Eilidh Mackenzie is a solo artist but in the band Mackenzie sings alongside her sisters Gillian and Fiona.
Over the years she has worked with many musicians including Arthur Cormack, Christine Primrose, Alison Kinnaird, Blair Douglas, Michael Marra, Chris Marra, Ged Grimes, Calum Malcolm and Billy Jackson.
Influences
I LOVE Gaelic music and realise how lucky I have been to have grown up surrounded by it. My biggest influence will always be my Dad, especially in the Achiltibuie/Lochinver/Gress ceilidhean with Uncle Kenny, Marlene and Joan. That close harmony thing stands us all in pretty good stead. And then to grow up with three sisters in a fairly music-filled house... My absolute favourite sound is a solo Gaelic singer - can be the most heartbreaking sound possible. Grew up with Radio nan Gaidheal constantly on in background, so good diet of the Lochies, Dena Graham and Na h-Oganaich to get me started. But also love listening to Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, Glen Hansard, Marketa Irglova, Rufus Wainwright, Simon and Garfunkel, the late Oliver Schroer, Bruno Coulais, Anna Meldrum, Fiona Mackenzie, Julie Fowlis, Kathleen MacInnes, Rachel Walker, Jenna Cummings, Arthur Cormack, James Graham, Calum Alex MacMillan, Meantime, Mini-meantime, Doch-Moch, Mary Smith, Canntaireachd, Rona Lightfoot, the Glenuig Macdonalds, The Roches, Blair Douglas, Clare and the Reasons, Lucy Wainwright Roche, Eddi Reader, Lisa Hannigan and the wonderful Michael Marra
NEW ALBUM ; BEL CANTO DOWNLOADABLE AND IN SHOPS NOW. OFFICIAL LAUNCH GIG - WED 25 NOV, ONETOUCH, EDEN COURT 7.30pm
The songs above are three off the new album, Bel Canto, which follows the story of Ann Patchett's award winning novel of the same name. "Chan eil cuimnh am" features my sisters Gillian and Fiona Gress on backing vocals; Gentle Kisses has the wonderful Anna Meldrum (aka Kitty the Lion) on lead with me on backing and Reidhphort, written for my Uncle Kenny, is sung as a duet with the fabulous James Graham. I hope you all enjoy them.
During the making of the album I was surrounded by the most talented and enthusiastic bunch of musicians possible. Brian McAlpine, Ged Grimes, Gordon Gunn, Chrisitne Hanson, Allan Glenuig Macdonald, Terry Small, Elizabeth McCormack, Michael Marra, James Graham, Anna Meldrum, Gillian Mackenzie and Fiona Gress Mackenzie and Eddi Reader. What a complete treat for me....
We headed down to Glasgow for a fairly intensive recording stretch with Mark Freegard at 3kyoti in the best bit of town. The food round his studio is the best...highly recommended - and he's a great guy who made the time in the studio an absolute pleasure. He recorded and mixed the 14 tracks and then we took it to Calum Malcolm, our trusted master, to finish.
Bel Canto (published 2001, Harper Collins) is a beautiful novel and weaves its way through the universal themes of love and music, identity, communication and language. I took the story and transferred it to Gaelic Scotland. Once upon a time there was a girl who swallowed a bird...and to hear the rest you'll need to read the novel and listen to the CD......
A Gaelic singer and songwriter brought up on the Isle of Lewis and now living on the Black Isle, near Inverness, Scotland.
Member of the vocal group Mackenzie, along with two of my sisters, Gillian and Fiona.
Album of new self-penned Gaelic songs just released on Macmeanmna label - www.gaelicmusic.com.
As a performer, winner of the National Mod Gold Medal for female Gaelic singers. First recorded solo album 1992 "Eideadh na Sgeulachd", since recorded 1 album as part of band "Mac-talla" - "Mairidh Gaol is Ceol" (1993)and 2 with band "Mackenzie" - "Camhanach" (1997) and "Fama Clamosa" (2002); also "Notes from a Hebridean Island" - "Mackenzie" and Billy Jackson (2001)
As a song-writer, commissioned by events such as The Brahan Seer festival, Lasair Dhe Project and the Sorley Maclean Trust, as well as writing for myself and Mackenzie, the band. In 2005 I wrote (music and songs) and produced the first Gaelic musical - Taigh Mairi Anndra, performed by children from the Gaelic medium school in Inverness to a capacity audience in Eden Court's main auditorium.
Rinn Ellen math dha rireabh, bha Mairead (agus Mac agus Granaidh!) cho moiteil. Bi sinn ann a touch mu dheidhinn Bel Canto. Dochas gum bith deagh Nollaig agad agad fhein agus an teaghlach. Mx
Chord an oidhche ann an Eden Court gu mor. Duilich nach d'fhuair mi cothrom bruidhinn aig an deireadh, b' fheudar dhomh teiceadh. Bu mhath leum rudeigin a dheanamh comhla ruit, timicheall air Celtic Connections, ach fonaidh mi a dh'aithchearr airson comhradh a dheanamh air a sin. Mor meas
S e do bheatha Eilidh, 's toigh leum an clar agus tapadh leat airson a chuir thugam. Tha mi'n dochas tighinn cho'n a chonsairt aig Eden Court an ath sheachdain, bi e math eisteachd ris "beo". 'S fior thoigh leum an artwork air cuiideachd, tha e cho dathach. Coir agad a bhith moiteil. mor meas Mairead xx
Hi Eil. Congratulations on your interview with Julie on radio last night. You were great - and the songs were fantastic! Can't wait for the release of Bel Canto next week. Great to get your Comment - the FIRST on my own page! Which does say something about how often I'm on MySpace! Maybe this is the start of a new phase in my cyberspace existence! Don't even know if this message will appear in your Comments or in your MySpace e-mail box. Loads of love from us both. Shenoch (alias Dad/Rod/Shen)
Mòran taing, tha sinn uile gu math a nisde, ach bha mi le pleurisy aig àm na Nollaig agus a dìreach a faighinn seachad air an t-seachdain'sa. Bha sinn thall ann a Leodhas airson na Bliadhn' ùr, agus bha e cho math a bhi comhla ris an teaghlach air fad.
An dòchas nach bi e ro' fhada mus coinnich sinn a rithist.
Online Now!
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