MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2021: Ainsley Hamill

Congratulations to Ainsley Hamill who have been nominated in Gaelic Singer of the Year sponsored by The Highland Society of London in the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2021. Vote here! Vote now!

We asked Ainsley Hamill of Ainsley Hamill the following questions.

Tell us about yourself
The Guardian Album of the Month – Not Just Ship Land “Her voice thick with velvet and mirk…hovering between the comforting warmth of The Breath and the whip-smart forlornness of early Adele…Hamill has a big intriguing voice, it’s Scottishness ever-present.”

“One of the best of her generation.” RnR Magazine

Mix Heather Small & Julie Fowlis and you’ve got singer songwriter Ainsley Hamill. One of the UK’s leading and most diverse singers, Ainsley has a long list of nods including the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year Finalist and Gaelic Singer of the Year Finalist at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards. She represented Scotland at Eurovision in Gothenburg and has appeared at folk festivals the world over, including The Festival Interceltique de Lorient and Celtic Connections for the last 10 years.

2021 sees a new direction for Ainsley with the release of her debut feature album ‘Not Just Ship Land’. Produced by BBC composer Malcolm Lindsay, ‘Not Just Ship Land’, released in March, is inspired by the surroundings and unsung heroes of Govan and Glasgow.
Hailing from the West Coast of Scotland, Ainsley specialises in song writing and songs in Scottish Gaelic and English. Her love of Gaelic song was nurtured whilst studying at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Trad roots are close to her heart.

With this new album however, Ainsley is exploring new sounds and ideas as she pushes out from these roots to create personal material that encompasses big topics close to her heart, including feminism and equality, while unearthing forgotten stories and places that deserve a voice.

For many years Ainsley performed and toured with folk bands Barluath and made appearances with The Unusual Suspects . During this time, her accomplished song writing skills were evident in Barluath’s two studio albums; ‘Source’ and ‘At Dawn of Day’ as well as various singles including ‘Touch the Gate’ and ‘At the Fair’. Ainsley is a current member of folk band Fourth Moon, performing Gaelic, English and her own material, as well as step dancing.

Why are you involved in Scottish music?
The community within Scottish music is brilliant, it’s a bit like a family.

Any particular career highlights?
Loved singing at Eurovision choir of the year with the Alba Choir In Gothenburg.

Not Just Ship Land album launch was a bit of a dream performing with such incredible musicians and string orchestra.

What are your plans for the future?
Releasing Fourth Moon album

Recording album with Toby Shaer

Continuing to perform Not Just Ship Land

Releasing the new edition of the Tolmie Collection with Kenna Campbell