louise cairns
Gig Seeker Pro

louise cairns

Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom | SELF

Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom | SELF
Band Pop Blues

Calendar

This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

Music

Press


"Interview@ Louise Cairns"

October 2006

Feature

Louise Cairns entered the music world at an early age. Her mother was a music teacher; she was put in front of the ivories at the tender age of five and an accomplished and experienced classical musician by the time she hit secondary school.

Indeed, music has always been a part of her life, despite an alarming unplanned break. “I developed nodules in my throat whilst I was at Glasgow University doing my music degree, which meant that I lost my singing voice for three or four years. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise; music teachers had always picked up on the huskiness in my voice when I was singing classically and after I lost my voice it definitely had a more bluesy tone.”

In many ways, the problem couldn’t have come at a worse time. “I was chosen to be part of a choir that was made up by university students from all over Europe. Unfortunately the problem with my throat started to develop just as I flew out to Germany, so I spent most of the time miming! It was really good to be involved with other musicians and to get a good flavour of touring though – it was still a great experience.” Moreover, the separation from classical music gave cause for her to explore other interests, a move which brought its own unexpected rewards. “I also got involved with the uni television station. I began interviewing bands and going to gigs and festivals, and I started to get more interested and involved with indie music and performing.” In hindsight, the roots of her musical persona were developing.

Presently, the working day is usually split fifty-fifty between music tutoring and improving her profile as a performer. “I really like playing the usual open mic nights. I’ve been invited back to several venues, and I’m in a position to take up regular nights at a few places. But I’m always looking to be noticed by promoters for bigger venues. It’s all about striving to get that step up.”

“I couldn’t describe my own music” says Louise, searching in vain for appropriate adjectives. “It has elements of the blues and indie music, but it just sounds like me” It’s always and unfair question, but suffice it to say that from a young age she was influenced by performers like Carol King, Stevie Wonder, Ella Fitzgerald and, very importantly, the melodies of Motown. Recently she has been listening to Mercury favourites the Guillemots and New York virtuoso Regina Spektor. The links to New York don’t end there – a successful trip to the city in 2005 resulted in a well-received return in July 2006, when she took the opportunity record and perform in some of the most famous acoustic venues in town, including Rockwood Music Hall and Pianos.

Live, she already has a strong reputation for wowing audiences with her combination of classical nuances and heart-felt lyrics, two facets of her musical personality that are brought together by her spine-tingling, earthy vocals. Surprisingly, finding the right stage format still proves a challenge. “For larger venues I always try to play with a full band. But it’s funny, whenever I play with the complete set up some people always comment that it would have sounded nicer with just my voice and the piano. When I do perform like that, which is most of the time, audiences always say it would sound nicer with a fuller sound.”

Similarly complex has been the journey to the debut album, “Little Things”. Originally penned for release last year, Louise has now pencilled in a deadline for summer 2007. “In hindsight, I’m really pleased that I didn’t rush the album our last year. I’m much happier with the music I have now, feedback has been really good from the shows, and I feel that I’ve written better songs too.” True to form, the album will probably be recorded in Glasgow with her regular studio producer with whom she has recorded several tracks before (see her Myspace page to hear them for yourself – “Man At The End Of The Road” is currently an office favourite here at Myvillage HQ.)

Looking to the future, Louise has kept her ambitions simple. “Talk to me this time next year, and hopefully the album will be finished! I want to carry on moving up through the venues, and if all goes well I’ll get a label interested at some point too.” If her performances are any measure, we see no reason why things shouldn’t soon start moving very rapidly indeed.

- www.myvillage.co.uk


"radioindy.com gold artist award"

'...(her) voice sounds beautiful...excellent vocals and beautiful songs...' - radioindy.com


"'welcome to the velvet world of Louise Cairns"

'...well felt songs with feelings and meanings to the words. You dont get much of that in todays music in the UK...' - Stuart Wakeman, Executive Producer, Reelsounds studio


Discography

'Here because you're not' Album Jan 2011

Photos

Bio

‘Here because you’re not’ is the debut release from Glasgow singer songwriter Louise Cairns, whose diverse career began as a classical musician performing at the Edinburgh Festival and throughout Germany, singing with the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra.

Her later progression to the worlds of pop, blues and jazz has taken her from Glasgow’s King Tut’s and City Halls, to Abbey Road studios in London and numerous performances in New York, including at the city’s ‘Tartan Week’ celebrations.

Louise’s ability to command audiences to silence, thanks to her laid- back chords, classically influenced detail, heart-felt lyrics and spine-tingling vocals, has become legendary.

She was a regular on London’s live music scene (Bush Hall, Camden Barfly, Islington Academy, Sound Café Leicester Sq, The Bedford) before returning home to Glasgow where she played at Celtic Connections 2011 and her music appeared in BBC Scotland’s ‘River City’. The album has received airplay courtesy of Scotland’s No 1 new music DJ, Jim Gellatly.

Louise also has a residency at the 'Metropolitan' piano bar, Merchant City, Glasgow.

‘Here because you’re not’ is available from http://loucairns.bandcamp.com
with the first track ‘Trouble’ being available to download for free.

..'gorgeous...Her voice, which can only be described as amazing, complements her piano playing beautifully.'
STV (scottish television) 'This weeks top events'.

‘No1 event tonight’ - London Paper (Louise’s show at London’s Bush Hall)