Iona Fyfe from Huntly, Aberdeenshire is a finalist in the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician 2021. The finals will be held on 31st January 2021 at 5pm. Listen live on BBC Radio Scotland. Find out more at bbc.co.uk/youngtrad
We asked Iona the following questions:
How did you get involved in Scottish music?
Gan tae TMSA ballad competitions, folk clubs an festivals in Aiberdeenshire fae bairnhuid. I graduated fae ‘e Royal Conservatoire o Scotland wi a degree in Traditional Music. Fin I wis studyin, I lairnt sangs fae Margaret Bennet, Rod Paterson an Fiona Hunter.
Why did you enter BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award?
The competition an the tour thit entrants ging on efter is sic a great opportunity tae collaborate wi ither braw musicians an get mair experience o tourin tae different airts an pairts. I enterent the competition in 2017 fan I wis 19 year aul, an got tae the final. I feel thit I hae gained a wheen mair experience syne an thocht I’d enter again.
What do you hope to gain from the experience?
Wi COVID, aa o the tours an opportunities thit I hae warikt fir hiv a been postponed or cancelled. Bein pairt o the competition his gien me structure an sammin tae wark towards an pit me in the mindset o haen a wee sing ivery day. Ower 2020, I hinna been performin ower muckle, an I hope tae be pairt o a high profile performance, it will gie me motivation an a bit pressure tae get masel in gear!
Do you have any particular musical highlights?
• Performin at the Scots Leid Awards
• Performin wi my band at Festival Interceltique de Lorient
What are your plans for the future?
Campaignin wi Oor Vyce tae pit pressure on the Scottish Government tae pass a Scots Language Act. Recordin my seicond album in 2021, hopefully tourin it in 2022!
A hae twa singles comin oot in March an April 2021 ower on my Bandcamp. Baith were produced, engineered an mixed by fellow finalist Graham Rorie, fa also played on the singles tee. https://ionafyfe.bandcamp.com/music
Listen in to hear Iona Fyfe at the Grand Finals on Sunday 31st January at 5pm. Read about the other finalists here.