Scottish singer songwriter Adam Holmes is no stranger to these pages; in 2021, he released his beautifully crafted Dreamweaver, which led Folk Radio’s Billy Rough to conclude:
Holmes has long been one of the country’s most talented and impressive vocalists, with Dreamweaver he takes that step further to being one of the finest songwriters in the UK today.
For his new album, The Voice of Scotland (more on that title in a moment), Adam goes back to his roots – Recorded simply on a portable recorder, mainly on the road to rural communities in the Highlands, The Voice of Scotland features twelve of Adam’s favourite traditional folk songs, going back through his career to his childhood.
It was then completed in his home studio with some of Scotland’s best folk/roots musicians, including Michael McGovern, Lyle Watt, Duncan Lyall, Fraser Spiers and Ciaran Ryan – adding additional instruments and backing vocals. The results are stripped back, allowing Adam’s voice to soar. In 2024, he plans to share songs from the album, particularly with older people in care homes across the country.
Just in time for Christmas, the album will be released digitally on Friday, 22nd December, followed by a CD album launch on 28 January at Celtic Connections. Physical copies are available to order now here: https://www.adamholmesmusic.co.uk/shop/p/the-voice-of-scotland-cd
Today, he is sharing the accompanying video for ‘Go Lassie Go’ below. Before that, I asked him about the song and album, and his response was humble, moving and not without some humour.
Adam Holmes…The Voice of Scotland
With ‘The Voice of Scotland’, I wanted to make an album of songs for my mother and, to some extent, my father too.
They fed me all this amazing music when I was a wee one, and it really informed the flavour of my own brand of songwriting, so in some senses, this album and the songs on it are a prequel to all the albums I’ve made of my own songs.
It’s the ingredients behind the dishes I’ve served up so far. Also, I knew my mum wouldn’t shut up and leave me alone until I’d made an album of older material, so it’s effectively bought me a few more years of peace to write some more of my own songs.
Are you happy now mum? Is this what you wanted?
I called the album ‘The Voice of Scotland’ to let Kris Drever, Blue Rose Code and Paolo Nutini know who the king is. There can now be no dispute. It is written.
Unfortunately, one week after releasing the first single, I got vocal polyps and lost my voice. Had to cancel a gig. I think they cursed me.
In all seriousness, mum, I find myself at this stage in my life, as a parent and an adult, much more interested in the concept of legacy and lineage.
My great-great-grandfather Adam was a renowned war veteran who fought in the battle of Waterloo. My grandfather John built spitfires. My grandfather Richard on my mother’s side has a blue plaque and was the son of a coal-miner who became the first ever professor of General Practice medicine in the UK.
My father, Chris, was one of the most renowned furniture makers in the country. I come from a long line of men who suffered and created amazing stories from the raw material of a hard life and a humble beginning.
I feel a responsibility to honour and respect their journeys by making my own small imprint and making an example while I am here.
More and more, we are being taught to think of ourselves as an individualistic force in the world. Self help teaches us aiming to make our parents proud is a negative thing. We should let go of our parent’s expectations and be our unique selves. I can’t help but wonder if this becomes yet another perfectionist fantasy and is more to do with capitalist principles and the rise of the individual—the fall of the family and community in the West.
This album is, in a sense, my acceptance of my small corner of existence.
In this lifetime, I will be a troubadour.
I will travel the world and sing songs and tell stories to people who appreciate it. And that’s enough for me.
I choose it, and I accept the limitation.
There is some relief in other doors closing.
I was given a gift by my parents. Not so much a gift in the sense of just talent. The true gift they gave me was permission to live this life.
This album is a commitment to this life as a communicator via the medium of songs and stories.
For my mother Janet. Thank you for the songs.’
Order The Voice of Scotland on CD here
Stream the single Go Lassie Go on Spotify
The Voice of Scotland Tracklisting
1-Go Lassie Go
2-Macpherson’s Rant
3-Jock O’ Hazeldean
4-Peggy Gordon
5-Night visiting song
6-Jock Stewart
7-Irene
8-You Are My Sunshine
9-Lowlands away
10-Annie Laurie
11-Black Is The Colour
12-Auld Lang Syne
https://www.adamholmesmusic.co.uk/