FolkWorld #79 11/2022
© Jane Brace PR

FolkWorld 25th Anniversary 1997-2022

Opening A Wider Window

The ‘downright gorgeous voice’ of Scottish star, Hannah Rarity, returns in sublime second studio album, To Have You Near.

Hannah Rarity

Artist Video Hannah Rarity @ FROG

www.hannahrarity.com

Three years on from her debut album, Scottish singer-songwriter Hannah Rarity is set to release the follow-up – To Have You Near – with her sublime voice once more bewitchingly centre stage. One of Scotland’s finest young folk performers, West Lothian-born, Glasgow-based Hannah is known for her empathetic interpretations of songs and increasingly for her own sensitive, self-penned material.

Winner of the 2018 BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year, Rarity’s singing has been likened to Cara Dillon and Eva Cassidy – but she stands confidently in her own right, building on a fast-growing reputation. A Royal Conservatoire of Scotland graduate, she has toured internationally with U.S supergroup Cherish the Ladies while her credits also include appearances with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra as well as collaborations with top Scottish bands Blazin’ Fiddles, RURA and electronic Celtic fusion band Niteworks and many appearances at Celtic Connections.

Her 2018 debut album ‘Neath the Gloaming Star’ was shortlisted for Album of the Year at the Scots Music Trad Awards. It waved the flag for traditional Scottish folk music and demonstrated her ability to ‘utterly inhabit a song’ (The Scotsman) - a rare gift.

Released on June 3, her sophomore album ushers in a more mature, mellow sound with shades of jazz and blues while opening a wider window onto her songwriting talents. It merges that contemporary songwriting with her takes on some well-loved songs. The over-riding feel is one of personal reflection, by turns wistful and warm, inclusive and thoughtful. Created in lockdown, it touches on the zeitgeist of today’s challenging times but emerges as a message of hope and optimism.

Hannah Rarity & Band

Says Hannah: 'A second album is a daunting task for any artist, and To Have You Near has been born out of a turbulent, difficult time in the world, which I think is reflected in the freshly penned songs and my choice of poignant covers. Artistically and stylistically, I wanted it to be an intimate experience for a listener, tackling more complex subject matters along the way and experimenting further with production techniques and sounds – still grounded in traditional folk song but allowing space for other influences to permeate.”

Recorded at Glasgow’s GloWorm Studios, To Have you Near enjoys the engineering and mixing of Iain Hutchison and a rich and sensitive production courtesy of Scottish musician Innes White who also contributes acoustic guitar. Alongside White, the core band also features John Lowrie (keys), Scott Mackay (kit & percussion) and Breabach’s James Lindsay (electric and double bass). Award-winning Scottish violinist Seonaid Aitken heads a sterling string section which also includes Katrina Lee (violin), Patsy Reid (viola) and Alice Allen on cello, with Seonaid having masterminded some shimmering string arrangements.

The 10-track album opens with the sleek, laid back and jazzy Home, penned by Hannah and Gordon Maclean – a big, percussive production number with sumptuous strings. The tempo slows for Rarity’s own My Friend – a song which speaks of ‘a hell of a year’, losing touch with friends and longing to have that contact again.

Hannah Rarity

Artist Audio Hannah Rarity "To Have You Near", Own label, 2022

Opening with the dancing piano of Lowrie, Shades of Gloria is an exquisite cover of a song by renowned Irish singer songwriter Gerry O’Beirne about his homeland of County Clare. A wholly beautiful number with Rarity turning in yet another soulful rendition. In-demand master songwriter Boo Hewerdine has penned the affecting I’m Not Going Anywhere - a gentle song of familial love and loss - which Rarity delivers with a captivating grace. (Hewerdine also contributes backing vocals).

Summing up the mood of the moment Hard Times Come Again No More is a 19th century ‘American parlour song’ written by Stephen Foster and arranged by Rarity, Lowrie and White. Well-known in both America and Europe the song asks the fortunate to consider the plight of the less fortunate. It’s a song recorded by many artists including Bob Dylan, Jennifer Warnes , Mary Black, Dolly Parton and Nanci Griffith but Rarity puts her own eloquent stamp on it.

Take it with Me is a song by another great American songwriter - Tom Waits - and co-writer Kathleen Brennan. Waits said of the song: “We wanted to take the old expression “you can’t take it with you” and turn it on its ear. We figure there’s lots of things to take with you when you go. My favourite line is Kathleen’s. She said “all that you’ve loved is all that you own.” It’s like an old Tin-Pan Alley song.”

Hannah’s own song She Must Be Mad starts with a simple arrangement, just her voice fused with Lowrie’s keys - then it builds and becomes full-blooded and strident with sweeping strings. Hannah describes it as a song about self-esteem - the self- conscious tendencies of many women who feel driven to compare themselves to others.

Kaleidoscope - another co-write with Maclean - is a song inspired by Hannah’s work with elderly care home residents living with dementia – part of the Live Music Now Scotland scheme. The lyrics are poignant (”I felt the breeze of summer air/Across my younger face” ) and Hannah adds tenor guitar to the mix. It is followed by a homage to Rarity’s home country – in Davy Steele’s emotive Scotland Yet.



The album ends with a captivating take on Julie Matthews’ fragile Comes the Hour – the final notes hanging in the air. Says Hannah: “It’s a really beautiful song written by Julie for the BBC Radio Ballads documentary The Enemy That Lives Within, which focused on the lives of those living with and affected by HIV and AIDS. I think she captured something pretty special.’

There is striking musicianship throughout this album elevating Rarity’s pure, versatile voice - a voice that could probably grace a West End musical as easily as the stage of Celtic Connections. The genuine affinity she feels with each song in this carefully chosen collection is something very real. To Have You Near is heartfelt and tender - an album of exquisite gentleness. compassion and warmth - as comforting as a long-awaited hug from a loved one after lockdown.




Photo Credits: (1)-(3) Hannah Rarity (unknown/website).


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