On 30th June, Tamsin Elliott releases Frey, her debut solo album (Penny Fiddle Records). The Bristol-based folk musician, composer and filmmaker (watch From the Coop) is also a co-leader of the fusion project Solana.
In this work, Tamsin explores themes of limbo, pain, healing and acceptance, reflecting on the microcosm of her personal experience of chronic illness alongside broader themes of societal disconnection and environmental grief.
FREY inhabits a soundworld true to her English folk roots, with modal and rhythmic echoes of time spent in Egypt (see ‘Gathering, Parting‘ – a collaboration with oud player Tarek Elazhary and percussionist Salma Amr from Cairo, Egypt), and moments of experimentalism using effects, drones and field recordings. With a magnetic sense of tension and release, the collection imbues a sense of spaciousness and ultimately communicates a strong message of hope and healing through art and connection.
‘FREY’ features Tamsin’s long-time collaborators Sid Goldsmith (cittern, voice) and Rowan Elliott (viola, fiddle, voice, effects), as well as special guests Rowan Rheingans (fiddle, voice), Soufian Saihi (oud) and Ricardo de Noronha (percussion).
I would be lying if I said I was not concerned or anxious about the growing disconnection in society today and our future on this planet. While we hope and strive for change, we also need respite from the chaos that can engulf our minds and artists play a vital role in that process through the music they create. Such music can offer clarity while the chaos of life threatens to engulf us and ‘Lullaby’ is a prime example of this. The accompanying video highlights the beauty of what surrounds us and is an excellent reminder of how spending time with nature can be transformative. While we don’t all have easy access to this nature – Lullaby offers the musical equivalent of shinrin yoku (forest bathing).
Tamsin on Lullaby / I Dreamed I Was an Eagle
I wrote “Lullaby” in my van whilst sheltering from the hectic muddy festival I was playing at, pre-pandemic when the weight of fatigue and pain was limiting my ability to engage with the world. I needed soft sounds, a space to be slow and sad. The simple cyclical melody shifts with added layers from Sid and Rowan throughout the piece before dying back to just harp and voice. “I Dreamed I Was an Eagle” came from a fragment of melody I composed for a performance with a storyteller, which I played when the wizard turned the main character into an eagle. For me, it has become inextricably linked to Lullaby; I don’t think either piece really makes sense without the other.
Working with Kate on the video was a total joy – we tried to outline a journey from stillness and solitude to movement and connection through the joy of playing together and the healing power of water. The lake footage was fun to film, although I can confirm that it gets very, very cold when you swim a couple of meters down!
Tamsin is grateful for the support of Sound and Music’s ‘New Voices’ artist development programme, and PRS Foundation’s ‘Women Make Music’ funding in creating this work.
FREY is available to Pre-Order now via: https://tamsinelliott.bandcamp.com/
Upcoming Dates
Jun 11 – Cafe #9, Sheffield, UK
Jun 12 – The Lost ARC, Rhayader, UK
Jun 14 – The Wardrobe Theatre @ The Assembly, Bristol, UK
Jun 16 – Ashburton Arts Centre, Ashburton, UK
Jun 28 – The Locks Inn, Geldeston, Beccles, UK
Jun 29 – Cecil Sharp House, London, UK
More information via: http://www.tamsinelliott.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/tamsinsolanum