A song dedicated to people dreaming of making the journey home to their loved ones will be released by Scots folk favourite Josie Duncan tomorrow.
The former BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award winner will share her track ‘An Turas Dhachaigh’ – or ‘The Journey Home’ in English – on Wednesday, the first to be featured from her upcoming album released in January at Celtic Connections.
Acclaimed New Voices composer Josie, who has forged a global reputation for her dual language songs after stunning live shows in Canada, Australia and Europe, first wrote the track in Glasgow during the pandemic – separated from her family in the Outer Hebrides.
The Gaelic composition has since gone on to be performed at opening concerts and choirs, but this is the first time it has been available for fans. “Honestly, I never thought I would record it,” laughs Josie, “It started out as a wee bop I wrote as part of a 45 minute suite, and had no idea it would take on a life of its own. It just seemed to connect with so many folk.
“I felt that with people now starting to make their plans for travelling and going home, and all those festive journeys that will be happening next month, that this song was the most fitting to be the first single off my new album.”
Born and bred on the Isle of Lewis, Josie moved to Glasgow to build on her music success winning the BBC folk award, going onto headline shows and composing music. But, like so many others, she was left stuck and afraid in lockdown when COVID hit in 2020 and 202. That yearning for home, she discovered, is something that never truly leaves.
“I had so much jealousy of people who were spending COVID at home, and, you know, their one walk a day was the beach, instead of me and my mask at Asda,” she recalls, “I just felt ‘that sounds so much better’, and so there I was, writing this piece, wishing I was home.
“The first time I performed it was for HebCelt’s ‘Survival Sessions’ opening concert – which was online of course because of the lockdown – but they had told me that they’d probably want me to do it in person the next year.
“So then I had this goal that I could hold onto, that okay, I’m actually going to be going home at least next year, if not before. When I wrote this wee song, it was about looking at that journey, but through like the most rose tinted glasses you possibly could have on. The song talks about the car windows being halfway down, and the world going by so quickly, and then about being on the ferry, and then, the people you love are waiting there for you, and they’re excited to see you.
“Also about how when you’re travelling, time is different. Like, someone at all times no matter where you are – on the ferry, a station or an airport – will be having chips and an ice lolly. Even if it’s still 10am – it’s kind of that sense of the time not existing.”
“I wanted to write something completely joyful as part of my set and the journey of the song has been totally unexpected. I never thought I’d have people singing it to me at the Park Bar, or that my own mother would conduct a choir singing it.
“It became the prescribed song for the rural choirs at the Mòd, with an arrangement by Corina Macinnes and has now been performed by a shower of legends from all corners of Scotland. I’m so excited to share my own version of it.”
Time, or more specifically dates, were at the forefront of Josie’s mind when she chose to release this track on Tuesday though. “It felt right to release it on 11.11,” says Josie, “because of good luck and spirituality”.
While An Turas Dhachaigh may mark the start of her own new journey for her forthcoming album, it’s the journey between family, home and where she is in life now, that made such a vital contribution in defining her own musical inspirations. She said: “I discovered a lot of good music on the ferry. I would be going down to the central belt on the ferry all the time back and forward from the island, so I would just get on there with an iPod and scrolling.
“I remember being on the ferry and discovering Joni Mitchell for the first time, one of her songs, Both Sides Now, and I was probably aged 11. I was listening to it, and I was just ‘Oh my God, this song is so perfect.’ I was re listening and re listening and re listening and saying, this is so true, this song is so true. I do that a lot on the ferry. Just one album, just on repeat, which is kind of nice.”
Her own new album was recorded back on Lewis at the sumptuous Wee Studio in Ness with its wide spaces, and vistas overlooking the Atlantic. Lifelong school friend Scott C. Park produced and performed on the track for her, along with Scottish-Icelandic percussionist Signy Jakobsdottir, singer songwriter Michael McGovern, musician Jonathan PM and renowned fiddler Alastair Caplin.
“They are such legends”, she said, “It was so amazing to be home and working together.”
Tickets are live for her full-band gig and album launch at Celtic Connections at Cottiers Theatre in Glasgow on Friday, 22 January. “I’m so grateful to Celtic Connections,” she added, “This is a dream for me.”
- Pre-save An Turas Dhachaig here. Live show tickets here.
