With mental health drawn into sharp focus across society by the pandemic, DMC chaired an open and insightful conversation with Mischa Macpherson (Chair), Chloë Bryce, Corrina Hewat, Laura Wilkie and Greg Lawson exploring the topic.
Why do we feel so vulnerable at the thought of being exposed to the judgement of others? Why is there a lack of exposure surrounding mental health and the music industry? And how can we take the burden off our shoulders and make it easier on a daily basis? We hear from a panel made up of music industry figures, and let them share ways in which other creatives can cope better with their eunoia and explore ways in which the power of music can be beneficial for people tackling anxiety and depression.
MISCHA MACPHERSON
Gaelic singer, composer and instrumentalist Mischa Macpherson began researching mental health issues in the music industry in 2015 at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Based on her research, she presented an hour long documentary on BBC Alba in 2021 (Ceòl is Cràdh) highlighting some of the unique struggles that musicians face. A full time musician and TV presenter, Mischa won the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award and ‘Gaelic Singer of the Year’ at the Scots Trad Music Awards in 2014. She has since toured across Europe, Canada and Australia, and collaborated with world renowned musicians including: Carloz Nunez (Galicia); Suraj and Chand Khan (Pakistan); Martyn Bennett's GRIT Orchestra (Scotland); and the RNSO (Royal Scottish National Orchestra).
CHLOË BRYCE
Fiddler, Chloë Bryce is an emerging talent in Scotland’s folk scene. Brought up a Gaelic speaker in the North Highlands, her music is informed by a deep regard for the old tunes and songs embedded in Highland culture. Chloë has appeared on stages worldwide, performing at internationally renowned events including Festival Interceltique de Lorient, Celtic Colours International Festival, National Celtic Festival of Australia, Cambridge Folk Festival and Celtic Connections. Chloë attended the National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music before going on to study at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. She graduated in July 2020 with First Class Honours in Traditional Music Performance.
CORRINA HEWAT
Corrina Hewat is a harper, singer, composer, musical director, and Principal Trad Harp Tutor at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, winning Tutor of the Year in 2013 at STMA. She leads Sangstream, the 60-strong Scots Folk Choir and regularly runs HarmonySong workshops across the country. Corrina achieved recognition with Bachué (with pianist David Milligan), Shine (with harpist Mary Macmaster & Alyth MacCormack) and Scots big band The Unusual Suspects (nominated Live Act of the Year) plus years of collaborating with musicians such as Karine Polwart & Annie Grace, Eric Bibb, Carol Kidd, and Bobby McFerrin. She has achieved 18 large-scale works, 14 albums under her own name or band name, plus session musician on over 50 recordings. Since 2009 she has split her time between being a mum and a performer/teacher. Her passion in advocating mental health stems from her holistic approach to supporting the creative body, mind and spirit, using various techniques she has practiced over the last 30 years. She lives in Pathhead with her husband David Milligan, their daughter, two cats and a fish.
LAURA WILKIE
Laura Wilkie is a Fiddle player from Tain in the Highlands of Scotland. She has a unique style which has roots in the Highland fiddle traditions but is influenced by an eclectic range of music from all genres. As a founding member of Glasgow-based Jazz/Funk/R&B/Synth/Folk Juggernaut, Fat-Suit, Laura has been inspired to play with elements of improvisation in different styles, making her a versatile influence on each project. Collaborations include performing, writing, arranging and recording with Shooglenifty, Honeyblood, Man of the Minch, Rachel Sermanni, Scarlett Randle, Lewis Capaldi, Glasvegas, The Elephant Sessions, Paul Towndrow’s Keywork Orchestra, Fatherson, and the GRIT Orchestra & many other musical/film & television projects. ("Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour" 2021, various BBC Scotland productions with composer Francis MacDonald of Teenage Fanclub.) Laura has toured across the world in various different groups of the Contemporary Folk Music Scenes.
GREG LAWSON
Greg Lawson is a violinist, composer and conductor who has explored music from many genres. He studied violin at the Royal Northern College of Music with Malcolm Layfield and Eligh Goren and in West Berlin with Ilan Gronich. As a classical violinist he has held principal and Leading positions in most of the orchestras in Scotland, Co-Leader Scottish Ballet, Member of the Scottish Ensemble, Assistant Leader of the Orchestra of Scottish Opera, Principal Violin Scottish Chamber Orchestra and The Paragon Ensemble and Principal 2nd Violin in the BBCSSO and has been a regular player with the John Wilson Orchestra and the World Orchestra for Peace. He has also worked in many other fields and has arranged string and orchestral scores for many bands and musicians including The Delgados, Mugwai, The Trashcan Sinatras, Karine Polwart, Kate Rusby, Eddie Reader, Heidi Talbot, Karen Matheson, James Grant, Donald Shaw, Echo and the Bunnymen, Phil Cunningham, the BBCSSO and the RSNO. He is the only teacher in the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland to teach in both the Classical School and the Traditional school and is building awareness and projects between departments to share the differing knowledge of musical forms.