Mary Jane Lamond

Mary Jane Lamond is a Canadian folk musician who performs renditions of traditional Gaelic folk songs from Cape Breton Island. She was born in 1960 in Kingston, Ontario, and is a graduate of the Celtic Studies program at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia.

Related Topics:
Canadian - Folk - Gaelic - Cape Breton Island - St. Francis Xavier University - Antigonish, Nova Scotia

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She was the vocalist on Ashley MacIsaac's 1995 hit single "Sleepy Maggie". She also had a solo Top 40 hit in Canada with "Horo Ghoid thu Nighean", the first single from her 1997 album Suas e!. Following Suas e!, she released Làn Dùil in 1999. Orain Ghàidhlig, most of which was recorded live in North River, Cape Breton Island, followed in 2001. In 2005, she released the pared down studio recording Storas.

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Since 2000, Mary Jane Lamond has composed and produced tracks for film and stage, done radio work, and participated in a number of charitable projects. She has been active in the ongoing preservation and revitalization of the Scottish Gaelic culture in Cape Breton as a member of the Gaelic Council of Nova Scotia, and as a teacher of Gaelic language and song workshops.

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Synopses of her albums, based on one listener's 10 year following in music and reviews,

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are so:

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Bho Thir Nan Craobh:: Largely a cappella, "conservative/traditional", with very good

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acoustics. Traces back to her college days, it has been widely considered she could not surpass

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herself here.

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Suas e!:: A few stunning vocal expositions with minimal backing, otherwise "experimental"

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regarding rhythm and "funk." Arrangements and production for many months spent on the road,

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doing live shows, especially for dance, e.g. synth/drums/bass/guitar. Driving fiddle still

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to be found.

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Làn Dùil:: Continued "experimentation" regarding rhythm, but more forceful self-assertion

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in the underlying "traditional" root. Still highly pragmatic for a "road act" which liked

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to get the audience moving. At this point Mary Jane was widely criticised, staunchly defended.

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Orain Ghàidhlig:: A starkly beautiful return to Nova Scotia Gaelic roots. Superb acoustics

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in a former church. Sing-alongs now tracing back 3 albums, and obviously a favorite

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kind of track for Mary Jane. This album reflects something of Ashley MacIsaac's insights

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regarding giving the core Gaelic audience "what it wants."

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Storas:: Tour de force. A stunning exercise of creative power. All prior "pop" accompaniment

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set aside. All sense of "experimentation" set aside. A cappella singing, sing-alongs, and

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Wendy MacIsaac's driving fiddle carried forward from the 4 previous albums. However the first 3

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tracks center on a fundamentally new accompaniment for Mary Jane, Blue Engine String Quartet.

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She attributed this inspiration to Eddi Reader's "Sings the Songs of Robert Burns." Ringing

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acoustic guitar, as well as bass and percussion, is provided throughout by long-time band mates.

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The liner notes, along with interview comments by Mary Jane, discuss an abiding interest in

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arrangements. These comments and notes are highly recommended for appreciation of Storas.

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This album is an archetype for any cultural singer, present or future, who wishes to take up

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the full artistic challenge of cultural song. That challenge is irremediable individuality

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within the cultural community. Mary Jane's solution is to do her very best. Wisdom for all,

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let all receive it who may.

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