Musicians - Karine Polwart

Home > Listing Index > Musicians > Karine Polwart

	Musicians - Karine Polwart

Karine Polwart (born 1971) is a Scottish singer-songwriter. She writes and performs music with a strong folk and roots feel, and her songs cover issues from alcoholism to genocide.

Despite winning the Horizon Award for Best Newcomer at the BBC Folk Awards 2005, Karine Polwart is no newcomer to the folk world, having previously been a member of Malinky and Battlefield Band. Her solo career is new, and it is for this that she has been particularly recognised. Her songs 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 (Best Original Song at the BBC Folk Awards 2005), a tale of depression, drink and drugs which ends on a strong note of optimism. There are exceptions to this: Waterlily - the tale of a man whose wife is killed during the war in Yugoslavia - offers no such comfort. Only One Way, on the other hand, is a mocking song exploring the links between world domination and cosmetic dentistry.

According to her official website, she believes that songs should stand up by themselves, so there are no sleeve notes in the album. 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 a masters degree in philosophy, and a background as a children's rights and anti-war campaigner; two themes which also recur in her music.

Karine is currently working on a new solo album, to be released in 2006. Her official website indicates a tour to promote this album will take place in May and June.

Albums

Faultlines (2004)

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Karine Polwart ]

This page is based on the copyrighted Wikipedia article Karine Polwart; it is used under the GNU Free Documentation License. You may redistribute it, verbatim or modified, providing that you comply with the terms of the GFDL.

Searches on eBay