In Conversation With Ewan Henderson 5th October 2024
Ewen Henderson In conversation with Liz, 12pm 5th October on Celtic Music Radio re his new album LèirsinnOut Friday 18 October 2024 | On Sgadan Records
Esteemed Scottish traditional and Gaelic singer and multi-instrumentalist Ewen Henderson is set to release his thought-provoking new album Lèirsinn – Perception Inspired by the idea that the way we relate and respond to the physical spaces around us is – at least in part – shaped by our imaginations, the album features pairs of compositions based on real locations, from two different perspectives: the imagined and the experienced.
The music of Lèirsinnoriginated during the periods of restricted travel brought on by the pandemic. Torn from the life of a travelling musician and plunged into the confinement of lockdown living, Ewen began taking imaginary journeys to places, both those he knew well and some he didn’t know at all.
With the aid of maps, written and oral accounts of human and natural histories, folklore, art and music, the musician would immerse himself as fully as possible in a place and mentally escape confinement for a few hours. Finding the imaginary journeys so comparatively invigorating given the mundane reality of the average day in lockdown, Ewen was frequently inspired to compose pieces of music in response to them.
Ewen later enrolled in the University of the Highlands and Islands’ Music and the Environment Masters degree course and, looking to explore this idea further, decided to turn the imaginary journeys into a musical experiment. Once restrictions were lifted sufficiently, Ewen made real, physical trips to some of the places visited on his imagined journeys and wrote further pieces of music inspired by these visits. He then compared the pairs of compositions for each location in a bid to understand the extent to which the imagination influences our perception of place. Lèirsinn brings together these compositions and invites the listener to go on their own journeys.
Half of the album was recorded at Ewen’s home studio, with Ewen playing every instrument – piano, fiddle, viola and whistles – and singing all the vocals for what is his second debut studio album. The other six tracks were recorded with a live band at Celtic Connections in January 2024. This recording only heightens the theme of imaginary-real duality, with the sounds of the audience starkly contrasting the isolated sound of the solo tracks.
The live band recordings feature acclaimed cellist Su-a Lee, award-winning musician and singer Megan Henderson, and renowned multi-instrumentalists Hamish Napier, Innes Watson and Iain MacFarlane.
Ewen Henderson said: “The making of this album has been a real journey in itself and I’m beyond excited to share it. The project covers a unique time in our existence and explores wider ideas about how we relate and respond to the world around us, the physical spaces and landscapes, and how our perception is shaped by the imagination.
“The whole experience has been very unique. It was quite surreal having started in near isolation, to be finishing the album with a full band and audience when at times it felt like that might never be possible again. Whether or not you’ve been to the places I explored on the album, I hope it can take you there musically and feel like you’re on the journey with me.”
The first single from the album, Beinn Eighe / Ewan Robertson, Celtman, is set for release on Wednesday 25th September. The track was inspired by Ewen’s “real” visit to Beinn Eighe and Coire Mhic Fhearchair, during which he performed the role of support runner to his brother-in-law, Ewan Robertson, during the final stage of his successful attempt at the 2021 Celtman Extreme Triathlon. With the course consisting of a 3.4km swim followed by a 200km bike ride and finished off with a marathon over Beinn Eighe, the lively tune captures the joy of the thrilling views on the descent into the corrie.
The second single, Coire Mhic Fhearchair, will be released on Friday 11th October, and is the imagined counterpart to the first single. Written for the dramatic Coire Mhic Fhearchair which lies on the northwest corner of Beinn Eighe, one of the spectacular Torridon hills and a mecca for climbers, the corrie is also perhaps one of the most photographed in Scotland. These iconic images formed the main focus for Ewen’s imagination when writing this piece, along with the tragic events of 13th March 1951, when an RAF Avro Lancaster crashed a mere 5m below the summit of the corrie’s western ridge. This knowledge informed the composition of the tune, a slower and more reflective piece than its partner.
Ewen Henderson hails from Lochaber in the West Highlands of Scotland and has been steeped in the traditional music and Gaelic culture of the area from an early age. Starting on the fiddle at five years of age, he has since mastered an impressive array of instruments, learning from many of the true masters of West Highland traditional music and being influenced by his family’s musical heritage.
Though most commonly found performing with Mànran, the band he co-founded in 2010, Ewen has played all over the world with a host of top Scottish and global cross-genre artists including the world-renowned Battlefield Band and World Music pioneers the Afro-Celt Sound System. When not performing live, Ewen is in demand as a session musician, composer and musical director and hosts the BBC Radio programmes Piping Sounds and Crunluath. He released his debut solo album Steall in early 2020.
Lèirsinn – Perception will be available digitally and on CD and vinyl from Friday 18 October 2024.
Track Lizt
- Òran do Rùm
- Rum -Kinloch Castle / Tìr nan Daoine ‘s Tìr nam Beathaichean
- Coire Mhic Fhearchair
- Beinn Eighe / Ewan Robertson, Celtman
- Nuallan
- Coire Gabhail
- Eadar an Dà Bhràigh
- Creag Meagaidh Part 1. -Doire nan Dearcag / Foreboding
- Creag Meagaidh Part 2. -Allt Coire Àrdair / Lochan
- Creag Meagaidh Part 3. -Dìreadh / The Plateau
- Glory to the Hi-Hi
- Cathkin Park