Thursday 28 March 2024
 6.9°C   ENE Moderate Breeze
Ocean Kinetics - The Engineering Experts

News / Sermanni returns with trio

Rachel Sermanni returns to Mareel on Tuesday night.

ACCLAIMED Scottish singer-songwriter Rachel Sermanni will make her third visit to Shetland this coming week, writes Chris Cope.

The 22-year-old “folk noir balladeer” first played in the isles as support to English trailblazers Mumford & Sons at a packed Whiteness and Weisdale Hall in 2011.

She returned to the archipelago last year to perform at Mareel and she will hit the Lerwick venue once again on Tuesday.

The singer and musician, who released her debut album ‘Under Mountains’ in 2012, will shake things up this time around by padding out her sound with an augmented line-up.

“I’ll be bringing two friends to Shetland,” Sermanni told Shetland News. “Colin Macleod will play guitar and sing a little bit and Jennifer Austin, who is from Orkney, is going to be playing the piano. So in terms of the set-up it’s going to be a little bit different than the last time I played in Mareel. It’s really fun playing with them and they make it sound quite big, which is always nice.”

Sermanni, who has supported the likes of Elvis Costello and John Grant in recent years, revealed that she plans to showcase a couple of new tracks at Mareel.

Her last record came in the shape of the recently released ‘Live In Dawson City’ and since her teenage years the globetrotter has built up a reputation for having a compelling, sprightly and amusing stage show.

“The songs have the same core,” the Carrbridge musician said about playing live, “but there’s always room for reinterpretation and improvisation, especially with Jen and Colin on board. Hopefully that makes it a little bit more interesting and involving for the audience, because they’re helping to create the atmosphere.

“There will be newer songs at Mareel, as well as the old stuff. We’ll test out a couple of new songs – I can’t help it. Even though we don’t have a new studio album to promote, I think it’s worth letting people hear them and seeing how they work in a performance environment.”

Become a supporter of Shetland News

 

The quirky singer-songwriter meanwhile is melting pot of influences, with folk fused with traces of jazz in a sound that dips toes into darkness as well as gleaming with melodic sheen.

Sermanni is also an avid reader and her love of literature ensures her lyrics are a captivating, absorbing affair.

Speaking about her influences, the musician said: “I listen to music from all different types of places. I guess when it comes to informing my music, it’s really hard to pinpoint.

“But I read a lot of books as well. The last one that I read was given to me by a publishing company…it was called Academy Street by Mary Costello, an Irish lady. It was so, so good. I also read a book called The Humans by Matt Haig, which I would recommend to every single person on earth. And at the moment I’m reading Ernest Hemingway’s ‘For Whom The Bell Tolls’.”

The future, meanwhile, looks bright for Sermanni. Featuring in a recent RBS advertising campaign “bought time and space” to allow her to continue to freely tread her notable path and her live shows continue to be in great demand.

And with her maiden album released two years ago, work is already well underway on its follow-up.

“We’ve started recording the next album and it’s probably going to be ready early next year. I’m really enjoying it. The songs probably have more structure than there has been previously, so it might make it easier for people to hold on to.”

Become a supporter of Shetland News

Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.

Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.

Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has  over 600 supporters  who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.

Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -

  • Bring you the headlines as they happen;
  • Stay editorially independent;
  • Give a voice to the community;
  • Grow site traffic further;
  • Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.

If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.

Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.

 
Categories

Newsletters

Subscribe to a selection of different newsletters from Shetland News, varying from breaking news delivered on the minute, to a weekly round-up of the opinion posts. All delivered straight to your inbox.

Daily Briefing Newsletter Weekly Highlights Newsletter Opinion Newsletter Life in Shetland Newsletter

JavaScript Required

We're sorry, but Shetland News isn't fully functional without JavaScript enabled.
Head over to the help page for instructions on how to enable JavaScript on your browser.

Your Privacy

We use cookies on our site to improve your experience.
By using our service, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.

Browser is out-of-date

Shetland News isn't fully functional with this version of .
Head over to the help page for instructions on updating your browser for more security, improved speed and the best overall experience on this site.

Interested in Notifications?

Get notifications from Shetland News for important and breaking news.
You can unsubscribe at any time.

Become a supporter of Shetland News

We're committed to ensuring everyone has equitable access to impartial, open and quality local journalism that benefits all residents.

By supporting Shetland News, you play a vital role in ensuring we remain a pivotal resource in supporting the community.

Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.