Karine Polwart
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| Karine Polwart | |
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| Background information | |
| Born | 1971 |
| Origin | Banknock, Stirlingshire, UK |
| Genre(s) | Folk music |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Years active | 2000- |
| Label(s) | Hegri Music licensed to Shoeshine Records |
| Associated acts | Corrina Hewat, Roddy Woomble, Malinky, The Poems |
| Website | www.karinepolwart.com |
Karine Polwart (born 1971) is a Scottish singer-songwriter. She writes and performs music with a strong folk and roots feel, her songs dealing with a variety of issues from alcoholism to genocide. She has been most recognised for her solo career, winning three awards at the BBC Folk Awards in 2005, and was previously been a member of Malinky and Battlefield Band.
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[edit] Biography
Polwart grew up in the small Stirlingshire town of Banknock and had an interest in music from an early age. She has described her whole family as being interested in music and one of her brothers, Steven, is also a professional musician who plays guitar in the Karine Polwart band, whilst her sister is developing her own musical career with the group The Poems.
Despite an active musical career from a young age, including forming her own band KP and the Minichips at age 10, Karine was discouraged from studying music at school and ended up studying politics and philosophy at the University of Dundee. After graduating with a First Class Degree in Philosophy Karine moved to Glasgow to study for a Masters in Philosophical Inquiry.
Her first job after her studies was as a philosophy tutor in a primary school, a job she describes as giving her a 'massive buzz'.[1] After this she spent six years working for the Scottish Women's Aid movement on issues such as domestic and child abuse and young people's rights and these experiences have influenced her songwriting.
Polwart left her job in January 2000 to concentrate on her musical career. After successful stints with Malinky and Battlefield Band she decided to embark on a solo career. In 2003 she released her first solo album, Faultlines. Written and recorded with assistance from the Scottish Arts Council, Faultlines won the Best Album award at the 2005 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. This award, along with 2 others at the same ceremony, increased Karine's profile not just in the folk community but also in the wider musical arena.
The songs on Faultlines 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.
In April 2006 Karine released her second solo album Scribbled in Chalk. This album was heralded with much critical acclaim receiving impressive reviews from amongst others, The Scotsman, The Sunday Times, The Independent on Sunday, Time Out and BBC Music online. A UK wide tour followed as well as appearances on BBC 2's Culture Show, Simon Mayo's Album show on Radio 2, Mike Harding's folk show on Radio 2, BBC Radio Scotland on the Janice Forsyth show and the Janice Long Late show on Radio 2. Karine's music also reached a wider audience when her songs were used during the opening sequence of a Hollyoaks episode in July 2006 and for the final programme of The Hairy Bikers' Cookbook.
Like Faultlines, Scribbled in Chalk often looks at the darker side of life with tales of sex trafficking ("Maybe there's a Road"), the holocaust ("Baleerie Baloo") and the uncertainties of life ("Hole in the Heart"). But these stories of despair are balanced by others that describe the joy of a slower life ("Let it All Hang Out"), of hope triumphing over cynicism ("Where the Smoke Blows") and the wonder of the universe ("Terminal Star").
According to her official website, she believes that songs should stand up by themselves. 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. She has also made guitar tablature available for several of her songs through her website, including notes on tuning and style.
As well as her solo work, Karine spent much of 2006 collaborating with other artists on a variety of projects; Roddy Woomble, the lead singer of Idlewild, asked Karine to help co-write and provide backing vocals for his solo album, My Secret is My Silence, whilst Karine provided many songs for the BBC Radio 2 music/social documentary series The Radio Ballads. Karine also supported The Beautiful South on their tour and she guested with David Knopfler at The Globe Theatre for a charity benefit for Reprieve.
At the 2006 Hogmanay Live celebrations on BBC Scotland, Karine played several of her songs and also dueted with new sensation Paolo Nutini.
2007 sees Karine playing once again at Celtic Connections both with her band and collaborating with other artists including Dick Gaughan and Roddy Woomble. Karine also sings with Corrina Hewat and Annie Grace in, what they describe as, a 'girly trio'.[2]
[edit] Karine Polwart Band Members
Karine Polwart: vocals
Mattie Foulds: drums & percussion
Kevin McGuire: double bass & vocals
Steven Polwart: acoustic/electric guitars & vocals
Inge Thomson: accordion, vocals & percussion
Occasional guest members include Martin Green, Corrina Hewat and Aidan O'Rourke.
[edit] Awards
2003 Scots Trad Music Awards: voted Best Scots Singer.
2003 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards: nominated for Best Original Song.
2004 Scots Trad Music Awards: nominated for Songwriter of the Year.
2005 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards: awarded Best Album for Faultlines, Best Original Song and The Horizon Award for Best Newcomer. Karine was also nominated for Best Singer.
2006 Scots Trad Music Awards: nominated for Album of the Year (Scribbled in Chalk) and for Composer of the Year.
2007 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards: awarded for Best Original Song (Daisy).
[edit] Discography
[edit] Solo work
- Faultlines (2003) UK peak pos: 163
- The Pulling Through EP (2005)
- Scribbled in Chalk (2006) UK peak pos: 111
- The Fairest Floo'er (2007)
- This Earthly Spell (2008) UK chart pos: 94 (22 March 2008)
[edit] Collaborations & Guest appearances
- Various Artists: The Complete Songs of Robert Burns, Volume 7 (2000)
- macAlias: highwired (2000)
- Various Artists: The Complete Songs of Robert Burns, Volume 8 (2000)
- Various Artists: The Complete Songs of Robert Burns, Volume 9 (2000)
- Various Artists: Scots Women (2002)
- Corrina Hewat: My Favourite Place (2003)
- Various Artists: Fishing Music (2003)
- Dean Owens: My Town (2004)
- Various Artists: Scottish Women (2004)
- Corrina Hewat: The Ballad of Eppie Moray (2005)
- Various Artists: The Wildlife Album (2005)
- Future Pilot AKA: Eyes of Love / Lights of the City / Changes (2006)
- Roddy Woomble: My Secret is My Silence (2006)
- Various Artists: Ballads of the Book (2007)
[edit] Malinky
- Last Leaves (2000)
- 3 Ravens (2002)
[edit] Battlefield Band
- Happy Daze (2001)
[edit] External links
- Karine Polwart Official Website Visited 6th January 2007
- Karine Polwart MySpace site Visited 8th January 2007
- MVine Profile retrieved 9th January 2007
- Footstompin' Profile retrieved 9th January 2007
- Scottish Arts Council Profile retrieved 9th January 2007
- Battlefield Band Official Website
- Malinky Official Website
