Nashville-based country music star Laura McGhee has told how her Angus homeland inspired her new album.
The Monifieth-born violinist and songwriter will release Life is Bigger Than a Dream later this month following last year’s successful crowdfunding campaign.
The album was recorded in Nashville with producer Mike Loudermilk who has worked with top country artists including Chet Atkins, Crystal Gayle and Tracy Lawrence.
Country Music Hall of Famer Charlie McCoy — who has played with the likes of Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash — performed harmonica and vibes on the album.
Laura said: “This is the album that is the product of my crowdfunding campaign last year so I’d like to thank everyone that contributed to the album fund.
“I am very grateful for the support to make this album possible.
“Angus and my homeland continue to inspire me.
“I have been writing a lot since I returned home to Scotland this year and I plan to do a live album launch show at the Monifieth Theatre on October 7.
“My homeland also inspired the album in many ways.
“I have a Celtic fiddle riff on one of the tracks and one of the songs was inspired by my move from Scotland to Nashville.”
Laura’s album will be released on June 20 on iTunes and Amazon and is currently available to pre-order.
She worked with songwriter Doug Kahan on the album and they came up with the title track together.
“We spent a lot of time getting the right feel for the tracks and spent time on the vocals, overdubs, mixing and overall production for the tracks and I am delighted with the finished product,” she said.
“My friend Allison Bencar did the photo shoot for the album and she was fantastic.
“Big! Huge! Massive! in Fife did the artwork design and Birnam CD Ltd did the manufacturing so it was definitely a team effort to get this album out.”
As well as playing in Monifieth, Laura will also perform at the Praise Gathering this weekend at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.
Trained as a classical violinist at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, Laura also had strong musical roots in traditional and folk styles from early youth.
Born and brought up in Monifieth, she first showed an interest in music at Seaview Primary, going on to Monifieth High and then to college to take her honours degree and postgraduate qualification.
In the interim, she played in many traditional competitions and festivals, winning several awards, for composition as well as performance.
Her first album, Green Eyes, was released in 2006, and she has previously performed with Shane MacGowan, Rod Stewart and Pete Seeger.
