Ten artists on one small island, for seven days. Folk star Eliza Carthy tells Tim Hughes that her latest collaboration was far from a lonely affair

The plight of refugees, Scotland’s future after the independence referendum and the pain of separation.

As mighty as they are, these big issues may not strike one as the starting point for a warm musical project – especially one involving 10 of the country’s best female folk artists.

But, says one of those women, the singer-songwriter Eliza Carthy, that’s the beauty.

Eliza, the daughter of folk icons Martin Carthy and Norma Waterson, is the best known member of the collective going under the name Songs of Separation – an album and touring show dreamt up by bassist Jen Hill.

“It was inspired both by our post-referendum world and also because of the terrible refugee crisis we’ve seen unfolding lately,” she tells me.

“As a musician, Jen became aware that the difference between conversations we were having about policital unity and separation were all quite different north and south of the border.

“We wanted to find a way of celebrating the similarities and differences in our musical, linguistic and cultural heritage but also, the theme of separation as it occurs in everyone’s lives, songs that get to the heart of what we all feel when we are faced with a separation, whether it’s for good reasons or bad.”

The teamed up with acclaimed artists Karine Polwart, Rowan Rheingans, Mary Macmaster, Hannah Read, Kate Young, Jenn Butterworth, Hazel Askew and Hannah James to bring the concept to reality – emerging with a collection of songs which are being aired at a clutch of intimate shows, including one at Didcot Cornerstone, tomorrow.

Eliza, who has an MBE for her contribution to folk music, says the project took shape in the remote Scottish island of Eigg – and was intended, from the start, as an all-girl affair, half of them Scottish and the others English “Jen was living on Eigg when the idea came up and the album was recorded in two sites on the island which were central to a local legend about big women.

“In Gaelic, Eigg is known as Eilean nam Ban Mora, or the Island of the Big Women. This name is derived from legend about a group of Pictish warrior women who worked for the Queen of Moidart, whose kingdom included the Small Isles. In 617AD, she dispatched her female forces to defend the island against a newly arrived group of monks, who had travelled from Ireland to convert the islanders from Paganism to Christianity.”

Recording took place on Eigg itself – each of the musicians making the journey to the Inner Hebrides.

Eliza says: “Jen spent several years researching the themes, organising recording facilities and sponsorship and then approached the rest of us to participate, which given how busy we all are was no mean feat. We think she’s done an amazing job and it simply wouldn’t have happened without her.

“There’s a great bunch of characters, a wonderful location to record an album and also, I like collaborative projects.”

And were no men considered? “We like men, but no men were considered for the album, as far as I’m aware,” she says. “Andy Bell co-produced the album though!”

The result is, unsurprisingly, a little melancholy.

“Yes, in a way it is, because of the beautiful, poetic landscape and also because of the theme of separation we were exploring,” she agrees. “But it was inspirational and fun and there was plenty of laughing and it definitely wasn’t a gloomy experience in any sense. It was an unforgettable week of wonderful music making and compelling discussion.”

Songs are inspired by nature, folklore and more personal tales of loss.

She elaborates: “Karine’s song is called Echo Mocks the Corncrake – inspired by the shy, migrant corncrake birds that still live on the Isle of Eigg, who arrive in Western Scotland from Africa.

Oxford Mail:

  • Folk star: Eliza Carthy MBE

“Hannah’s is based on lyrics by Robert Burns, while my own contribution is Cleaning Stones, which, I think, is the only self-penned song on the album and the one which is perhaps the most personal.

“Unst Boat Song is another traditional song set in the northern most Shetland Isle, but which Hazel first heard at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington DC. We recorded this in the Catherdral Cave on Eigg, with the sound of the sea in our ears. It was an experience I don’t think any of us will ever forget.”

The recording process took a week. “There was not nearly enough time to go stir-crazy,” Eliza jokes. “Quite the reverse really. I’m really looking forward to a return visit.”

Still, the islanders must have thought they had been invaded when the artists rolled up?

“I think they’ve had worse invasions in their time, so they coped okay!” she says. “We were incredibly well looked after and the welcome was generous and very warm.”

She goes on: “Musicians always move between places. Leaving home and loved ones behind from time to time is an occupational hazard. Sometimes my two kids come with me, but mostly not and it’s always hard leaving them but with the help of my manager and agents and especially my mum and dad, I always ensure that we have chunks of quality time blocked out of the year, to make up for any absences caused by touring or recording.”

It must be something of a challenge assembling 10 artists in the same place for every show. How do they manage?

“I love performing with big groups,” she says. “I’ve also had a great time lately with my own 11-piece, The Wayward Band.

“Working with a large number of people certainly has its own set of challenges but, thankfully, the logistics bit of the equation is entirely out of my hands. I simply have to turn up, play some music and hang out with some great people. Oh yes, and drink wine!”

Tomorrow’s show is one of only four in the country. I suggest we are quite lucky.

“It’s a tiny little tour to start with and we’re delighted to be able to perform in Didcot,” she says.

“It’ll be fun I’m sure!

“I think you can expect some wonderful music and a thought provoking themes – an opportunity to see the connections between people, between people and places and focus on our shared experiences.

“Come and see us!”

Where and when
Songs of Separation is at the Cornerstone, Didcot, tomorrow. For tickets go to cornerstone-arts.org or call 01235 515144