MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2016: Ryan Young

Congratulations to Ryan Young who have been nominated in Up and Coming Artist of the Year sponsored by Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2016. Vote now!

We asked Ryan Young of Ryan Young the following questions.

Tell us about yourself
Ryan Young is an emerging young fiddle player from Scotland – one of a 'new wave' of young players bringing fresh and inventive ideas to traditional Scottish music.
Ryan's fiddle playing is brimming with fresh melodic ideas, an uplifting rhythmic drive and a great depth of dynamics and precision.

Ryan Young's fiddle sound is very distinctive and he always manages to take the listener on an adventurous and emotional journey in any performance. Ryan studied and graduated with a first class honours degree in Scottish Music from The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and has now also completed his Master's in Music. Ryan is a two time BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award Finalist, a Celtic Connections Danny Kyle Award winner and was as a finalist in BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician in both 2015 and 2016.

Ryan focuses mainly on Scottish music, bringing new life to very old, often forgotten tunes by playing them in his own unique way. He is very influenced by the fiddle playing of County Clare, Ireland and has been fascinated by the playing of renowned fiddlers such as Bobby Casey, Paddy Canny, PJ and Martin Hayes and Tommy Potts from Dublin.

Ryan Young is now looking to bring his music to wider audiences and has just recorded his first album in 2016 with a triple Grammy award winning producer, Jesse Lewis (www.jessesbakery.com).

Why are you involved in Scottish music?
I first started playing after hearing Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham on the BBC Hogmanay show. I was very taken by the slow airs in particular. I loved how Aly made the fiddle sound like a voice and how a simple melody could say so much. It was as though the fiddle spoke for him and I loved the idea that something could speak for you. I have discovered many more genres of music as I've gotten older but I only have a real desire to play traditional Scottish music. Although the tunes are often simple, I love the direct and conversational qualities I feel it does better than any other genre.

Any particular career highlights?
A particular career highlight was performing at Feakle Festival 2015 in County Clare with Dennis Cahill, who has been one of my biggest inpirations. I have asked every guitarist and pianist I have played with if they could do something like what Dennis might do; I didn't have to ask on this occasion.

What are your plans for the future?
I have just recorded my first album with triple Grammy winning producer, Jesse Lewis. I am looking forward to releasing it and bringing the music to wider audiences. I want to play live as much as I can and hope to travel. I have also started teaching a little too and I'm enjoying learning from it and the new challenge it brings.

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.