The beautiful voice of Julie Fowlis with RURA singing the wonderful melodic folk song, Dh’èirich Mi Moch Madainn Cheòthar (Scottish Gaelic)(English translation: I arose early, would that I hadn’t), from RURA’s brand new LP, Our Voices Echo (February 2022). As a mono-linguistic person, with English being my only language, I can’t pretend to know the meaning of this song. However, Julie Fowlis explains this song this way: 

“This is a very moving song which is interesting as it is sung from the point of view of the ‘each-uisge’ the water-horse, who is usually portrayed as the frightening character in stories, but in this instance is the victim.  He has been betrayed by his mortal lover, and she has left him with their child, which he cannot take care of.”

This song appeared on Julie’s LP Alterum (October 2017) as well. 

For its part, RURA is a world-renowned folk band, known for their mesmerizing instrumentals, which includes the talents of Steven Blake (pipes and keyboards), Adam Brown (acoustic and electric guitars), David Foley (bodhran and flute), and Jack Smedley (fiddle and strings). For Our Voices Echo, the band included the talents of Julie Fowlis (seen/heard here), as well as a careful selection of additional instruments and voices. 

RURA began back in 2010, and released their first LP, Break It Up, in 2012. Though their catalog is largely covers of traditional folk songs, they released their first completely original work with the LP In Praise Of Home in 2018. 

You can find more information on RURA by heading up to their nicely configured website, which includes all of the social, streaming, and purchase links that you require. Clicking the “Buy Now” button on their music offerings, will take you to their bandcamp.com site. Their debut LP is missing from Bandcamp, but you can still find it by clicking the “Buy Now” or by going to the Amazon link for the LP.

Information on Julie Fowlis can be found on her website, which is also well laid out and inclusive of all of the social, streaming, and purchase links.

Check out some amazing traditional folk music by picking up RURA Our Voices Echo now! Consider exploring their back catalog as well as that of Julie Fowlis. This is beautiful music and should be heard by all!

Note: There is a reason to be cautiously optimistic about the trajectory of the COVID 19 virus. We’ve been here before and were turned back by the variants. Even with things improving, artists such as RURA and Julie Fowlis could still use your purchases. If your situation allows it, consider purchasing more in these tough times.  Please, if you are physically able to do so, get vaccinated. — Vodka