Fresh Meat Monday - Amy Duncan

Would you care to introduce yourself?

Hello, my name is Amy Duncan :)


How would you describe the music you make?

Folk / electronica


How did you start out making music?

I played piano and violin from a young age, in a classical way, and went to music college in Manchester when I was 16 to study the double bass.
I reached a very low point a year later and dropped out, moving into a bedsit in Glasgow where I started playing the guitar. Writing songs and singing became my solace, and a way of working through difficult times. I later went back to college and finished my degree!


What process goes into the way you write songs?

Sometimes I begin with a musical idea on the guitar/piano or bass, and then words and melody come, but sometimes its the other way round - I get a vocal idea, then shape music around that. My new album 'Potential-Space' is a collaboration with my lyricist friend David Paton, so that was a different process again. Last year David was writing a lot of song lyrics, and sending some to me. I chose the ones that stood out for me, or that I connected with most, and worked out the music for them. Some of the lyrics were written by me, and sent back and forth between the 2 of us until we both liked them.We didn't really set out to write an album at first, it sort of unfolded in a very natural way, and when we had 10 songs it felt complete. They appear on the album in the order they were written.


What can people expect from your live shows?

I play with Fiona Rutherford (harp), and Bradley Burns (live electronics) and I alternate between the piano, guitar and double bass as accompaniment to my voice. Its quite an intimate sound, emotional, and hopeful. My friend said, after our album launch gig, that we give off a humane and friendly vibe.


What are you all listening to at the moment?

Well, I was just given the new Joanna Newsom CD, which I am finding very inspiring. I was recently sent some Fourtet - 'Sing' being my favourite track from that. I often listen to the Grace Jones CD 'Living My Life', on a sunny day, its very uplifting. I have been listening to that one for years now!


What can we expect to see/hear from you in 2010?

We will be playing some gigs to promote the new album Potential-Space. I also have a lot of other songs recorded, and am hoping Brad and Fiona will add some of their magic to them. Up until now most of the music I have released has been self produced, a very intense experience of just me at home recording. I feel its time to open the door now, and to let a new, fresh energy in. I feel very excited about the next album to come, but I don't want to rush it. There is still a lot of promotion for Potential-Space to be done (I am doing my best with that!) and so I would expect the new album to be ready in the spring of 2011.


Amy Duncan - Rare and Free

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Weekly Round Up (29/08/10)

Monday - get yer teeth into some tasty Fresh Meat brought to you by B-Movie Junkies, plus I had Calamateur's Moray Firth Session
Tuesday - Aberfeldy were in session for Vic G
Wednesday - A Band Called Quinn were the 30th entry in the Scots Way-Hay club
Thursday - a session from The Burns Unit on Marc Riley's show
Friday - Freebies!!! including stuff from Randolph's Leap and Martin John Henry. Plus a sessions from Haight Ashbury and the Shutter on Vic Galloway's show
Saturday - Washington Irving covered Hot Chip in We've Got It Covered


News, gigs and any other gubbins......



As I am going to be a bit preoccupied this next month, I have organised a series of posts featuring DIY Labels in Scotland. So over the next six weeks you can expect to see interviews with the folk that run Wiseblood Industries, Armellodie Records, 45 A-Side Records, Seventeen Second Records, RE:PEATER RECORDS, Too Many Fireworks, Chaffinch Records, Gerry Loves Records, Instinctive Racoon Records, SL Records and Song By Toad Records. Having edited them all, you can trust me when I say that you are in for a treat as you gain an incite into some of the most exciting labels in Scotland, plus there will definitely not be any 'King making' ;)




Former Scots Way-Hay starlet Julian Corrie, aka Miaoux Miaoux releases his new single, ‘Knitted’ this Wednesday (1st) on download and limited edition CD with knitted sleeve.
It will be available from his homepage, it also features a remix from The Japanese War Effort and a special live track, which will be exclusive to the physical release. The whole thing is in aid of charity, as Julian explains: “A friend and I had the idea for knitted CD covers. We approached a knitting group at Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres and they agreed to do it in return for a donation to the charity. I’ve recently lost someone very close to me to prostate cancer, so I’ll be donating some proceeds from the single to both Maggie’s and Cancer Research.”
Miaoux Miaoux plays at the Captain’s Rest in Glasgow tonight, alongside Fox Gut Daata.


If you are in the capital tonight and looking for a good way to round off your festival experience, then Fiona Soe Paing is performing her "No Man's Land" score supporting the Hidden Orchestra's live re-working of Powaqqatsi at the Roxy Art House. Due to a weird timing issue, Hidden Orchestra are on at 11.30, and Fiona at 12.30 (I think).

On Thursday night at the Roxy, Edinburgh's Amy Duncan, a singer and multi-instrumentalist from Edinburgh, launches her new album 'Potential-Space'. The night will feature 3 sets, one from Scottish harpist and composer Fiona Rutherford will be playing her own compositions on clarsach, accompanied by Amy on doublebass . Followed by electronic artist Bradley Burns playing some of his tunes on laptop, then Fiona, Bradley and Amy will then together play songs from the album. You can listen, and if you like it, order 'Potential-Space' now from her Bandcamp.

Amy Duncan - Natural

On Thursday night, our good friends over at Elba Sessions are having their tenth (yes tenth!), Elba Sessions Presents evening. As always they've got a cracking line up in store for you, this months features Finn Lemrainel (of Trapped in Kansas fame), Shauna Joy and Lynne Louden, and as if that wasn't impressive enough, it's free entry.