By Stevie Connor.
Scottish singer-songwriter Freda Leask has returned with a new Americana track, ‘Wildbird'.
A fourth original release, bringing together Freda’s emotive and melodic song with the beautifully crafted accompaniment of Scottish award-winning singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Kris Drever, who was also co-producer with Shetland-based sound engineer Tim Matthew. ‘WIldbird’ is a beautiful, atmospheric, acoustic track featuring sensitive pedal steel alongside a delicate combination of acoustic guitars, double bass and percussion.
Available from Bandcamp and digital stores.The official video was filmed by Emmy-nominated Swiss film maker, Nick Brandestini.
Freda’s preceding singles ‘Magdalene,’ ‘Ghost Notes’ & ‘Another Coat of Black’ have received airplay across Scotland, Canada, America and further afield. All four singles are available on digital platforms with official videos on YouTube.
Freda Leask’s work varies from folk songs inspired by Shetland’s environment, history and rich dialect, to compositions with a more Rootsy, Americana style. Known for her work with Shetland’s influential harmony group ‘Shoormal,’ in the 90s/00s, Freda now performs as a solo artist and with a new band line-up. A keen collaborator, with a love of harmony, drawing influence from authentic Country, Folk music and Gospel.
Freda is an alternative country and folk singer /songwriter from the musical islands of Shetland. Her material varies from folk songs inspired by the Shetland environment and history, often using the rich Shetland dialect, to compositions with a more rootsy, americana style.
Freda is releasing her own original songs as a series of singles produced by well-known, award-winning, Scottish singer/song and multi-instrumentalist Kris Drever and the amazingly talented Tim Matthew. This project began pre-covid and has taken a different journey than originally planned with three excellent singles being released so far.
Growing up listening to classic country music, she made her early stage appearances in her local community from the age of 8. From 11 years old she was singing regularly around the islands, establishing strong musical links on the local scene.
Later she began to play guitar which led to an interest in songwriting and in collaborating with other musicians, singers and songwriters. Freda became involved in gospel music during her 20s and, with a keen interest in vocal harmonies, this contributed greatly to her later work with the Shetland folk group ‘Shoormal.’
Collaborations, have included: Appalachian Fiddler, Bruce Molsky, award-winning Orcadian singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Kris Drever (Lau), the Shetland fiddle super-group Fiddler's Bid, fantastic Shetland guitarists Brian Nicholson, Arthur Nicholson, Norman Goudie, (Girsie) and Trevor Smith.
She has made frequent appearances with well-known Shetland singers Jenny Keldie and Sheila Henderson and has supporting top-class acts like Gretchen Peters, Kim Richey, Roddy Woomble, Yola Carter, The Sojourners and Adam Holmes.
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