Alannah Moar
Video Credit: Amie Flett & Karina Caulfield
23 April 2020
Edinburgh based musician, Alannah Moar, first began performing and writing music when she was just 14. The 21-year-old music student, originally from Orkney, is currently in her 4th year at Edinburgh Napier University.
Being brought up in a musical family, Alannah found inspiration in singers such as Eric Bogle, and Ed Sheeran. However, asking who her favourite artists were, she responded: “Oh I love Nina Nesbitt, Gabrielle Aplin, 'Fleetwood Mac' and many others that I can't think of right now!”
Alannah’s style of music has been described as a cross between folk and pop, playing guitar to accompany her songs.
Photo Credit: Ewan Harvey
Last year proved to be a busy and exciting time for the young musician, after winning a singing competition to be able to play in New York. This was part of the Quaich Project, an organisation responsible for renovating Princes Street Gardens who awarded Alannah with a Quaich Bearer.
“It was honestly SO stressful - myself and Ada (who was the runner up) were literally neck and neck for like a week but thankfully I ended up winning it by the skin of my teeth.”
Alannah’s recent single 'Love Sick' was also released in October 2019: “I'm really pleased with the reception it's had, people seem to be enjoying it which is great because it was a really fun one to write.”
When describing the creative process, Alannah often begins with writing the melody, followed by a concept and title, not at once limiting herself during this period. It is a process of freedom and proves to be contrasting depending on what kind of song.
"People seem to be enjoying it which is great because it was a really fun one to write"
After the positive reception of 'Love Sick', Alannah revealed to me, she made her first music video, in collaboration with Mark from 'Northhold Photography.' The video follows a girl, “totally freaking OUT about something as simple as a text”, to compliment the sarcastic and mocking tone of the single.
“It was hilarious to film… In hindsight we should have used Ribena instead of actual wine, but I suppose it made it more 'authentic.'”
The music business clings on to the stigma of being one of the hardest career paths to break into. Many can feel isolated and that a bigger and better place is key to becoming successful. I asked Alannah her thoughts on Scotland’s music scene in this day in age and if it has been hard breaking into the industry: “a lot of people feel the need to move down to London… there definitely feels like it's geared more towards certain kinds of genres and bands.”
Photo Credit: Ewan Harvey
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Alannah raises the issue of countless grassroot venues shutting down within Scotland, however, cites Sneaky Pete’s in Edinburgh and King Tuts in Glasgow, as some of her favourites, still going strong.
When we think of Scottish musicians; Simple Minds, Snow Patrol, The View, Deacon Blue and of course, KT Tunstall, come to mind, and Alannah has been lucky enough to perform with KT live. After keeping in touch with each other, ever since Alannah’s gig in New York, Alannah was approached by KT’s manager to perform alongside her. This was part of KT’s 'Burns and Beyond' set at the start of 2020 in Edinburgh.
“She's been so lovely and supportive... it was actually really funny because I thought her manager was an insurance salesman when he first called with caused much hilarity.”
"We should have used Ribena instead of actual wine, but I suppose it made it more 'authentic'"
KT Tunstall was brought up in the seaside town of St. Andrews which happens to be the very spot where another of Alannah’s gigs have been, performing at the StAnza Poetry Festival in early March. This event takes place every year supporting local poets, writers, musicians and artists.
Make sure to follow Alannah’s socials to keep up to date with any future plans ahead.
Author: Karina Caulfield
