Rachel Sermanni
Rachel Sermanni (born 7 November 1991) is a Scottish folk musician from Carrbridge in Strathspey. She has toured with a number of well-known folk and indie artists in the United Kingdom. Her first album was released in September 2012.
Rachel Sermanni | |
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Background information | |
Born | 7 November 1991 |
Origin | Carrbridge, Highland, Scotland |
Genres | Contemporary folk, indie folk, indie rock, Scottish folk |
Instruments | Vocals, guitar, mandolin, piano, violin |
Years active | 2010–present |
Labels | Middle of Nowhere Rough Trade |
Associated acts | Fink, Mumford & Sons, Tommy Reilly |
Biography
Sermanni's great-grandfather moved from the Italian town of Barga in Tuscany to Scotland at a young age,[1] the family later settling in Carrbridge, where she grew up. Her father is a police dog handler and her mother works for the National Health Service, helping children with mental health issues.[2][3] She began singing and playing music from an early age in the forms of plays or spoof songs with her younger brother and sister, although at the time she dismissed this as being a normal household environment. Her father taught her to play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star on the penny whistle which eventually led to the guitar.[4]
Sermanni was influenced by musicians such as Eva Cassidy, Van Morrison and Bob Dylan and also often talks about vivid dreams that slowly transform into songs. She developed and understood performing when she began listening and performing Scotland's traditional music at school. One of the first songs she wrote at 16 was featured on the first album despite it being four years old by the time of its release.[5] Later she performed in pubs around Glasgow, where many have a traditional music night. In September 2009 she went to see Mumford and Sons at the Loopallu festival in Ullapool. After the performance, she found them in a pub "and asked them if they wanted to jam", resulting in a jamming session on the beach. In 2011 she supported them at Dingwalls in London.[6] Sermanni also toured with Fink on his European tour in 2011, was showcased at the Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow, has supported Elvis Costello and Rumer, and performed at 150 gigs between June 2011 and June 2012.[7][8][9]
Rough Trade Records released a new EP, Black Currents, in February 2012, and in August Sermanni appeared on the BBC Introducing Stage at the Reading Festival. In October she toured Ireland, and on 31 December 2012, she headlined BBC Scotland's annual Hogmanay Live programme, appearing in the Glasgow studio with Frightened Rabbit, Phil Cunningham and Aly Bain.[10][11][12][13] Glasgow newspaper The Herald chose her as one of their "Stars of 2012".[9] Her first album, Under Mountains, was released on Middle of Nowhere Records and Rough Trade Records in September 2012.[14][15]
Sermanni's partner is Scottish musician Adam Holmes. Their daughter, Rosa Sermanni-Holmes, was born on 5 March 2018.[16]
Discography
Albums
Year | Album | Chart peak | Certification | |
---|---|---|---|---|
SCO [17] |
UK Indie [18] | |||
2012 | Under Mountains | 26 | 23 | |
2015 | Tied to the Moon | |||
2019 | So it Turns | |||
Singles and EPS
Title | Album details |
---|---|
The Bothy Sessions |
|
Black Currents |
|
Eggshells |
|
Waltz |
|
The Boatshed Sessions |
|
Everything Changes |
|
Gently |
|
References
- "Rachel Sermanni Interview". James William Houghton. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
- "The gender reversal challenge". The Pop Cop. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
- Smith, Aidan (27 December 2012). "Folk Singer Rachel Sermanni on Mumford and Sons and her Debut Album". The Scotsman. Edinburgh. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
- Roberts, Lynn (21 March 2011). "Interview: Rachel Sermanni". For Folk's Sake.
- "Rachel Sermanni". Dublin: Today FM. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
- "Shockwaves NME Awards Show 2011 with Mumford and Sons". Communion. Archived from the original on 18 August 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
- "Rachel Sermanni Interview March 2012". More Than The Music. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
- "Sometimes I think I won't be able to write another song ever again". The Pop Cop. Archived from the original on 10 October 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
- Jamieson, Teddy (7 January 2012). "Stars of 2012: Rachel Sermanni". The Herald. Glasgow. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
- "Reading and Leeds: Rachel Sermanni: Scottish Balladeer Poised to Charm". British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
- "BBC Hogmanay Live". British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
- Carroll, Jim (4 October 2012). "New Music: Rival Sons, Rachel Sermanni, Hawklion". Irish Times. Dublin.
- Udell, Phil (19 September 2012). "Incoming: Rachel Sermanni". State Magazine. Kildare. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
- Dingwall, John (3 August 2012). "Teenage Singer Rachel Sermanni Set to Become Scotland's Next Big Musical Export with Release of Debut Album". Daily Record. Glasgow. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
- "Rachel Sermanni: Under Mountains (Review)" (in German). Hamburg: Musikreviews. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
- "Adam Holmes". facebook. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
- "2012 Top 40 Scottish Albums Archive: 29 September 2012". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
- "2012 Top 40 Independent Albums Archive: 29 September 2012". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 January 2013.