Ainsley Hamill (with Sam Kelly and Toby Shaer)

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Featured in ‘The List’ Hot 100 Cultural Scots 2024

The Guardian Album of the Month – Not Just Ship Land “Her voice thick with velvet and mirk…hovering between the comforting warmth of The Breath and the whip-smart forlornness of early Adele…Hamill has a big intriguing voice, it’s Scottishness ever-present.”

“One of the best of her generation.” RnR Magazine

Mix Heather Small & Julie Fowlis and you’ve got singer songwriter Ainsley Hamill. Ainsley is one of the UK’s most distinctive and versatile singers, known for her remarkable voice, storytelling, and emotive style. Hailing from the West Coast of Scotland, Ainsley has built a career celebrated for its authenticity, merging traditional Scottish folk with a modern touch.

In early 2025, Ainsley will release her much-anticipated third studio album, Fable, produced by Sam Kelly. Drawing inspiration from Scottish folklore and myth, Fable combines Gaelic, Scots, and original compositions with a rich tapestry of sounds from musicians Alistair Iain Paterson, Toby Shaer, Signy Jakobsdottir and Euan Burton. Recorded in Glasgow, the album delves into the legends and landscapes of Scotland, with each track weaving a narrative that resonates with ancient stories and contemporary relevance.

Her previous album, Not Just Ship Land (2021), named The Guardian’s Album of the Month, showcased her “voice thick with velvet and mirk,” likened to the warmth of The Breath and the forlorn depth of early Adele. Produced by Malcolm Lindsay, the album celebrates the unsung heroes of Govan and Glasgow, capturing Ainsley’s move into a more introspective and thematic songwriting style, with a focus on feminism and equality.

Ainsley’s accolades include being a BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year Finalist, a Gaelic Singer of the Year nominee at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards, and representing Scotland at Eurovision in Gothenburg. Her festival appearances are numerous, including a decade of performances at Celtic Connections and international stages like The Festival Interceltique de Lorient.

With roots nurtured at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Ainsley has a deep connection to Gaelic and traditional song. Formerly a member of the folk band Barluath, her songwriting featured on their albums Source and At Dawn of Day, along with several singles. She currently performs with Fourth Moon, blending Gaelic and English material and her signature step dancing.

www.ainsleyhamill.com

Praise for Ainsley

Her voice thick with velvet and mirk…hovering between the comforting warmth of The Breath and the whip-smart forlornness of early Adele…Hamill has a big intriguing voice, it’s Scottishness ever-present. Folk Album of the Month March 2021 – Not Just Ship Land -The Guardian Jude Rodgers

I’m reminded of Nina Simone’s haunting version of When I Was In My Prime… The effect is absolutely breathtaking…This is an exciting, ingenious and highly original debut. (Not Just Ship Land) Folk London

One of the best of her generation. RnR Magazine

Anyone listening to these songs today cannot fail to be moved and impressed (Not Just Ship Land) Mike Ritchie Fatea Magazine

Ainsley Hamill doesn’t put a foot wrong on Belle of the Ball, her debut solo release… a superb vocal, nuanced and passionate. Marc Higgins Fatea Magazine

Ainsley Hamill’s stirring voice could compete with anyone at Celtic Connections. Pat Byrne The Voice of Ireland

Hamill’s refreshingly soulful voice, a mixture of Julie Fowlis and Heather Small, is very much to the fore. Allan Wilkinson Northern Sky Magazine

..it goes a long way to explaining why she’s considered one of the best of her generation. (Belle of the Ball) RnR Magazine

Her voice is rich and warm, soaking it’s comforting balm deep… all the Hamill Hallmarks of a soulful, acute vocal dexterity With real feel for a lyric. Ainsley’s voice is muscular and undeniably flexible. It can be sultry or exuberant , but always percussive. It wraps you in its arms like a coat from the cold. This release is like a shining pool of water; vivid, clear and nothing short of brilliant. (Belle of the Ball) Clive Pownceby Folk North-West

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