Alice's new EP 'Cloud Walking'
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Alice Boyd releases her second EP, Cloud Walking. The project draws deeply from her experiences on a recent expedition into Scotland's Cairngorm Mountains, retracing the footsteps of pioneering Scottish nature writer Nan Shepherd (1893-1981).
In September 2023, Boyd joined eight women on a four-day expedition through the Cairngorms as part of The Following Nan Project, inspired by Nan Shepherd’s seminal work The Living Mountain. The group hiked, camped, and embraced Shepherd’s philosophy of slow exploration. These experiences shaped Cloud Walking, a collection of songs blending folk-inspired harmonies, chamber pop instrumentation, and field recordings captured by Boyd during the journey.
“Such a perfectly realised amalgamation of concept, melody and landscape is vanishingly rare, but Boyd achieves it with an easy grace.”
“Alice Boyd’s music - delicate, poised, penetrating and softly-insouciant - is the sonic equivalent of Nan’s mesmeric, mountain-meandering prose. It mingles purpose and poetry, and will tempt you to step outside and dream.”
Photographs by Ameena Rojee
Through Cloud Walking, Boyd explores themes of connection to the landscape, the emotional highs and lows of the expedition, and the transformative power of spending time outdoors. Each track reflects the unique blend of solace and challenge that the mountains offered, capturing not just the journey itself but the deeper exploration of self that emerges through stepping away from the everyday.
Alice Boyd will debut Cloud Walking live during her support performance for Erland Cooper at Bristol Beacon on Friday 29th November. This highly anticipated show will also feature renowned folk artist Sam Lee as a supporting act, creating an enchanting evening of music inspired by nature. Boyd’s performance will immerse the audience in the evocative landscapes and sonic textures of her new EP, offering a unique opportunity to experience these songs in a live setting.
Photo by Caitlin Warren
“I wanted Cloud Walking to reflect not just the physical journey of traversing the mountains, but the inner journey as well. Nan Shepherd’s writing encouraged us to appreciate the mountain for more than just reaching the top. Her slow, intentional approach helped me see the landscape in a different way, and that’s what I’ve tried to capture in this music—the beauty and challenges with being truly present in a place.”
Credits
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Credits 〰️
Songs by Alice Boyd
Recorded and produced by Alice Boyd
With additional production by Jacob Norris and Liam Evans
‘Heart ii’ is a response to Jacob Norris’ song ‘Heart’
Mixed by Liam Evans
Mastered by Katie Tavini
Artwork by Morvern Graham
Backing vocals by Daisy Russell and Jacob Norris
Guitar and keys by Jacob Norris
Harp by Rachel Kitchlew
Saxophone by Amy Howard
Strings by Tom Penn
Piano by Catrin Vincent
Pedal Steel Guitar by Jake Card
With thanks to Aisha Hussain, Ameena Rojee, Canongate Books, Catriona Bolt, Charmfactory, Emily Baker, Erlend Clouston, Ffern, Hannah Westhenry, Jennifer McGowan, Jeremy Scott, Matt Huxley, Michelle Sanders, Nicola Stone, Olly Knight-Smith, Ruth Bidgood, Sound and Music, The Following Nan Project and the many other people who have provided support, mentoring and advice. A special thank you to Iain Boyd, Emma Howard Boyd and Joe Bath.