Gearing up for the New Year and the release of her new solo album 'Summer Isles', Mairearad Green is an artist who'll instantly impress anybody with her talent and raw vocals.
We got the chance to put some questions to Mairearad about her music, upcoming gigs and much more - read on to find out what she had to say.
For those who may be new to your music, how best would you describe your sound?
Acoustic, roots, and folk influences developed with a cinematic style.
What challenges have you faced in the music industry so far?
The biggest challenge is to make time for being creative and making music and to find a balance with that and earning a living at the same time.
How difficult would you say this career path is in terms of making a name for yourself?
The industry is so competitive at the moment and there is so much good music out there, which makes it incredibly difficult to make a name for yourself. The best you can do is make great music and work hard and hope that people will hear what you're doing and support it. I feel incredibly lucky to have been part of the folk music scene for 13 years and that audiences come out to gigs and support live music.
How important is it for you to have creative control over the work you produce?
Holding on to creative control in what you do is the most important thing for me. The work you produce has to represent you as an artist, be genuine to who you are and what you do and if you give up any creative control I think it is difficult for audiences to connect with your music.
Where do you draw influence and inspiration from for your work?
Mainly from landscapes, culture and people. This album has been inspired by the 'Summer Isles' in the Highlands of Scotland, seen from Achiltibuie where I was brought up.
If you could collaborate with anybody going forward, who would you choose and why?
Ah, so many people on that list... I'd like to write more with some of my singer/songwriter pals such as Findlay Napier, and Louis Abbott from the band Admiral Fallow as they are great musicians, writers and people to hang out with and I'd love to get a remix done of one of my album tracks from the likes of DJ Dolphin Boy to get a different perspective on the music.
Tell us a random, funny fact about you that not many people know.
In my head, I think I am quite good at accents, but my friends tell me that most of my accents sound like one, strange mix of American/Irish... I will keep on working on them!
Do you have definitive aims or goals for your career?
My main aim is to make more time for writing music, to keep working with great people and to keep enjoying all the things I'm doing.
Where do you hope to be this time next year?
Hopefully having sold lots of this new album to afford the time to keep writing more music!
What should we expect from you in the coming weeks and months?
I am playing at Woodford Folk Festival and touring Australia with a band called The Poozies from December 27 to January 19, and I also have various gigs at Celtic Connections in Glasgow, including one with my folk duo partner, Anna Massie on January 24 at the National Piping Centre.
Mairearad's new solo album 'Summer Isles' is released via Buie Records on February 26.