Arts / Astrid pays tribute to Shetland roots on new album
A BRIGHTON-based singer-songwriter is looking back to her Shetland roots with a new album of songs mostly sung in local dialect.
Astrid Williamson’s tenth studio album Shetland Suite is described as an “evocative fusion of folk, electronics and field recordings” that combine to create a tribute to her late mum, Betty.
The tracks include reworked versions of traditional tunes like Unst Boat Song, Boannie Tammie Scolla, Da Selkie Wife’s Sang and Unst Bridal March.
Often taking on an ethereal quality, there is a focus on vocal harmony which lays on top of often-stripped back music.
In a four-star review the Observer called the record a “beautiful enchantment of place and memory”.
Williamson – one of the isles’ top musical exports – lived in Shetland until she was 14 years old, and it was there that her mother introduced her to these songs.
“Shetland Suite is essentially a tribute to my mum, Betty and her love of music, singing and these songs,” she said.
“But besides this I wanted to create something beautiful and authentic, that honours the roots of these pieces, and my musical roots too.
“She was my first piano teacher when I grew up in Shetland, and since Shetland Suite came out I’ve had lovely messages from her former pupils who also remember her singing and teaching these songs.”
Classically trained Williamson rose to prominence in the early 1990s with her band Goya Dress, whose first album Rooms was produced by the Velvet Underground’s John Cale.
Over a career spanning almost three decades as a vocalist, musician and co-writer, she has collaborated with various artists including Johnny Marr & Bernard Sumner (in Electronic), Arthur Baker and Stereophonics.
Her songs have also appeared in films such as Bill Forsyth’s Gregory’s Two Girls.
But on Shetland Suite Williamson is returning to her roots following her mum’s death.
It was in the spring of last year – “perhaps due to the preoccupations of grief” – she decided to record Da Selkie Wife’s Sang, a Shetland dialect song she said that will forever be associated with her mother’s singing.
“Thus, rather unintentionally, began Shetland Suite,” she added.
The musician said the very first gig she played ‘professionally’, as part of her family band Islefolk, was at the Garrison Theatre in Lerwick for the first Shetland Folk Festival in 1980 alongside her mum, step-father John Goldsmith, who was a founding committee member, and sister Kirsten.
“The experience of being the opening act each night of the debut festival – my stepfather was acting as the compere – was quite life-changing, as I really felt from then on that music would be my life,” she added.
“The last time I heard my mother sing was during Covid shortly before she died.
“Although ravaged by dementia, and no longer able to speak, extraordinarily and poignantly she could still remember the words to these songs.”
Astrid Williamson’s Shetland Suite is available now on vinyl and digital download.
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