for which I am eternally grateful.

THE HIGHLANDS
Music began at home: my mother is a clarsach player and singer, my father is a keen music enthusiast and my brother (Findlay Napier) is a professional songwriter. I started out with classical piano and flute but was much more strongly drawn to Scottish and Irish music: Michael McGoldrick, Flook, Capercaillie, Paul Brady, Dougie MacLean and others!! I was so lucky to have an awesome high school music teacher who encouraged trad music, as well as 'Feis Spe' (my local Gaelic music summer camp) where I got my first experience of folk sessions, and through which I met other like-minded Highland musicians my age.

GLASGOW
I moved to Glasgow to study Astronomy & Physics but my heart was in the music the whole time! After graduation it was straight into the tour van for 4 years with (with Back of the Moon)! I later decided to go back to uni to study music, gaining an Applied Music degree at the University of Strathclyde and receiving a scholarship to the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, USA (for jazz piano and composition)

TEACHING
I also love to teach Scottish music. A thousand thank yous to GFW, Easterhouse Arts Project, Stow College, the National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music in Plockton, the UHI, and the RSAMD/RCS (especially!) for giving me the chance to share my musical ideas with keen students. I was nominated for STMA 'Tutor of the Year' a few years back.

“…one of Scotland’s busiest and most multi-faceted folk musicians…a beautifully eloquent singer…” Sunday Herald

“…ingenuity for harmony.” The Skinny

Any particular career highlights?
My recent Celtic Connections New Voices composition 'The River' premier is my biggest highlight, closely followed by the incredible opportunity to record with Martyn and Margaret Bennett on her solo album 'In the Sunny Long Ago', when I was a teenager back in 2000! Playing to crowds of thousands at large musical festivals with 'Back of the Moon' as we toured around North America and Europe from 2004-2008 were also huge highlight. Producing Mairi MacInnes' latest solo album 'Gras' was an amazing time, as well as playing flute on Mike Vass' stunning album 'In the Wake of Neil Gunn'. Performing with Adam Sutherland in our daredevil duo 'Nae Plans' is one of the most enlightening, challenging, joyful, emotional and terrifying things I've ever done – I love it!

Most of all, I'm really grateful to have had opportunities to play and share musical ideas with so many brilliant musicians over the years.

AWARDS
MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards 'Best Folk Band' (with Back of the Moon') and nominations for Best Up and Coming Artist (x2), Music Tutor of the Year, Album of the Year (x4) and Live Act of the Year (with 'Nae Plans')

What are your plans for the future?
When I take my composition 'The River' on tour next year, the first half of each show twill be unique to each gig. Entitled 'From the Source', I will create a programme of local music and compositions inspired by the region and collaborate with local young musicians and professionals. So far the tour includes the Isle of Man, RCS (Glasgow), the Queens Hall Edinburgh, SpeyFest in Speyside and The Sage Gateshead (Newcastle)! Lots more uncovering of beautiful trad music and creation of new material!

I'm also going to launch my bespoke 1:1 music tutoring network and release a Scottish trad music theory book!

I'm in the studio soon for solo albums by bassist James Lindsay and box player Gary Innes, and I'll be touring next year with piper/vocalist Jarlath Henderson in his new folk/electronica band! Generally, I'd just love to be able continue to perform, compose, record, call ceilidh dances, teach and share Scotland's native music, taking it to people across the world who haven't heard Scottish music before. I love working with musicians I play with at the moment – and there so many others the folk, jazz and indy scene that I hope to get the chance to work with. My dream would be to compose music for films, and TV and I'd like to do more cross-genre collaborations (with dancers, animators and photographers).

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.