Short sentence bio
Merlyn Driver is a singer songwriter and nature-focused musician.
Long sentence bio
Merlyn Driver is a singer songwriter and nature-focused musician whose style draws on Celtic folk, contemporary influences, and other diverse sounds from around the world.
One paragraph bio
Merlyn Driver is a singer songwriter and nature-focused musician whose style draws on Celtic folk, contemporary influences, and other diverse sounds from around the world. Born in Orkney in the north of Scotland and raised in a house without electricity, Merlyn’s island upbringing, passion for nature, and studies in anthropology and ethnomusicology continue to shape his music.
Detailed bio
Merlyn Driver is a singer songwriter and nature-focused musician.
Born in Orkney in the north of Scotland and raised in a house without electricity, Merlyn’s island upbringing, passion for nature, and studies in anthropology and ethnomusicology continue to shape his music.
His latest creative project is a unique multi-artist album (with David Gray, The Unthanks, Talvin Singh and others) in partnership with the RSPB and based around the UK's most iconic and endangered birds - the curlew. The project was inspired by Merlyn’s memories of curlews calling out in the ‘simmerdim’ - the night-long twilight found in Scotland's Northern Isles around midsummer. Simmerdim: Curlew Sounds was released in 2022, to widespread critical acclaim from The Guardian, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 6 Music, Mojo Magazine, and others.
Merlyn’s sound draws on Celtic folk, contemporary influences, and other diverse music from around the world. Inspired by his research into the ‘buzz aesthetic’ of African music traditions, for example, he has developed ways to adapt his guitar with various vibration and sound modifiers. Merlyn is currently working on his debut solo album.
Selected quotes
“His atmospheric songs evoke the curlews of his native island, and the soaring vocal flights of Tim Buckley” - Songlines Magazine"
“Fascinating and unique" - BBC Radio Scotland
“Destined for great things as a songwriter” - Musicport Festival
"Haunting and beautiful" - Mark Radcliffe (BBC Radio 2)
"Expertly crafted songs ... expect to hear a lot more from this chap" - fRoots Magazine
"This is the dog’s bollocks! ... it knocked me sideways" - Alex Gallacher (Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Folk Radio UK)
"Totally beguiling stuff" - Roddy Hart (BBC Radio Scotland)
All social network tags: @merlyndriver
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