Q&A With Iona Lane!
Hi Iona, how are you? It looks like you’ve been really busy recently, what have you been up to?
Hey guys! How’s it going? This beginning half of the year has been pretty full on. I’m currently in a big creative phase writing new music on three residencies which have been funded by the wonderful Creative Scotland. I think a fair few of these songs might end up on the next album which is exciting! I played a show at Celtic Connections, which was a total joy to be a part of. My EP comes out in March and I’m off on the road for a few shows, so yes, it’s all go!
We’re all very excited about your new EP, “Bring The Tide In”, can you tell us a little bit about it?
Awh thank you, very kind! This EP has a slightly different sentiment than my debut album, it focuses on some personal experiences, with nostalgia and sentimentality. Childhood memories and growth sway through this EP in a way that I didn’t expect they would. These songs share stories of my own, each strongly tied to a location or place that has felt poignant during my life.
‘Suilven’ the first single is inspired by my parents and by their love of hill walking. They’d take me and my siblings on walking holidays every year growing up. At the time I did not enjoy walking but it’s gone full circle and now I love being out in the hills. ‘Bring The Tide in’, the title track, is a song I started writing whilst on the Isle of Rum in August 2022. It’s about human connection and how those humans have shaped you. But for me, its meaning changes every time I play it.
You always tell such fantastic stories with your music, have you always been drawn to storytelling?
Thanks, I’m glad you enjoy the storytelling. Funnily enough, no I haven’t! I think naturally I lean towards facts and science so I actually find the language of storytelling challenging, highly rewarding but sometimes it is like pulling teeth. I tend to find a story, theme or concept I want to write about and then spend looooads of time researching and deep diving on a fact collecting mission. Then when it comes to writing the song I try to find a way of presenting the story or the message in a way that might be less black and white… but I guess that’s artistic licence for you!
Can you give us a bit of background of when you started playing guitar? Who were your early influences?
I started playing guitar when I was 16. I was taking GCSE music at school and my teacher had suggested learning piano or guitar to accompany my singing and to gain a vague understanding of harmony. I remember we had a ukulele at home and my folks said if I show six months of commitment to the uke they’d consider buying me a guitar.
Fast forward 18 months and I was having guitar lessons from amazing folk guitarist Paul Jones. He taught me all about drop tunings. I remember wanting to learn songs from Blair Dunlop’s first album Blight & Blossom - that was an album that really got me into drop tunings and Paul helped me with this. Paul and Kate (of HowdenJones) gave me my first gigs supporting them in village halls which I am forever grateful for.
My parents listened to a mix of things, my Dad was into his Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Pink Floyd, my Mum loves John Martyn and Joni Mitchell and I like to think that a bit of all of that rubbed off on me.
You were our Young Player Bursary Recipient for 2020, how did you come across Taran Guitars and the Young Player Bursary?
I knew of quite a few guitarists who play Tarans, Karine Polwart and Martin Simpson to name a couple. I think I saw the bursary advertised on Instagram and I just thought ‘wow what an opportunity’. I knew it would be my only opportunity to have a guitar built for me of such a high quality and with such exquisite craftsmanship so I just went for it! I remember when I got the email telling me the outcome of the bursary I was in Wasdale in the Lake District with no data. The notification popped up but I couldn’t actually read the email! The next day I was walking around Wast Water and managed to get enough service to read the good news! I’ll always remember that moment!
How did you find the process of having a custom guitar made?
It was a real joy. My guitar was being built during covid times. I waited until I was allowed to travel and then headed up to Pittenweem and back in a day (which was quite a trek from Leeds where I was living at the time). Rory had three guitars ready for me to play, including Martin Simpson’s new Taran and one which was going to Aidrian O’Reilly who’s a great finger picking guitarist in Cornwall who’s actually a family friend! I spent a long while playing these instruments, Rory left me to explore them and we then had a very long chat about what I liked and didn’t like about the instruments. Before finalising the spec Rory also sent me a guitar to play at home for a couple of weeks. It was great to have this time at home with a Taran as I felt like I could really enjoy it in a space that I know so well.
Has the Young Player Bursary helped you as a musician?
Massively! This guitar has gifted me many songs and ideas that I doubt I would have come to without it.
Is there any advice you’d give to future Young Players?
Just go for it! In your application make sure to tell the Taran team all of the amazing things you’re doing and have achieved and make sure you show passion and love for your work.
Bring The Tide In comes out on the 22nd of March, where can people find it?
Folk can grab a CD from my bandcamp site or at a gig! And for those who are wanting to stream it you can do that in all your usual places.
What else have you got coming up this year?
I have a lovely bunch of shows and festivals coming up over the summer! Then in the autumn I am running a songwriting retreat with my pal Katie Spencer in Ardnamurchan. There are a handful of places left for that so if anyone is interested in joining us you can check that out here.
I’m also working away on my next album… I hope to be recording that towards the end of summer. More news on that soon!
Brilliant, we can’t wait to hear more about that! Thanks Iona and good luck with your upcoming gigs!