Acclaimed folk artist Emily Portman has officially returned to the spotlight with her new single, “Turn Again,” released on January 9, 2026. The track offers a first glimpse of her highly anticipated fourth studio album of original songs, Dominion of Spells, marking her first solo release in a decade.
Produced by Andy Bell for Hudson Records, “Turn Again” is a masterclass in contemporary folk storytelling. The song is deeply personal, written for Portman’s son, whom she describes as a master shapeshifter. Drawing direct inspiration from the traditional ballad Tam Lin—specifically the melody of “Lady Margaret” sung by Scottish singer Betsy Johnston—the track explores the “mythic imagination” of childhood.
Portman cleverly reframes the ballad’s themes of metamorphosis through the lens of motherhood. Just as the enchanted hero in Tam Lin begs his lover to “hold me fast and fear me not” during his transformations, Portman reflects on the delicate balance of holding children close through constant change while eventually learning to let them go. Highlighting that transformation is inevitable for both child and parent, Portman shares:
“Watching my son slip freely between human, animal, and mythic forms in his imaginary games reminded me of Tam Lin and a new idea for a song emerged out of the ballad. As my kids change, so do I, and I’m reminded that even for adults, transformation is both possible and inevitable.”
Musically, the track marries a catchy pop aesthetic with Portman’s signature traditional roots. It features a dreamlike soundscape of piano and atmospheric instrumentation, bolstered by backing vocals from Mary Hampton and a subtle interplay of strings, bass, and percussion.
Streaming Links: https://hudsonrecords.ffm.to/dominionofspells
The album features contributions from Louis Campbell (guitars), Lucy Revis (cello & vocals), Martin Simpson (voice & guitar), Lucy Farrell (voice & musical saw), Mary Hampton (voice), Ben Nicholls (double bass), Sam Sweeney (violin), Helen Bell (viola), Neil McSweeney (electric bass), and Will Schrimshaw (drums).
There is also a Kickstarter Campaign for the album, as well as a beautifully crafted vinyl edition and a special companion book featuring illustrations by Gwen Burns, along with Emily’s retellings of each song’s story and more.
Hudson Records shared: We’ve already been overwhelmed by the support for the new record, but we still have a way to go to reach our target. We’ve got just 2 weeks left, so if you are able to help us reach our goal to support the making of this record, then we will be eternally grateful!
In the current climate and the age of streaming, the costs of making a record make it incredibly hard for independent artists and small labels like Hudson Records to break even.
Your support will ensure we can bring this music into the world in physical and digital form.
If you can support the Kickstarter campaign in any way, big or small, it will be very much appreciated.
Details can be found here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/emilyportman/emily-portman-new-album-the-dominion-of-spells/