Karine Polwart

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Karine Polwart
Karine.jpg
Years active	2000—present
Genres	Folk
Members	Karine Polwart Mattie Foulds Steven Polwart Kevin McGuire Inge Thomson

Karine Polwart (born 1971) is a Scottish singer-songwriter. She writes and performs music with a strong folk and roots feel, and her songs cover a wide area, from alcoholism to genocide.

Despite winning the Horizon Award for Best Newcomer at the BBC Folk Awards 2005, Karine Polwart is no newcomer to the folk world, having previously been a member of Malinky and Battlefield Band. Her solo career is new, and it is for this that she has been particularly recognised. Her songs cover a variety of topics, and although she has claimed at live performances that they are all quite depressing, many have an uplifting aspect. This is particularly notable in "The Sun's Comin' Over The Hill" (which won Best Original Song at the BBC Folk Awards 2005) which tells the story of woman who reacts to the death of her partner through a period of depression, drink and drugs, but has a more optimistic chorus, with the narrator foreseeing an end to this period. There are exceptions to this: "Waterlily" — the tale of a man whose lover is killed during the war in Yugoslavia — offers no such comfort. "Only One Way", on the other hand, is an upbeat song with a strong political theme and some biting humour.

According to her official website, she believes that songs should stand up by themselves, so there are no notes in her first album Faultlines explaining their meaning. However, for the sake of those interested in the backstory behind the songs, the website provides information about each of them on the basis that even if a song does work by itself, sometimes the story behind it can make it more meaningful. Recently, she has made guitar tablature available for several of her songs through her website, including notes on tuning and style.

Polwart has a masters degree in philosophy, and a background as a children's rights and anti-war campaigner; two themes which also recur in her music.

Karine has just released her latest album - Scribbled In Chalk. Her official website indicates a tour to promote this album will take place in May and June.

She guested with David Knopfler at The Globe Theatre June 5th 2006 for a charity benefit for Reprieve.org.uk