How about what I like?
Satie, Debussy, Sibelius, Steve Reich, Philip Glass, John Adams, Moving Hearts, Snow Patrol, U2, LAU, Blazin Fiddles, Salt Fish Forty.
Glasgow-born Eddie Reader, English singer June Tabor, Spanish singer ‘Uxia’ and since I caught her first with the ‘The Eurythmics’ Annie Lennox.
The list is fairly long if you want to know more try www.alyth.net
“Alyth loves singing, and lets you know that without telling you. You can hear it in her voice. She may be from lewis, sings (but not all exclusively) in Gaelic, and often performs with harp and fiddle - but she’s not a folkie. Her musical education and influences are too wide to sit in that, or any other, ghetto, minimalists like Reich, the sweeping eclecticism of Adams, sophisticated rock, modal jazz and role models like June Tabor or Marta Sebestyen have taken her down a path where she can sing unaccompanied in a Hebridean hall one day and with a metropolitan fusion samba band the next. She is at home on stage and brings to her music - whether with The close harmony vocalists in Shine or full jazz/rock rhythm section in Sunhoney - a still centre"
(Norman Chalmers - the List - August 2003)
“A voice described as having ‘spun glass fragility belying a sinewy strength’, accompaniments ‘transcendentally timeless and effortlessly contemporary’ combined with the uncomplicated conviction with which she communicates with her audiences have ensured that Alyth is one of the most exciting singers on the Celtic scene. Her vocal talent and her understanding approach give her an ability to cross over diverse singing styles making her comfortable performing with a variety of artists. “
Alyth was born and raised on the Island of Lewis of the north west coast of Scotland and after growing up within this culture and having being given the opportunity to perform since she was a nipper, she decided to hit the road, left home moved to the big city and began her singing education in earnest. Had a wonderful teacher who gave her a great grounding and then the adventuring began. She toured in various bands and projects, Shine, Sunhoney throughout Germany, Spain, Italy, Estonia, North America, the Uk, Brazil, Ireland, Switzerland, Greece, Austria, Hungary, Norway & Sweden recorded with various artists, appearing on 16 albums to date, and in 2000 released her first solo CD An Iomall(The Edge) on Vertical records.
‘Recent reviews of gigs showcasing new material from her new solo album - People like me - say
"She (Alyth) is here to launch her new CD which focuses on themes of love and conscience and on the strength of the songs we hear tonight will be coming to an iPod near you very shortly. Blessed with a voice of great beauty and purity, any composer must rejoice to hear Alyth sing his work.
Names like Boo Hewerdine, Jim Malcolm, Brendan Graham and Del Amitri's Justin Currie are checked in the introductions and Hewerdine 's "A Smuggler's Prayer" about the plight of drug mules is particularly moving. Alyth's cohort from Sunhoney, Aidan O'Rourke, joins the ensemble for two sparkling Gaelic songs celebrating drink and tobacco, which she calls the Vices Set.
The CD's title track ‘People Like Me’ is a heartfelt plea for tolerance in today's Scotland, penned by Currie. Compellingly catchy even on first hearing, it provides a stirring end to the set and should, if there is any justice, be sung by festival crowds for a very long time to come." JENNIE MACFIE HI-arts.co.uk
Traditional Gaelic songs with modern arrangements; some are spare some feature tasteful arrangements that recall post era Bjork. No matter what the format her voice is spine tingling‘. (New York - Time Out)
Alyth has also been acting professionally since 1998. Previous theatre work includes Scottish Ballet, Dance Productions, TOSG, theatrecollective@highland, Dogstar Theatre, Wee Stories - Arthur and Machair for STV. In 2008 Alyth played the lead role in the Scots/Irish musical ‘On Eagle’s Wing’ a role she first performed in 2004 and last year finished her first film role in Simon Beal’s short film - "Rebel Song" currently doing the circuit of Film Festivals across the globe.’ Other projects on the go include 'The Island Tapes' - check out www.theislandtapes.com or www.myspace.com/islandtapes and the Savourna Stevenson Duo www.savournastevenson.com and "L'ile des hommes
oiseaux" premiering at the Edinburgh International Festival in August 2009.
Hi Alyth........me again. Just looking around net tonight to find anything mentioned about today's show in NCH. While googling Noel Eccles, came across some stuff telling me that you agree that Noel is brilliant.......didn't know before my previous comment to you. Just as well that I was praising him now, isn't it?
Anyway, my previous comment still stands........haha. Saw him with Moving Hearts in NCH a few weeks ago, last year and only too many years ago.
Best of luck.........I had noticed that he plays on your CD........will he be playing in Dunamaise?
Hi Alyth.........really looking forward to 22nd. Was sitting behind you in NCH today. Was going to say hello but said I'd leave you so. It was good show.............Noel Eccles is brilliant.
For some reason, I just happened to look at your page today and notice you're coming to Dunamaise Theatre in October........delighted to hear it. A night to look forward to.
Hey Alyth, hi from England & thanks for connecting. We hope you'll enjoy the mix of music, culture, politics, life and, er, other stuff that is Take the Red Pill. We'd love you to register on the site and let us know what you think. Respect! Redpillboy.